The Fourth Hero of Orleans

I'm bumping this story that I just posted yesterday. It's about a man identified only as Patrick who, along with the dog that he's had since he was ten years old, saved the life of a stranger in the aftermath of Katrina. And he's being informed that he won't have to abandon his friend of ten years because authorities still can't muster the manpower needed to evacuate survivors and their beloved pets. This piece of video moves me to tears, and should remind all of us that the survivors aren't brutal thugs, but brave, handsome, heroic, and desperately frightened Americans who were willing to risk their lives for total strangers, regardless of race or class. The tragedy is that the government whose laws they've obeyed and to whom they've paid their taxes has left them in shock and bereft of hope in their greatest hour of need.

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This is a must-see item. And it should be hurled in the faces of those who, like Senator Rick Santorum suggest that these people should be "penalized" for staying, or like Rush Limbaugh suggest that the survivors are ignorant "welfare state" crooks, or like countless right-wing bloggers suggest that "looters should be shot on sight." The people that were let down were human beings, in shock and utterly bereft, but they still did what they could to help their fellow Americans.

I should mention that Crooks & Liars is hosting this video. Keep a few hankies handy as you watch it.