Racism?!

[mamaprincess]

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?

I wish there was an answer. Yes we've done it for years because it is a complex issue for our country. It is one of many issues that we unfortunately have to deal with.

We have to stamp this thing out whereever it hides if only for the purpose of getting it off of the list of concerns that will usually come up whenever one see's a majority of African Americans and/or other groups in a dilema. We have to know that the racism that allowed the "Jim Crow" era to thrive in all it's terrifying glory, is obsolete. We are only one generation removed from that horror. If we see something that bares even a remote resemblance to it, we owe it to ourselves to make sure it is something else other than that. No one wants the possibility that somewhere in the system, "Jim Crow may still be working.

Many white's died along side blacks during the civil rights era, if they didn't this country would not have changed to the degree it did. Though this was the case, no white man or woman said this is not racism that has killed you my black brother and I a white man. Many whites were excommunicated from there communities and families for standing up for the rights of their black countrymen. They did not say it is not racism that has seperated me from my community simply because I am white.

If indeed racism is a factor and no, no one knows with absolute certainty, we will have to address it as uncomfortable as that has always been. Because once again it did not contain itself to just African Americans, It took whomever was near it. We have to at least be sure that race was not one of the reasons that this thing got so out of hand. We have to make sure because racism has always destroyed anything in it's path.

Again I am not here to offend or to diminish your outrage only to respectfully share my perceptions as you are sharing yours.

 

[PixieDust32]

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.

Yes, i watched a show last night (univision) and it broke my heart, they didn't complained or anything, they just told their story. A owner of a little latin groceries store share her story too, about how she share all her stuff, bread, water, soda, everything with the community, she said that she didn't look at the nationality or color, she cooked food and went to the "tents" on the torn apartments were most of the people are living, under the stairs, and share her food, they got wood from trees and broken furniture and used the BBQ grills to cook, no one stole or hurt anybody, they helped each other, even the local police talked about how these people gave them food from the store.
Over here in Atlanta, the hispanic radio stations got together last weekend with the red cross and people were selling food, lemon AID, soccer games, latin singers were there too signing cd's and pix for donations, they raised over 100K and most of the people there were illegal,from all over, Honduras, Colombia, Mexico.
They're doing it again this weekend, today in a latin super market and Sat and Sun in Six Flags.
So, the point is that it doesn't matter where you from, the race, religion or color of your skin, we're all humans.

 

[PixieDust32]

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

Thanks!
Yes, most of them didn't know, they worked all day and didn't even watch TV, besides the spanish TV only talked about Katrina during the news, many people didn't watched the news, specially on the weekend.

So sad!

 

[PixieDust32]

I wish there was an answer. Yes we've done it for years because it is a complex issue for our country. It is one of many issues that we unfortunately have to deal with.

We have to stamp this thing out whereever it hides if only for the purpose of getting it off of the list of concerns that will usually come up whenever one see's a majority of African Americans and/or other groups in a dilema. We have to know that the racism that allowed the "Jim Crow" era to thrive in all it's terrifying glory, is obsolete. We are only one generation removed from that horror. If we see something that bares even a remote resemblance to it, we owe it to ourselves to make sure it is something else other than that. No one wants the possibility that somewhere in the system, "Jim Crow may still be working.

Many white's died along side blacks during the civil rights era, if they didn't this country would not have changed to the degree it did. Though this was the case, no white man or woman said this is not racism that has killed you my black brother and I a white man. Many whites were excommunicated from there communities and families for standing up for the rights of their black countrymen. They did not say it is not racism that has seperated me from my community simply because I am white.

If indeed racism is a factor and no, no one knows with absolute certainty, we will have to address it as uncomfortable as that has always been. Because once again it did not contain itself to just African Americans, It took whomever was near it. We have to at least be sure that race was not one of the reasons that this thing got so out of hand. We have to make sure because racism has always destroyed anything in it's path.

Again I am not here to offend or to diminish your outrage only to respectfully share my perceptions as you are sharing yours.

Speaking of Jim Crow, my kids school road name is Jim Crow, and i was wondering why, so we read the history if the town and he lived here in the town or had a house, and there is a Barn on a property we he once lived.

 

[mamaprincess]

Speaking of Jim Crow, my kids school road name is Jim Crow, and i was wondering why, so we read the history if the town and he lived here in the town or had a house, and there is a Barn on a property we he once lived.

Wow, Many people don't know Jim Crow was actually a historical figure. There is so much history all around us if we'd be as curious as you and your kids were about it and take it upon ourselves to do a little research.

 

[catherine]

Jim Crow was not a person, yet affected the lives of millions of people. Named after a popular 19th-century minstrel song that stereotyped African Americans, "Jim Crow" came to personify the system of government-sanctioned racial oppression and segregation in the United States.

 

[mamaprincess]

Thankyou for the clarification. Pixie dust, what were your findings? Here is a web address that cooberates catherine's findings:
www.ferris.edu/news/jimcrow/who.htm...ailed. Thanks Catherine for the correction..

 

[lillygator]

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?

I have to agree....anyone living in a state that is in direct path of hurricanes should have evacuation plans ready. I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida...if we were under mandatory evacuation should I expect that local or governmental officials to come and evacuate me? That is what it seems like most people expected. Most hurricane guides tell you to have 5 days worth of supplies and to take those supplies with you if you evacuate. Under mandatory evacution - after X time (if you chose to stay) if you call 911, no one is coming to help....why should others risk their lives whil you chose to stay.

and seriously too...people need to watch storms and judge for themselves whether and when they should start leaving. Only once have we waited 'til the last minute and it was very eerie hearing them over bull horns telling us to get out of dodge.

