Eye of the 'cane(s) | <strong>Vietnamese Community of New Orleans East</strong> at Schema : more than ethnic

Eye of the 'cane(s) | Vietnamese Community of New Orleans East

Clearly the news we receive from mass-media is filtered, censured, biased, controlled, and holier-than-though. It ain't right but it's expected, it's the norm. (*sigh*). The onus is on us; it's our responsibility not to be apathetic or complacent towards the news we are given. But yes, we live our lives, we are busy, we only have the attention-span of a few moments to digest current events, let alone analyze them.

And now the news is reporting on the devastating effects of Hurricane Gustav. And the news is once again reminding the public of the tragedy (gleefully it seems, in a macabre way) that was Katrina...but we will forget again. As such, it's important to be reminded of a story of humanity that can rekindle a belief, a hope that there's still goodness in the world.

One such story is that of the Vietnamese community of New Orleans East who were ignored in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, yet were one of the first communities to return and resettle. It's even suggested that the community leaders, used to the floods of Vietnam, were able to readily mobilize their community in efforts to rebuild their enclave post-Katrina. Their model was so successful that these leaders were then asked to consult aid-agencies in their plans to rebuild other parts of the city.

Even more remarkable is the story of the Vietnamese-American evacuees who fled to Houston, only to end up in an Asian shopping center owned by Ha Duong. Soon enough, she began a relief-effort that turned her mall into an aid center for Vietnamese American evacuees. Bring out the tissues before you read the article, "Houston Mall Is a Lifeline For Vietnamese Who Fled" by Mai Tran for the Los Angeles Times HERE.

Of course, there are stories of courage and hope daily, from around the world. Ones that are never reported; never known except to those who experience them. So take a moment to be grateful. Thank you.

Yes, guilty of being maudlin and sentimental. *shrug*

More: via Newton and SuperAndy -- thanks for cluing me in...and Newton, you're amazing, amazing for helping out the revac of NOLA pre- and post-Gustav. | WTF - The resettlement of the Vietnamese community in New Orleans East was soon enough threatened post-Katrina (pre-Gustav) by the city's plans to create a landfill only a mile away. Take action @ www.csnoe.org/ | Mall a first stop for evacuees: Many finding food, clothing, guidance and care by Zen T.C. Zheng from Houston Chronicle | The Ninth Re-Ward: The Vietnamese community in New Orleans East rebuilds after Katrina by David Shaftel at The Village Voice | Listen to New Orleans Now:Rebuilding and Defending the Versailles Vietnamese Community at National Radio Project | photo credit via Viet Q