Katrina, the pink elephant in the room

CNN.com recently posted an article about a family possibly going through a divorce due to hurricane Katrina.  In that article it stated that “Louisiana has kept figures on almost everything Katrina-related; the number of people who died, the number who were injured and the houses that were damaged or destroyed.  But the state is not keeping statistics on the number of divorced in a post-Katrina world”.  This caused me to think, what other statistics are being kept about post-Katrina activities?  I have family that live in Houston and San Antonio and have been told many stories of the effects of Katrina victims moving in to town.  Not that helping out those in need is a bad thing.  Not at all but some of the stories told to me are similar to when you’re out and about you can point out someone who has been a victim of Katrina because they’re acting obnoxiously rude or they make it a point to stand out in a negative way. 

Disclaimer: For the record, I mean no malcontent in the posting.  I wish I didn’t have the ammo to load this weapon of malicious destruction (WMD). 

Disclaimer II: I know I shouldn’t have made a funny out of the disclaimer but I couldn’t help it!

Normally, this is where someone would insert a story of empathy.  Something like: “I can talk about this because my family is a Katrina refugee” or “The city I live in has experienced a significant increase in criminal activity due to the victims of Katrina moving in”.  Well, I don’t.  The closest thing I have is that the city that I’m from, San Anotnio, but no longer live in has experienced this.  So I don’t have a specific reason to talk about it, it’s just that it seems like this is the big pink elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. 

It appears that if your city provided a safe haven for Katrina victims the crime rate jumped through the roof.  Think about it if you were a criminal, let’s say you were on probation and lived in New Orleans and were displaced to a new city, it’s like a clean slate!  But instead of taking that clean slate turning a new leaf, you figure no one knows who you are or your seedy past so you use that clean slate to start a new criminal life.  From a criminal mind point of view it makes perfect sense.  What better opportunity for a criminal who wants to remain a criminal than a clean slate in a new city with no ties to your former life?  It’s similar to the witness protection program! 

Have you ever been digging a hole and realized the dirt you’re throwing out of the hole is landing right back on you?  Yeah, that’s how I feel right now…

So, back to my original question, is there a statistic out there that has tracked the increase in crime due to Katrina victims arriving in a given city?  

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El Cabrito, history of

 

Not that long ago I took this dating persona quiz from okcupid.com and my result?  “The Billy Goat”.  Horny.  Stubborn.  Kinda cute.  Slightly immature.  And often found on rough terrain. 

That result, not the description but the term- Goat, conjured up memories of a childhood incident. 

I was around eight or nine years old, my Aunt and Uncle had a small farm and on that farm they had chickens, goats, snakes, lizards, horned toads… (it was an equal opportunity farm!).  The focus of this story, though, are the goats.  We had cleaned the goat pens and were taking the hay and spreading it for them to eat.  As I was bent over pulling the hay a goat charged and rammed me right in the noggin’ (good news: my soft spot had already healed, bad news: I have a new soft spot).  I was out like a light!  When I came to, I was on the sofa, my Aunt was sitting over me holding an ice pack on my head.  My uncle comes over and tries to comfort me.  He asks me what ever I want I can have.  I must have been crying because when I replied, my voice cracked, but I was able to say, “I want cabrito (goat) tonight for dinner!”  Well, we had cabrito for dinner that night. 

Now, now, before you get all excited and go calling PETA on me, goat was a common dish growing up.  It’s not like if a dog bit us we were like, ‘bring out the grill we’re having dog tonight!’ 

But if you are going to call PETA make sure you send Amanda Beard. 🙂 

With memories like that you’d think I’d grow up to be in the mob.  Well, I’m not- to your disappointment I’m sure.  But I have always found myself referencing Adam Sandler and his Goat character.  “Hey Goat!” 

“Ya button-hooked me!” 

“Hey Goat, you have a knot on your head.”  “Jes, you better knot mention that again!” 

 On and on I could go, but to serve Mr. Sandler and you justice, I won’t.  You’re better off listening to it yourself. 

So, that’s the history of El Cabrito (aka The Goat).  

Don’t let your kids talk to strangers and don’t let your kids get hit in the head by a goat.  

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