Left in the Lurch
Interesting post I saw on another blog with a letter to Bush from Michael Moore about the Hurricane. I was just thinking about a few of those items myself today.
It really is too bad that all the “inhuman” actions you see on the news all involve black people. Just another excuse to blame it all on race. WAY too convenient. The 20% of the population that stayed in New Orleans were the poorest, who also happen to be black. If it had happened to be all wealthy white families, they would act the same way under those conditions. Hell, after 3 days with no food or water I’d be shooting randomly at helicopters too.
Not an excuse for them though… but it does show you how thin the veil of civilization is. As soon as you put survival as your number one priority again, how you treat other people doesn’t really matter any more does it?
It could happen in any city too. Especially the larger ones. If you suddenly take the infrastructure away (utilities, water, incoming goods), any heavily concentrated area is going to turn into Mad Max very quickly.
It was probably easier to maintain the veil of civilization a couple of centuries ago. People were a lot more prepared for disasters on their own, than people today. Albeit, not that ‘civilization’ was so hunky-dory in heavily populated areas anyway.
You make a great point. I was just thinking this same thing last night, while watching the news. They pull the race card out and it’s so not fair. I’m glad you pointed this out. This is a tragedy, not something white people are doing to the black people. The hurricane was an ‘act of God’—mother nature—-not Bush, not any government official—just the unfortunate result of the weather pattern.
Great post.
While yes, it is definitely not something ‘done’ by white people to black people… I have the sinking suspicion that if all you saw on the news was rich white people dying of dehydration in the Super Dome, support and evacuation probably wouldn’t have taken nearly as long. Of course that kind of thing is never confirmable, and is really only my opinion, but I’m still reasonably sure that it’s true.
And just to clarify, I think its the result of a ‘cumulative’ effect of people’s sense of urgency, not one person’s (i.e. the President or the head of FEMA).
Well, they say that New Orleans is 70% black. Think of it like this though, your going out to help these poor people get out of that mess, and they are all going insane, shooting at you out of rage and to get their family out faster—– the cops are shooting back at the people out of self-defense now. It’s scary to try and help them when they are trying to shoot at us. In the same respect, it has to be wreaking havoc on their state of minds—(why I think they are lashing out)
I really don’t know what my opinion is really, because if I was in a situation like that, trying to get my family out, I would be trying to break into food stores, clothing stores (because the clothes they are wearing are filthy and all they have) I would do anything to get my family help. I don’t know what “I” would do myself. It’s scary.
Why they are taking so much time is very unconfirmable, however, I think it’s an embarrassment on our country that we can help people in other countries within HOURS—–and we can’t help our own?
I believe I saw a quick glimpse at the news about Fidel Castro helping “us”. (??) Can you imagine? That’s a huge thing. Other countries are helping us now, which is a great thing- but they are also looking down upon our government officials for the lack of help.
It’s so sad.
get your Family out? Wasn’t it the repubs that effectively made it impossible for you to have a real family? Sorry bout your luck.
Yacs
give me an update or give me death
Yes, yes, I know… WAY to long in between posts. Some of us have to go on business trips and pay bills and shit. Now, if I only I could get a sponsor for my blog… then I could retire and write about this crap all day long!
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