Diana R. Sieger is the president of the Grand Rapids Commmunity Foundation. For more information, visit Diana's President's pages or view her biography.

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President's Point of View: Such a dichotomy!

August 28, 2006

After a particularly hectic week, I decided to give myself a break and watch some mindless television on Sunday night. I wasn’t disappointed … certainly took no brainpower to watch the Emmys! I was multi-tasking during the broadcast trying to get ready for another hectic week!

As I watched gown after gown after gown float down the red carpet, I was astounded to hear that one star’s dress cost more than $50,000 and another actress’ outfit traveled the globe having beading and other jewels sewed into the fabric no doubt costing thousands of dollars.

Switching over to reality during the broadcast, I was equally stunned by the starkness and rawness of the one year view of the Katrina disaster in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast. The sad tales of how entire neighborhoods in New Orleans have been ignored while other more middle class and affluent areas are coming back to life.

The contrast of the extravagance of Hollywood with the painful reality of the aftermath of Katrina is shocking and worthy of an entry.