Race - sick of the nonsense

I am irritated with the accusations of racial prejudice I am seeing on the news or elsewhere. To claim that George Bush does not care about black people, or that anyone else is deliberately ignoring black people, in the face of the worst natural disaster we have ever seen in the United States, is not only completely ridiculous, but has absolutely no place here. (I realize that this is the opinion of only a few, unfortunately well publicized individuals.)

Some journalist made a stupid choice of words when describing looters/"finders" and that really stinks, but to say that the entire government is this way is just completely out of place and unfair. We don't need activists in there brewing up trouble, and we don't need war-mongers trying to raise hostility right now. It really hurts to see peoples' attention being stolen away from what's important by these hateful thoughts.

There has been mass incompetancy here, on ALL LEVELS, mainly on the part of the mayor (who is black for goodness' sake) and the governor. But to say that the incompetancy has been on purpose due to peoples' skin color, just makes me mad enough to spit.

I agree with you 100%! Well said.

Thank you.

I agree last night on the concert for relief on NBC a musical artist said something like he didn't like how the media was showing white people getting water and food, then showing black people looting. I felt like that wasn't the time or place. He was there to help raise money for the people affected by Hurricane Katrina not make political statements

I agree last night on the concert for relief on NBC a musical artist said something like he didn't like how the media was showing white people getting water and food, then showing black people looting. I felt like that wasn't the time or place. He was there to help raise money for the people affected by Hurricane Katrina not make political statements

I think you have it backwards. He was there to make political statements.

Yeah your right that was why HE was there.

I agree last night on the concert for relief on NBC a musical artist said something like he didn't like how the media was showing white people getting water and food, then showing black people looting. I felt like that wasn't the time or place. He was there to help raise money for the people affected by Hurricane Katrina not make political statements

I say a story about this artist last week and thought..."what a nice, thoughtful and talented young man" (he really loves his momma). Don't know if there will be backlash....he was preaching to HIS choir.

Someone should be saying something, however uncomfortable such statements make some people. While race obviously did not cause the storm and people are not intentionally acting in a racist manner, it is apparent to the most naive that race is a factor there. Does anyone really believe it is a coincidence that virtually all of these desperate people are African Americans? There are many forms of abuse and racism, with DISREGARD being possibly the most widespread and dangerous cause. These people were disregarded. Who could reasonably disagree with that? Pretending that race is not a factor when that tv screen is crowded with only the faces of the very poorest African American people doesn't make it so.

I agree last night on the concert for relief on NBC a musical artist said something like he didn't like how the media was showing white people getting water and food, then showing black people looting. I felt like that wasn't the time or place. He was there to help raise money for the people affected by Hurricane Katrina not make political statements

I saw a replay of some of that. I wonder what was going thru Mike Myers head as he stood there next to the spewer.

I saw a replay of some of that. I wonder what was going thru Mike Myers head as he stood there next to the spewer.

Since they were both reading scripts, supposedly, Mike Myers probably thought the guy could not read.

Since they were both reading scripts, supposedly, Mike Myers probably thought the guy could not read.

Da Da Ding!!!!

Someone should be saying something, however uncomfortable such statements make some people. While race obviously did not cause the storm and people are not intentionally acting in a racist manner, it is apparent to the most naive that race is a factor there. Does anyone really believe it is a coincidence that virtually all of these desperate people are African Americans? There are many forms of abuse and racism, with DISREGARD being possibly the most widespread and dangerous cause. These people were disregarded. Who could reasonably disagree with that? Pretending that race is not a factor when that tv screen is crowded with only the faces of the very poorest African American people doesn't make it so.

Donna, because New Orleans has a significant black majority, it stands to reason that most of those seen on television are black. However, there were many white people stranded there as well. I just can't fathom anyone believing that people in charge are disregarding these citizens due to their color. If anything, politicians would try even harder to help people based on race and poverty, if nothing else, to avoid the type of criticism that we all knew would be flung at them regardless of their efforts.

The only instance of prejudice I have seen here was when the mayor let his group of tourists board the evac buses ahead of the NOLA natives who had been waiting so long. Who can understand his reasoning on that. (I wouldn't be expecting a re-election, that's for sure.) But it certainly had nothing to do with the color of those who were slighted.

Related to this subject but in no way directed towards Donna or any other individual: Living in the deep south all my life, I have come across so many who criticize our culture as being racist. I can never really accept the irony though, to hear those from other largely white areas, accuse of racism the very people who live side by side, work side by side, and often intermarry and begin families, with those of different races. I believe I would choose our brand of "racism" anyday, over the superior judgements of those who know not what they speak.

IMHO.

Since they were both reading scripts, supposedly, Mike Myers probably thought the guy could not read.

Did you see the look Mike Meyers gave him when he made his grand statement?

Did you see the look Mike Meyers gave him when he made his grand statement?

No, I missed it...but with his facial expressions I can only imagine! Was this in front of an audience? What was the reaction?

No, I missed it...but with his facial expressions I can only imagine! Was this in front of an audience? What was the reaction?

I saw only the news piece of it and do not know if they had an audience. Quickly after the statement about W not taking care of blacks, the producer cut to Chris Tucker back stage, so even if there was an audience, we did not hear a reaction.

Since they were both reading scripts, supposedly, Mike Myers probably thought the guy could not read.

Or maybe that Donkey had taken over his body.

Or maybe that Donkey had taken over his body.

It was filmed live, but I am not sure about a live audience. They couldn't really edit it though. My sympathies!

No, I missed it...but with his facial expressions I can only imagine! Was this in front of an audience? What was the reaction?

