The Ripple Effect

After watching some of the film regarding Hurricane Katrina and the discussion of the crossovers which occur between different aspects of society, I asked the question: why does one element of society consistently conflict and effect other ones? Throughout the video, there were interviews of individuals who specialize in a specific area of life in society, and each step taken, no matter how big or how small, in one certain area of life goes on to make a huge effect on the present and future state of people’s lives. The government was the first area alluded to, as everyone immediately looked towards their elected officials to guide them in a secure, stable, and ultimately good direction to avoid as much destruction as possible. Politically, the disaster became known as something which ignited an enormous issue of trust and faithfulness in the government, in the sense that society did not know whether or not the government is doing the best thing for humanity, keeping all individual needs and desires in mind. But, it also was an opportunity for leaders and the government to take a stand and guide the community in a positive and agreeable direction. Unfortunately, that only occurred after the physical disaster hit society. After debate and much wasted time, the government imposed a mandatory evacuation to all citizens in New Orleans. This caused much controversy in society, as there were two sides of the community which were opposed to each other; one who knew they wanted to leave and acted straight away, and the ones who decided to sit it out and see how it would play out. This separation sprouted an entirely new struggle in issues of social class and economics. People who were eager and in favor of evacuating and relocating were most likely the ones with the most options, therefore having more money (usually). The ones who desired to stay and keep all of their resources and valuables with them were the ones who had a lack of money and class, like ones in the 9th Ward. This created a division in society, beginning issues of social class. The ones in the lower class began to make accusations to the upper classes, which then got politics involved in order to justly and equally allow each individual (regardless of class) to get the same chance of survival. Then, came issues of technology, as the levies which the city was structured upon, were destroyed. This initiated conflicts in the technological world, as people began to understand that technology can not always be trusted, and building a city on the foundation of a technology that without it, the city would not be standing, was not the most logical idea. Without the levies, the city would be flooded and part of the ocean; it was not meant for nature. This went back to involve technologists who created the levies to be questioned, the government for misinterpreting and not telling society the truth about the strength and structure of the levies, as well as social issues while the richer people have more options and resources that could be used to escape the disaster. It is a ripple effect; no matter what area of life something happens in, it goes back to involve and effect all others. I think this happens because cultures are so diverse, and the diversity originates from one central point: humanity. With everything expanding off one point, all other points merge and impact whatever follows or comes before it; therefore inserting elements of it into another. In other words, every individual part of society has something from all of the other parts as well. This forces each individual element to effect all other elements of society whenever it faces something challenging, new, positive, etc. Hurricane Katrina was not only an environmental disaster--it was a variety of disasters all beginning with a gust of wind.