Racism?!

[Bunch24]

I think in the UK most people don't think that it's a racist issue, more a class issue! The people who had the means to evacuate did so, while the people who hadn't were left behind with no means of esacpe. Yesterday there was a report showing the military protecting the homes of the rich, while a few blocks away in a poor area dead bodies were floating in the water. I think that they've kind of got their priorities wrong!

It's definitely a class issue. There are plenty of affluent blacks in the city that got out in time, just like there are plenty of affluent whites that got out.

Unfortunately in this country, racism sells (not as much as sex, but it sells).

And I really, really wish people would quit saying "If this happened in Beverly Hills..." I'll tell you what would have happened if it happened in Beverly Hills, the city may have been destroyed, but the rich people would have gotten the hell out of dodge.

I mean, I don't like pointing fingers, because personally I think it was just a natural disaster of biblical proportions and it's hard to avoid those. But if I had to point fingers, my first one would be directed at Roy Nagin, who didn't properly see to it that his residents didn't get out of the city in time. And he's black, so if it's a race thing, then he's an Uncle Tom of the ultimate power. But I have a feeling when it's all said and done, Nagin will get all the praise for holding the city together and all the white devil politicians will get all the blame for not stopping the hurricane.

 

[hemispheredancer]

They are getting away with it because we let them and have always let them. When ANYTHING happens the race card comes into play. I will leave it at that because if I babble anymore I could say something I will regret!

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Racism rears it's ugly head!! I'm APPALLED!!

It's nice to see you posting on here! I was wondering what happened to you!

 

[Geoff_M]

It's definitely a class issue. There are plenty of affluent blacks in the city that got out in time, just like there are plenty of affluent whites that got out.

I think it's more of a "denial" issue with the people affected. I don't think a lot of them have come to grips with the extent of the loss and the fact that there'll likely be no place for them to go back to for a long, long time.

 

[dadtoagirl]

Ignorance in the form of 5 letters

I'm scared but I guess I have to say it. I, I, um agree with Chad too.

 

[bubie2.5]

I'm agreeing with Chad!

 

[bubie2.5]

I think in the UK most people don't think that it's a racist issue, more a class issue! The people who had the means to evacuate did so, while the people who hadn't were left behind with no means of esacpe. Yesterday there was a report showing the military protecting the homes of the rich, while a few blocks away in a poor area dead bodies were floating in the water. I think that they've kind of got their priorities wrong!

 

[catherine]

I think that this is an interesting article about how race shaped Bush's response.

http://www.slate.com/id/2125812/

 

[Geoff_M]

...and the beat goes on....

 

[nliedel]

Actually the term refugee can be usd for anyone displaced by war or circumstances. It is not racist in nature because it has been used to describe Jews, peoples of African descent, people in Latin countries, people leaving Russia during communism amd many others.

I don't think the problems with Katrina were racial but I do believe if those had been rich people it would have been handled better. We tend to treat our poor like crap.

 

[mamaprincess]

In my opinion, race is not a non issue in this tragedy, it's just not the only issue and certainly not the primary one but an argument can certainly be made given our history as a nation that perhaps race has a legitimate place in the discussion. This is a very touchy subject matter for most of us, but I don't know if it is wise to turn a blind eye to race as one of the concerns however far down the totempole of concerns of this event as race may be.

Perhaps race should be discussed in this particular instance if only to prove to those who are worried that it played a part, that it actually was not an issue.

Some don't want the political issues to be discussed and take much offense to the debates about the political implications of this tragedy, some don't want us to investigate whom might be to blame or where to start looking for answers. Some are offended that poverty is brought up as an issue and take offense.

It is almost impossible not to offend anyones sensibilities because there are so many different opinions and everyone is truly passionate about their perceptions. I certainly do not mean to diminish your concerns about how you feel about race being brought into this tragedy, clearly it offends you and upsets you and I hope that I can both show compassion for your feelings and beliefs as well as share my own opinions. I'm trying. These are delicate and complicated times.

I just hope that we can all learn from this to respect eachothers concerns as many of you have taught me and not sumarily dismiss them. If someone has put it on the table, even if you cannot for the life of you see the legitimacy of their point, It is obviously a concern for them so please try to step out of your comfort zone if only to allow for all concerns to remain on the table even as you oppose them. It is a difficult situation.

Many of our great nation's issues have floated to the surface and there will be many discussions as a result, all clearly have a place if they are being presented. This is not a comfortable time, it is not an easy time.

Is their a way to disagree yet remain compassionate and united? Hopefully we will find a way.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

In general, I find it very ironic that as soon as something happends unfortunate, people scream racial discrimintation. The deaths in this tragic catastraphy could have been cut in HALF, if the people that were able to, would have left. I don't care if you don't have a car, you will find a way out! The day after the hurricane hit Florida and was forcasted to hit near New Orleans, was the day that EVERYONE ABLE, should have left. Walking at a lesurly pace of 3 mph, you could have made it 1/2 way to Baton Rouge in 10 hrs. For pete sake, people walked out of VIETNAM and GERMANY in the face of danger, so why didn't people leave a city underwater, that has been a known risk since before Andrew in '93?

