Dear Editor: 

I grew up believing in America and everything this country stands for. I once accepted as truth, the power of voting as an incredibly large privilege for a citizen to have the honor to carry. Those days I still believed anything wrong with our government could always be voted out of office, out of mind and miraculously the good would still shine through. I am a good American.

I am also an angry one these days. The president promised more changes in our country and for the better. I wanted to believe him, because I wanted to have the hope for improved times ahead. America is still cutting back on jobs and budgets till I have failed to find the progress shining through.

Afghanistan and Iraq still continue as billions are poured into the political wars, showing no signs of any real end in sight.  Over trillions of dollars in deficit is rising quicker than the heat on a hot, summer afternoon.

Meanwhile, the gulf is now a polluted pool of oil. Yes, BP did begin this whole problem. It is their fault. BP should have been working on the oil leak while the government worked at the coast line to protect it and its environmental surrounding. Instead, it was well into the second week or so, before the president stated they were on this since day one. That was news to many of us.

The president started to say tougher words, as did the vice president. Many people in the gulf were not impressed. Last week, a subdued, calm Obama was seen at Tacky Jacks eating shrimp and declaring the seafood therefore safe. Many of us are not impressed. Because Obama says so, does not make it (true).

If this were off the coast of DC or devastating the waters around Chicago would it get better coverage and care than now?

And where are the people? You know: the ones who rush to jump in when something has attacked the environment. This is usually followed by someone from the Hollywood area, when funds are needed to be raised to help the devastated area to become revived again.

I mean, has anyone seen Louisiana: pictures, videos? Does anyone notice their empty coastline, full of oil and no one there to clean it up? Reporters are not everywhere.

There are those with no means of earning a living and not for the reason they chose not to work, but because BP did not plug up an oil leak. This does affect real people.

The Southern soul of me knows we cannot depend on the government or BP to reach its long arm down to our waters for help. If we are waiting for this to happen we are wishing upon stars. Money and help is allotted in too many places but it ain’t coming here.

Anyone who may think this is a “beach thing” is unmistakably wrong. This is affecting the nation, the global world. Until those who can remedy the matter do, it will continue to get worse.

Americans are angry now and they have a right to be.

Rose Murphy

Fairhope