I found myself hesitating before writing this post as I have been reading such hateful comments from people. It is obvious that some have been restraining themselves for almost a year. They are tired, as they say, of our whining, laziness and, most of all, their thinking that we are living off the government....high on the hog! Most of the derogatory comments are directed at New Orleans because Mississippi still doesn't get coverage in major newspapers or magazines. New Orleans did suffer damage from the storm but the major disaster for them was the levees breaking. We are americans regardless of our race, religion or political views. As americans, to hear a fellow countryman speak so indifferently and callously about their own is disheartening.

Try imagining that you awaken one morning and the life you were living was gone. No shelter, no food and just the clothes on your back. What would you do? How would you feel? I can tell you what you would do. You would reach out to others and plead for them to help you. You would feel helpless, hopeless and dead inside. The damage to lives and property couldn't have been any worse had a bomb been dropped on us. The people do not have the big dreams the city planners do. They just want a chance to rebuild or repair a home for their family.

True, there will always be those who will lie, cheat and steal but the majority are honest people who took a terrible beating from the storm and are grateful for the help they receive. There has been a lot of talk about all the fabulous casinos and condos that are coming to the areas but to the homeless people that means very little. To them... "There Is No Place Like Home".