Some interesting numbers have come out 2 1/2 years after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and the Gulf Coast that give lie to the racism, obvious and implied, that many fell back on in blaming storm victims.

Anyone remember the suggestion, most often veiled, that the majority of New Orleans victims were third-generation, minority, welfare slackers who waited for the government to rescue them?

Those of us who got involved with the relief effort here knew better. People of all races, ages, gender and socioeconomic strata had their lives blown, then washed, away.