Turn That Frown Upside Down, Hurricane Victims!

Laura Bush channels her mother-in-law and asks Katrina victims to look on the brighter side of their destroyed lives:
Laura Bush urges families in Katrina areas: 'Try not to be sad'

First lady Laura Bush on Monday urged parents here to cling to normal holiday practices even as families face dual hardships - recovering from Hurricane Katrina and coping while family members are stationed overseas for military service.

"There are still a lot of people not spending Christmas in their homes, but I encourage families to have all the same traditions," Bush said to children and parents at a Naval Construction Battalion Center...

This is good because some Katrina victims are living in barns.

Why, they can pretend it's a manger! Merry Christmas!

Some uppity Katrina victims, not content to put on a happy face and accept the White House's ignoring of their situation, have decided to take action. Some New Orleans residents are planning a rally in Washington to remind people of their situation. Sen. Mary Landrieu is supporting the rally. The rally is scheduled for tomorrow.

Others are also working to get the message to Congress. Displaced residents of the Lakeview section of New Orleans gathered $10,000 to purchase a full-page ad in Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper. The ad (which you can see in full- here) states- "In the past three months, we have become experts at waiting. Waiting for flood waters to recede. Waiting for word from family and friends. Waiting to see what our homes and our city has become... Now we are waiting on you." The ad also gives specific examples on how Congress can help, including securing the Port of New Orleans, and supporting legislation that would assist the thousands of underinsured families.

Similar sentiments to this recent Washington Post editorial (from a New Orleans Times-Picayune writer):
Do Not Forsake Us

I imagine we'll see many more pleas for help like these in the next year.