Katrina swept away faith in government

Re “New Orleans adapts to the ‘new normal,’ ” Aug. 29

Drop the guns and pick up the shovels. If only a fraction of the soldiers commissioned to Iraq are called back and summoned to Louisiana, this administration could save some grace and restore some faith in its leadership. Katrina remains undefeated -- on our home turf.

ZORIK MOORADIAN

Tarzana

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Scott Gold’s Column One, “Searching for the Face of Katrina and a Sign of Hope” (Aug. 28) was an extraordinary piece of writing and one of the most moving accounts of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina I have read. Gold’s search for 2-year-old Justice and her family, whom he met while in the Superdome, is a haunting reminder of how vulnerable our lives are -- and how our country has not done enough to save the people who are struggling daily to make ends meet after this national tragedy. The story is inspiring -- and a reminder that our country needs to do more to assist people in need.

LARRY ZEIGER

San Diego

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Re “Katrina Aid Far From Flowing,” Aug. 28

A year after Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of the U.S., thousands of victims still wait to return to the rubble of their homes. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, barely a week after Israel ended its assault on the homes, buildings and infrastructure of Lebanon, reconstruction is already well underway, courtesy of Hezbollah.

Fortunately for the Lebanese victims of the U.S.-Israeli war machine, Halliburton and Bechtel and other friends of the Bush gang have not been assigned the task of rebuilding Lebanon. If Hezbollah had been given the contract after Katrina, the job would have been finished by last Christmas.

MARY HUGHES

Los Angeles

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It is so tragic that with our know-how and resources, New Orleans is still in a state of disrepair. Why can’t some of our universities offering schools of urban development ask their students to draw up a viable, cost-effective plan(s)? Why not garner some academic resources for some real-time, real-life solutions?

MAE NIKAIDO

Laguna Beach