It's not because they're black

When I hear a black Congresswoman say that the relief effort is failing the people in New Orleans because they're black, I wince, but I'm sure she's wrong. The government - local/state/federal - has failed the people of New Orleans, but not because they're black.

I thought Secretary of State Rice said it best yesterday.

"That Americans would somehow, in a color—affected way, decide who to help and who not to help—I just don't believe it,"

. . . Rice said of any racial implications: "I think everybody's very emotional. It's hard to watch pictures of any American going through this. And yes, the African-American community has obviously been very heavily affected."

It is distressing and the government - at all levels - has, for whatever reason, failed. However, I'm sure the reason has nothing to do with race.