Stop the negativity
Published on September 4, 2005 under American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release
Indianapolis, IN. Hurricane Katrina was the most devastating natural event in America's history. A country used to hurricanes, tornados, forest fires, floods and other natural disasters was almost brought to it knees by this one storm - and Katrina has affected the lives of all of us. The shortterm and longterm problems are immense with the impact on oil prices and corporate losses and other things. But to even suggest that President Bush, the government, law enforcement, business and industry, the military, our health care system and others were "slow" to react and that racism is an issue is wrong. To play Monday morning quarterback on the levee system is wrong. The few terrible people who took advantage of the situation with looting, rape and lawlessness do not reflect the citizens of the Gulf Coast or America and should not be central to this story.
As good as our weather experts are, no one could have anticipated the damaging effects of Katrina on Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama and prepared an instant plan to solve the problems the same day - to rescue all who stayed behind and to house, feed and clothe entire cities the same day. With communications out, no water and food supply, no transportation, no medical facilities - nothing - it took some time to mobilize America - the national, state and local governments, law enforcement, the corporations, the relief agencies, the military, national guard, the media, health care system and others.
But once again, America has shown why America is America - the kindest, most compassionate, most generous, most decent nation in the world. Americans have rallied together at the national, state and local government level, at the corporate level, the military and law enforcement, fire departments, relief agencies and American citizens - to not only provide billions of dollars in money, food, clothing, medical care, housing and other things, but to open their homes to the huge number of refugees - regardless of age, physical condition or race - because Katrina was not a disaster for the Gulf Coast, it was an American disaster and every American is taking it seriously and doing everything possible to bring life back to normal for the people affected by the storm. So, let's not play the game of blame or fault, stop the negativity, and forcus on the positive efforts of everyone and move forward. Let's rebuild the Gulf Coast, let's help those affected, let's rebuild our refineries and the industry of the area, and let's continue to set a positive example for the rest of the world. -
Thanks.
Joe Newman
ABA CEO
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
American Basketball Association Stories from September 4, 2005
- Stop the negativity - ABA
- Daredevils sign Matt Luedtke - Niagara Daredevils
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
