Zeitoun Response for 11/23

“The man had abrogated a simple agreement. He had promised help and he had not kept that promise” (Eggers, 139).

I remember the hurricane Katrina as it happened yesterday. I remember the people in news saying that it took so long for the government to send some help. I felt for the people affected by the hurricane but also understood that everybody did what they could to send help as soon as possible. When the area where I lived back in my country was flooded, people affected by the floods were also saying the help didn’t come fast enough and it was not enough help. But people, such as government and charities were helping as fast and as much as they could. However, reading Zeitoun and seeing the entire thing from the prospective of a family directly affected by the deadly floods, it seems to me Zeitoun saw only one rescue helicopter in over a week period. And who were the people in uniforms on boats that passed by Zeitoun ignoring him waving at them? So where was the help that was supposed to come to this area? These military people who promised Zeitoun they will rescue the elderly couple said it just to get rid of him. They seemed they didn’t want to be bothered by him. They had no desire to rescue anybody; they probably had a different interest there. What was it? Who were the soldiers? Who brought them there?

Hana