How long before the resentment starts?

[txaggiemomof3]

Or 6 inches past their safe comfortable home to have some compasion for those that had little and lost it. I totally agree with your post.

It's kind of interesting to see that the posts like the ones above come from places that have not been inundated with evacuees (New England, Chicago...).

I am in Houston and I AM concerned about the strain on local/state resources that this massive influx of people (many of them very poor) will cause. Our local news was saying that Houston is still owed some money by FEMA from Tropical Storm Allison (that was 4+ years ago!!).

Just because you have concern doesn't mean you don't have compassion.

 

[sodaseller]

Glenn Beck already hates the NO victims

 

[frozone]

Well you obviously didn't understand it because you've got it completely wrong. If you can't, or don't want to accept my explaination, (and you seem to be in a minority of one who didn't get it), then I won't waste any more time trying.

You asked a valid question, but unfortunately no one wants to acknowledge it. Some people seem to think that even a discussion of race leads to racism, which is not the case at all. Some people think that an admission of continued racism in America is unpatriotic. It's people like you, they say, who are the problem---stop bringing it up and it will go away.

Ridiculous.

"It's not about race...it's about poverty." I've head that one a lot in the last few days. It can't be about both? This is America, afterall, and in our history, issues of class and race can't be artificially separated. It's a fact that we've seen with our own eyes on the news...the majority of people stuck in NO who had to resources to get out of the city were black.

And now we have to deal with the implications of that.

To answer your original question, the resentment has already started. It's just that the language is, and will continue to be, white-washed.

And, you know what, fine. Let it be about "poverty" and not race. But fix the problem. Now that people have seen poverty in this country and the tragic loss of life that resulted from their lack of resources, maybe we'll be quicker to take care of Americans who have been previously left behind.

Here's my prediction- IF Americans do begin to solve the problems of poverty that plague our cities, racial strife and prejudice will dissolve at an even faster rate than before.

 

[chobie]

I believe that people in this country are in denial that racism still exists, because they feel guilty about racism, while at the same time resent feeling guilty about it. Just looking at the sarcastic and bitter tone of the "racism" thread exemplifies this point to me. Whenever the issue of racism is bought up people immediately go on the defense crying about "those people" playing the racism card and "trying to get something for free or publicity to their cause".

I fear that the OP's prediction will occur and that resentment will start when the evacuees become permanent residents of other states.

I also agree with Frozone in that if it makes folks feel better to frame it as an issue of class discrimination and spur some action to eradicate poverty, then everyone will be better off.

 

[janette]

It started the day they were moved out of Lousiana. We had people right here on the DIS moaning about it from cities these poor people were brought to. Some people can't look six inches past their own face, unfortunately.

N.E.D.

 

[frozone]

I believe that people in this country are in denial that racism still exists, because they feel guilty about racism, while at the same time resent feeling guilty about it. Just looking at the sarcastic and bitter tone of the "racism" thread exemplifies this point to me. Whenever the issue of racism is bought up people immediately go on the defense crying about "those people" playing the racism card and "trying to get something for free or publicity to their cause".

I couldn't have put it better myself. I've not posted on that thread because it makes me so incredibly angry. This tragedy has brought a lot of festering resentment to the surface. In short, it's brought out the best in some people and the worst in others.