News papers report: THOUSANDS of evacuees flocked into San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium to escape California's fires, evoking scenes reminiscent of 2005's Hurricane Katrina aftermath when the New Orleans Superdome housed flood victims.
But to be blunt, Qualcomm is a stadium for football. The New Orleans Superdome is a place for football ... but that's where the similarities end. To most of you I don't even have to print the pictures of the New Orleans Superdome and the chaos that existed. In fact I probably shouldn't because they are painful. But let's just start with the fact that there were no lights on in that hell hole and all the toilets were backed up. All I need to tell you about the the people staying at Qualcomm is that they are being fed gourmet food donated by local restaurants. There have been live bands playing music all day.
What is this place called San Diego California? I mean how nice could it really be? Well with any place it's important to have work and paid a good salary, enough to raise a family of four right? But if you have ever been offered a job in San Diego California you probably were surprised with how little money was offered to you. Why? Well in each contract in large print at the bottom of your offer sheet , printed very clearly is, THE SUNSHINE CLAUSE:
"The city of San Diego is so damn beautiful, and the weather is perfect 12 months a year. You are lucky and blessed to live and work in such a paradise. Please note the palm trees and ocean views. You really should be paying us for giving you this job. Therefore accept this paltry monetary offer for your services and enjoy." Everyone and I mean everyone signs it and moves on with their wonderful life.
In San Diego there are no poor people, no illiteracy, no homelessness. And women of the US hear this. Because of the nearby military bases ... there are men, lots of men, men with jobs!! I think I hear Portland, Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta and D.C. women booking air flights now. Yes, your neighbors are so excited you can hear them right through the wall, "Yes, I said San Diego California. Yes I know about the fires but what's a little smoke? Do you have any flights left for tonight, 'cause I hear they have 200 National guard troops just at Qualcomm Stadium!!!."
Before I go on, let me retract my first statement. There is one more similarity between the California fire disaster and the Katrina disaster. The Federal Government got it all wrong and is messing it up for everybody, again. How??50% of our troops 50% of the planes and equipment that would be dumping water on the California fires, is in Iraq. That's right one billion dollars of equipment that is normally used to control the fires in California, especially those planes, is in Iraq.
Brownee ... er George W. Bush, you are doing a fine job.
Now for those who want front line news at Qualcomm Stadium, some other stories went on to say ...
Old and young, rich and poor, an estimated 20,000 people had formed a well-organised refugee camp in the parking lot of the Qualcomm Stadium. Early accounts said the centre's operations were well organised and clean. The assessments are in stark contrast to the filth and chaos at New Orleans's Superdome after Katrina. President George Walker Bush was lambasted for his handling of disaster relief efforts after the hurricane, and had been quick to react to this latest disaster, promising firefighting resources, money and more.
Several people spoke confidently of being able to return to their homes as soon as the fire crisis subsided. However others were not so lucky. Cindy Alexander, 54, who lived alone and survives on a disability allowance, said she lost her one-bedroom home in Ramona, 80km north of San Diego -- one of the worst-hit areas in the state. "My daughter called me and said it was gone," Ms Alexander said. After receiving her evacuation notice she paused only to gather a few possessions -- clothes, blankets, pillows and a box of family photos.
It was the second time that California fires had hit her family. Her daughter's home was destroyed in 2003. "We've had a hard life. It's like, 'OK God, What else?' " she said. Ms Alexander's daughter-in-law, Brandy, said she had lost contact with other relatives caught in the fire drama. "At least we'll have cots tonight," she said. "And we've got our health, and our cats."
Two parking spaces along, members of the Rey family were relieved to discover that they would soon be leaving the stadium for the comfort of the luxury Loews Hotel in San Diego. "A room opened up tonight and we secured it," said Butch Rey, a 45-year-old software company executive, who arrived at the stadium with his wife, three children and two parents. The Reys had been ordered to evacuate their four-bedroom home in the upmarket San Diego suburb of Scripps Ranch. So far it has not been damaged.
Nevertheless, his children weren't taking any chances. "The boys took all their autographed baseballs," Mr Rey said. He told of the random generosity of strangers. "Last night a man drove up in a BMW and said that he had a five-bedroom house and somebody was welcome to stay there with him," he said. "A family went home with him."
The American Red Cross was receiving donations of blankets, torches, batteries, cots, sleeping bags, tents, hygiene products, canned goods, bottled water and money. And though most peopleI feel are inconvenienced, most are calm and optimistic. Because when it's all over, these people will rebuild their lives ... in paradise.
After an African-American teacher shared with us that whenever she travels she makes it a point to take her kids to the college or university in the area, my better half and I agreed to start doing the same thing. So we walked around, had lunch in Aztec Center, sat in some classrooms, and counted the infinitesimal number of Black students strolling by.
Now I know he was just being silly. In fact he smiled, waved at me as he passed, and then endearingly referred to the group as his "Little Monkeys" while gathering them together for a group photo.
