ALPF and
Redsock both sent me this story. ALPF found it at
Reuters' AlertNet, and Allan saw it on
Yahoo News Canada. Thanks (as always) for doing my work for me, guys.
Canadians beat U.S. Army to New Orleans suburb
A Canadian search-and-rescue team reached a flooded New Orleans suburb to help save trapped residents five days before the U.S. military, a Louisiana state senator said on Wednesday.
The Canadians beat both the Army and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. disaster response department, to St. Bernard Parish east of New Orleans, where flood waters are still 8 feet (2.4 metres) deep in places, Sen. Walter Boasso said.
"Fabulous, fabulous guys," Boasso said. "They started rolling with us and got in boats to save people."
"We've got Canadian flags flying everywhere."
The stricken parish of 68,000 people was largely ignored by U.S. authorities who scrambled to get aid to New Orleans, a few miles (km) away. Boasso said residents of the outlying parishes had to mount their own rescue and relief efforts when Hurricane Katrina roared ashore on Aug. 29.
The U.S. government response to the disaster has been widely criticized. Politicians and editorial writers have called for the resignation of top Bush administration officials.
Boasso said U.S. authorities began airdropping relief supplies to St. Bernard last Wednesday, the same day the Canadian rescue team of about 50 members arrived from Vancouver, nearly 2,200 miles (3,540 km) away.
"They chartered a plane and flew down," he said.
Two FEMA officials reached the parish on Sunday and the U.S. Army arrived on Monday, he said.
"Why does it take them seven days to get the Army in?" Boasso asked.
He speculated that the smaller parishes suffered because the focus was on New Orleans, the famous home of jazz and Mardi Gras.
As for the Canadians, Boasso gave thanks for their quick work.
"They were so glad to be here," he said. "They're still here. They are actually going door-to-door looking in the attics" for people to rescue, he said.
ALPF notes:
I was able to find this story on several Canadian sites, European sites and Asian sites...not one American site however. Last night on CNN they talked about all the International help (right down to some generators that South Africa was providing) with not one mention of Canada?
What's up with that?
18 comments:
O new Canadian, you will get used to it.
Imagine if a major news magazine did a 50th anniversary retelling of the D-Day landings at Normandy, and neglected to mention -- throughout the entirety of the article, maps, charts, and all -- that one of the five beaches (Juno) was assaulted by Canadian troops. Well, you don't have to imagine it. That happened in 1994, and the magazine was called TIME.
Six months from now, we'll be lucky if Senator Boasso goes, "There was some folks down here... where'd they come from again? ...Vancouver, Washington, or something like that? Mebbe Portland? Real polite. Good folks up there."
The older I get, the more and more I think of Canada as Spider-Man. Not Superman who gets all the limelight, or Batman who's cool and mysterious... just this nerdy nebbish who shows up when it really counts, manages to do the right thing in spite of seeming confused, and then is quickly lost in the haze of others with flashier uniforms and better press. Remember the theme song from the 60s cartoon show? Welcomed, then: he's ignored; action is his reward. Well, to paraphrase Ron James completely out of context, you just moved into "Spider-Man's cottage". Glad you like the view... at least you won't be bothered by many autograph hounds. :)
Yeah, you'd best get used to it...Canada also liberated the Netherlands at the end of WW2, and this also never gets mentioned in the press. It's like Canada is...translucent...to the US: only seen when the US goes looking for it.
The older I get, the more and more I think of Canada as Spider-Man.
Ha! That's a great analogy.
Trivia question: name some Canadian superhero characters.
I wouldn't even have noticed it if not for the Canadian who emailed it to me. I suppose that's because I still think like an American.
Translucent! Great word.
Nerdy nebbish! Also an excellent image.
Let's see, wasn't Superman created by a Canadian? (A quick Google tells me a Canadian was the co-creator.) But let's not forget my favourite Canadian superhero, Mr. Canoehead.
I've heard quite a bit "in the press" about Canada liberating the Netherlands. I don't think either country has forgotten that at all, and if the US ignores it, well ... shrug ...
What's up with that?
The US was caught with its pants down, and Canada furthered their embarrassment by managing to get to the Parishes first. Another country showed them up - that's what's up with the snub. The other countries providing aid were doing so in areas where the US already had its own people - New Orleans, namely.
I've heard quite a bit "in the press" about Canada liberating the Netherlands.
I think he meant the U.S.....
The Dutch remember, they send tulips every year to Ottawa, which is the source of the annual Tulip festival.
Actually, the only country that got a real mention of aid in the American press is Mexico, and that was more in a snide "they're crossing the border for something other than jobs" tone.
Trivia question: name some Canadian superhero characters.
Guardian
Vindicator
Wolverine
Sasquatch
Puck
Northstar
Shaman
Snowbird
Yup, I'm a geek
What's up with that?
What do you want? Recognition? :D
A Canadian superhero: Wolverine. :D
I don't like the fact that the US media is ignoring the Canadian effort if only because it'll probably feed some people's belief that the rest of the world does not care about the US.
What do you want? Recognition? :D
Open goal. He shoots, he scores. :)
I've heard quite a bit "in the press" about Canada liberating the Netherlands. I don't think either country has forgotten that at all, and if the US ignores it, well ... shrug ...
Perhaps what's significant is that Canadians believe this not to be the case, and it bothers them.
I think he meant the U.S.....
Um, no. I think Marnie meant what she wrote.
Hey L-Girl...
Yup, Canadians get routinely ignored by the USA, or overlooked, or taken for granted. Its American's such as yourself who choose to be educated as to the role Canada has played in the world.
About 5 years ago, I came across this article written by a British journalist, that pretty well sums it all up for me...
http://www.ontherantagain.blogspot.com/2005/05/country-world-forgot-again.html
And by the way, Welcome to Canada... we're glad you're here.
Let's see, wasn't Superman created by a Canadian? (A quick Google tells me a Canadian was the co-creator.)
Yeah, but Supes himself wasn't Canadian.
But let's not forget my favourite Canadian superhero, Mr. Canoehead.
I always liked Todd Booster. He's more of a Tom Swift character than a superhero, though.
Guardian
Vindicator
Wolverine
Sasquatch
Puck
Northstar
Shaman
Snowbird
Good list! I never actually read Alpha Flight, I just knew it was around. Mostly from the "Northstar is gay" episode. I suppose it's appropriate that the first out gay mainstream superhero was a Canadian character. :)
Thanks Mitch! Nice to see you here.
My favorite Canadian superhero? Does Mr. Dress-Up count?
L-girl, I just forwarded this article to everyone I know. I have a few conservative friends whose favorite line when we get in political bitchfights is that 'oh, well Canada needs the US to protect them, blah blah, no army, etc.'
And then I have to throw down about WWI, WWII, helping out the Dutch, the Gulf war, and assisting countries with money and volunteer efforts all around the goddamn world.
I'm getting all hot under the collar now..
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