They had both been looking intently into the camera with sober expressions. Mike continued to look into the camera while the other was speaking, and then when he heard what came out of the other's mouth, you could tell it took him a minute to digest what was said, and then he quickly turned to the other, to see if it had actually been said out loud. He stared for a minute, saw that it indeed had, and could do nothing but look helplessly at the camera again. It was almost comical.

My thoughts today on the racism discussion are these. The rescue now seems to be going very efficiently (and for the most part compassionately from what one sees on the news) and it is organized. The big question in the future will be, "why did it take so long to get the rescue moving quickly, especially in a nation that is known to be a 'superpower' and that had full knowledge that hurricanes could hit a place like NO"?

There will be many questions asked and lessons learned that will be related to race/class/etc. Smart decision-makers won't avoid asking tough questions about race/class, nor will they ask the questions with answers already prepared based on their own beliefs (they'll look for facts/data). One lesson learned already is that at a time filled with such emotion and human loss, even the perception of racism/classism, etc., needs to be managed (people respond to perceptions as much as reality) when the victims (at least in NO) are primarily from one race/class.

But for now, I think this is the time to focus on rescuing everyone possible, provide whatever support can be offered in any way from however far away from the hurricane-hit areas, and not lose focus through political discussions until after all the people have been saved (unless those political discussions help to save more people, though this doesn't seem to be the case right now) and NO and other areas are well on their way to being cleaned. That's when citizens, politicians, and decision-makers will have the time, data (one needs data/facts to have reasonable discussions of race), and perspective that will help them reflect about lessons learned and plan for the future.

I am wondering why the military has not used the infrared devices to survey all of the houses in order to find out where living people are located and begin the rescues. I have a bad feeling about the numbers of people whom will be found dead in their homes. Let's get those guys out of there!

I am wondering why the military has not used the infrared devices to survey all of the houses in order...

I may be wrong about what I'm about to say, but my understanding is that...

...in any city dealing with a crisis, the primary responsibility starts with the Mayor who controls the police, fire department, etc. If they are unable to deal with the situation, they turn to the state--i.e. the governor--who controls the National Guard. If the state and Nat'l Guard are unable to deal with it, then the federal government--which controls the military--is brought in. The mayor cannot just bring in Marines and the president cannot just send them in. When you get right down to it, the president does not have authority over a city and/or state unless the equivalent of martial law is declared and he/she takes authority away from the mayor and/or governor.

There are reports that the president has asked the governor to request that the Feds step in and that the governor is refusing to do so because she sees it as a political power grab. I do not know how much truth there is to that story because I do not take the media source which reported it very seriously (no, I will not say who).

The above was how they taught it in civics class, back when they still taught civics in school.

With FEMA, though, there is something of a gray area now. I know they are intended to deal with crises which span state lines, but they still don't (I think) have authority over the state or local governments...they are more there (I think) to coordinate between the states...but they don't get to boss them around and tell people what to do.

Does anyone have a better understanding of where FEMA fits in?

I could tell Kanye was upset about his people, but Bush has absolutely nothing to do with it. This is an unprecedented situation and all of the companies are doing the best they can with what they've god. To blame Bush is ridiculous.

The reason the tv is croweded with poor blacks is because those are the people that live there, and didn't get out of town when they knew what was coming.

I may be wrong about what I'm about to say, but my understanding is that...

...in an city dealing with a crisis, the primary responsibility starts with the Mayor who controls the police, fire department, etc. If they are unable to deal with the situation, they turn to the state--i.e. the governor--who controls the National Guard. If the state and Nat'l Guard are unable to deal with it, then the federal government--which controls the military--is brought in. The mayor cannot just bring in Marines and the president cannot just send them in. When you get right down to it, the president does not have authority over a city and/or state unless the equivalent of martial law is declared and he/she takes authority away from the mayor and/or governor.

There are reports that the president has asked the governor to request that the Feds step in and that the governor is refusing to do so because she sees it as a political power grab. I do not know how much truth there is to that story because I do not take the media source which reported it very seriously (no, I will not say who).

SlowMovin, thanks for the reminder of gov't. I, too, learned the same thing in my civics classes. The last thing we want is for the Fed Govt to have great authority over the States. I guess I cut through the political caca when I posed the question about the Military getting involved in search and rescue. My thinking was that the military has already been involved in the heli-transports I saw yesterday. The Coast Guard is involved as we speak. If your news story is right, the Fed is stepping on the Gov's toes.

I have not seen any reports from the NOLA Mayor. Did he shove his other shoe in his mouth? Where is the leadership? I have not seen the Gov or the Mayor on the news for two days. In the days following 9-11, Juliani was in front of the cameras all the time, letting people know what was happening. There are NOLA residents scattered all over the country now, and the only info they are getting is from the news reporters. Again I ask, where are the leaders?

I could tell Kanye was upset about his people, but Bush has absolutely nothing to do with it. This is an unprecedented situation and all of the companies are doing the best they can with what they've god. To blame Bush is ridiculous.

I am not blaming Bush. I am starting from the bottom up. It begins with the NOLA Mayor who is scared to rear his head from the sand.

My question is, when everyone from the Mayor, at the local level, to the Governor, at the State level, fails to act appropriately to save lives, what is the recourse? Do we, as a country, stand by and watch our fellow citizens die? I understand the stops in place between State and Fed gov'ts, but to stand by and watch hundreds or thousands of people die due to incompetence of local leaders, and I use that term loosely, seems foolish and trivial. Just reminds me of another flaw of our great country -- politics! Hogwash. Our politicians need to lead with any heart which they may have. I know, you give them an inch and they take a mile, but God help us all if we respect politics more than saving lives of so many people.