Thoughts from SBP Staff

This is a time of convergence. Not only did we just see the three year anniversary of Katrina pass, but we also just commemorated the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech. On August 28th, 1963 Dr. King proclaimed: "We have come to this hollowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy" (http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm) King's words still ring true. With little progress since Katrina in terms of safety and security for residents of the gulf, Now is most definitely the time. Now is the time to advocate for our brothers and sisters living in the gulf, who deserve to be protected by their own government, with levees that are functional and that can with stand the hurricane waters. Now is the time to spread awareness for the realities that many of our gulf's residents have to face, that being unless we make it known that functional levees are a necessity, these residents may face another Katrina. There are many things that we as individuals can do to help save our people living in the gulf, little things that will make a big difference. We can donate our time or money to groups such as the St. Bernard Project, Catholic Charities or Habitat for Humanity, groups that are providing direct relief to gulf residents. We can talk to our friends and family about the issues that continue to face gulf residents. Most importantly, we can educate ourselves about the situation, a task that may mean traveling to the gulf for a first hand view.

This is a time of convergence. We are witnessing history in the 2008 election with an African-American man running for president, and a woman running for Vice-President. It is funny, because Obama's campaign is built on this platform of hope. I think he couldn't have picked a better word, but I think we also need not forget that hope is not just for those seeking political reform or relief from economic recession. Hope is something innate within humanity and it is the driving fire of our existence. It is hope that brought back Katrina survivors to the homes of their birth, ravaged as they may have been. In my travels to the gulf, I have learned that most remarkably, as dark as the storms may get, residents of the gulf still remain hopeful, always. I have seen it in the eyes of many Katrina survivors in St. Bernard Parish. We must remember the hope of the residents of the gulf, the hope that they may one day live and be protected in their homes. We must remember the hope that resides in the power of Now. We have the power to make residents of our gulf safe and secure. Let's tap into that power so that we may make King's dream, and the dream of gulf residents, a reality.

-Nick Starkman, St. Bernard Project Site Supervisor