 

[LandscapePro_318]

I don't see race as an issue in this at all despite what the media want me to see. The positioning of the Sat trucks didn't happen by chance. Neither did the repeated footage shown over and over of the same thing.

Some of Shepard Smith's comments were just bizzare. Gees, he was covering this from just outside the infamous "New Orleans Projects".

This monster cared not for race, creed, or religion. It killed and destroyed all.

Mike--Louisiana Resident

 

[swilphil]

In my opinion, race is not a non issue in this tragedy, it's just not the only issue and certainly not the primary one but an argument can certainly be made given our history as a nation that perhaps race has a legitimate place in the discussion. This is a very touchy subject matter for most of us, but I don't know if it is wise to turn a blind eye to race as one of the concerns however far down the totempole of concerns of this event as race may be.

Perhaps race should be discussed in this particular instance if only to prove to those who are worried that it played a part, that it actually was not an issue.

Some don't want the political issues to be discussed and take much offense to the debates about the political implications of this tragedy, some don't want us to investigate whom might be to blame or where to start looking for answers. Some are offended that poverty is brought up as an issue and take offense.

It is almost impossible not to offend anyones sensibilities because there are so many different opinions and everyone is truly passionate about their perceptions. I certainly do not mean to diminish your concerns about how you feel about race being brought into this tragedy, clearly it offends you and upsets you and I hope that I can both show compassion for your feelings and beliefs as well as share my own opinions. I'm trying. These are delicate and complicated times.

I just hope that we can all learn from this to respect eachothers concerns as many of you have taught me and not sumarily dismiss them. If someone has put it on the table, even if you cannot for the life of you see the legitimacy of their point, It is obviously a concern for them so please try to step out of your comfort zone if only to allow for all concerns to remain on the table even as you oppose them. It is a difficult situation.

Many of our great nation's issues have floated to the surface and there will be many discussions as a result, all clearly have a place if they are being presented. This is not a comfortable time, it is not an easy time.

Is their a way to disagree yet remain compassionate and united? Hopefully we will find a way.

Mamaprincess--Thank you for your comments. You bring up some excellent points. Perhaps this situation will force us as a society to deal with the fact that a large number of minorities in our cities live in poverty. I also love how you try to remain hopeful about this situation.

I realize that the hurricane has affected whites and blacks, but the fact of the matter is that most of the people who did not or could not evacuate before the hurricane were black. That in itself makes race a legitimate part of the discussion.

 

[Charade]

Perhaps this situation will force us as a society to deal with the fact that a large number of minorities in our cities live in poverty.

How do we do that? And hasn't that been addressed for years and years already? What can we do that hasn't been tried already?

 

[PixieDust32]

No one talks about the thousands of Latin immigrants most of them illegal, they are now homeless too, they worked at the casinos in MS for years, now they lost everything, and they FEMA can't help them bcs they're illegal. People are on the streets, they cannot go anywhere, and I know that illegal immigrants can't claim federal help but they're humans too, they have kids born in America, but in a situation like this i think they should help everybody, regardless of the status. The Latin community don't get help from red cross or fema but they help each other, they are working already cleaning and helping for a couple dollars at the casinos clean up, Latin community had donated and help the red cross too. Also Mexico is sending help too.
Today a Hispanic TV channel will be hosting a show to raise money for the red cross, lots of Latin celebrities are to be there, like Sammy SOS, J.LO, Shakira, Salma Hayek, Ricky Martin, and some others.

PD. No flames please, this is just my opinion.

 

[Geoff_M]

No one talks about the thousands of Latin immigrants most of them illegal, they are now homeless too, they worked at the casinos in MS for years, now they lost everything, and they FEMA can't help them bcs they're illegal.

Actually, NPR did a big feature story on their situation a few days ago.

 

[mamaprincess]

No one talks about the thousands of Latin immigrants most of them illegal, they are now homeless too, they worked at the casinos in MS for years, now they lost everything, and they FEMA can't help them bcs they're illegal. People are on the streets, they cannot go anywhere, and I know that illegal immigrants can't claim federal help but they're humans too, they have kids born in America, but in a situation like this i think they should help everybody, regardless of the status. The Latin community don't get help from red cross or fema but they help each other, they are working already cleaning and helping for a couple dollars at the casinos clean up, Latin community had donated and help the red cross too. Also Mexico is sending help too.
Today a Hispanic TV channel will be hosting a show to raise money for the red cross, lots of Latin celebrities are to be there, like Sammy SOS, J.LO, Shakira, Salma Hayek, Ricky Martin, and some others.

PD. No flames please, this is just my opinion.

I hadn't even considered how many there may be even though the thought did cross my mind that there must be some suffering in this situation. Thanks for bringing it up.

 

[PixieDust32]

Actually, NPR did a big feature story on their situation a few days ago.

Oh really? I didn't know sorry.

Thanks!

 

[Geoff_M]

Here it is in case anyone wants to listen to it...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4835180

All Things Considered, September 6, 2005 · For some Hispanic immigrants in southern Mississippi, word of the storm in Spanish came late. Many fear authorities because they are undocumented and many have lost the jobs they came to the region for.