Race - sick of the nonsense

[Miss Kitty]

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

Da Da Ding!!!!

 

[BeachDreamer]

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.

 

[BeachDreamer]

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?

 

[Miss Kitty]

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?

 

[Smiling JOe]

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.

 

[OnMackBayou]

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.

 

[BeachDreamer]

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!

 

[BeachDreamer]

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.

 

[Paula]

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.

 

[Smiling JOe]

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!