I'm sure many won't agree with me, but I feel as a resident it is my responsibilty to have an evacuation plan as well as supplies ready for my family. Whether I have to save for a year to have those things or not is beside the point. I know that a hurricane can come through here and devastate us at any time.

 

[mamaprincess]

I am glad that you take precautions that lessens the burden on the agencies that are assigned to handle these catastrophes.. Let us now consider those doctors and nurses in the hospitals. Those patients on life support. Those newborn babies. The elderly who don't drive and don't have the means for temporary lodging. Those who actually stayed behind to help the elderly and disabled who couldn't evacuate. Those who are just to attached to there pets to leave. The children who had to stay with parents who stayed because they thought they could weather that storm. Those victims holed up in hotel rooms. Those who were working in those hotels. Those that are affraid to leave everything they've ever known for a life they know absolutely nothing about.

Even if half stayed foolishly those that couldn't or wouldn't leave for legitimate reasons are far to many. For those victims alone we have to do a better job. Those people will always be somewhere in danger when disaster strikes. That won't change.

 

[catherine]

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.

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that in order to evacuate people in this type of emergency the school buses should be used to assist all those who have no other means of transportation. Why is it then that we have seen countless images of all those school buses submerged under water?

 

[mamaprincess]

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that in order to evacuate people in this type of emergency the school buses should be used to assist all those who have no other means of transportation. Why is it then that we have seen countless images of all those school buses submerged under water?

Hmmmm.

 

[lillygator]

Hospitals and the like also have evacution plans. They move patients...(I work for one) and we have often accepted patients from evacuted areas.

"Elderly who don't drive"- so they have never thought, what would I do if something happened? Say I didn't drive...if a hurricane hits here, I should expect the county to provide me with transportation to get to safety? My point is that people should take some responsibility in planning for emergencies.


There were some who could not get out I understand that- however, there were MANY more - televised even, that chose to stay as they had ridden out prior storms and things would be fine...those people are now either under water, or complaining that no one is there to resuce them or bring them food and water.

 

[catherine]

For anybody that's interested the information about using school buses to evacuate people is in the "State of Louisiana Emergency Operations Plan Supplement 1A. This available at:

http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/plans/EOPSupplement1a.pdf

"The primary means of hurricane evacuation will be personal vehicles.
School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and vehicles
provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation
for individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in
evacuating."

 

[catherine]

Hospitals and the like also have evacution plans. They move patients...(I work for one) and we have often accepted patients from evacuted areas.

"Elderly who don't drive"- so they have never thought, what would I do if something happened? Say I didn't drive...if a hurricane hits here, I should expect the county to provide me with transportation to get to safety? My point is that people should take some responsibility in planning for emergencies.


There were some who could not get out I understand that- however, there were MANY more - televised even, that chose to stay as they had ridden out prior storms and things would be fine...those people are now either under water, or complaining that no one is there to resuce them or bring them food and water.

My point is, why when it is clearly documented that the school buses should be used to evacuate people were they not used! I'm not saying that people don't have some responsibility, but if they thought that the plan was that they were to be evacuated on school buses, isn't it just possible that they were waiting to be evacuated on those buses

 

[swilphil]

I am glad that you take precautions that lessens the burden on the agencies that are assigned to handle these catastrophes.. Let us now consider those doctors and nurses in the hospitals. Those patients on life support. Those newborn babies. The elderly who don't drive and don't have the means for temporary lodging. Those who actually stayed behind to help the elderly and disabled who couldn't evacuate. Those who are just to attached to there pets to leave. The children who had to stay with parents who stayed because they thought they could weather that storm. Those victims holed up in hotel rooms. Those who were working in those hotels. Those that are affraid to leave everything they've ever known for a life they know absolutely nothing about.

Even if half stayed foolishly those that couldn't or wouldn't leave for legitimate reasons are far to many. For those victims alone we have to do a better job. Those people will always be somewhere in danger when disaster strikes. That won't change.

Mama Princess--The more I read your posts, the more I like you. You are right-- it is a very complicated situation and individuals were dealing with unique circumstances. I read more and more about people who stayed behind either to help others or for their pets.

 

[lillygator]

My point is, why when it is clearly documented that the school buses should be used to evacuate people were they not used! I'm not saying that people don't have some responsibility, but if they thought that the plan was that they were to be evacuated on school buses, isn't it just possible that they were waiting to be evacuated on those buses

I don't know what the people thought who were expecting to be evacuated - who knows why those busses weren't put in action. Maybe all those people already had plans in place thinking a school bus would be by shortly, but given the amount of people who chose to stay I tend to think that many have never given an evacuation plan a second thought.

 

[Pete's Mom]

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that in order to evacuate people in this type of emergency the school buses should be used to assist all those who have no other means of transportation. Why is it then that we have seen countless images of all those school buses submerged under water?

It is my understanding that no one thought to move them to higher ground and they were the first to get submerged by the flooding which rendered them useless.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

No one talks about the thousands of Latin immigrants most of them illegal, they are now homeless too,

LIVING HOMELESS IN OUR COUNTRY IS 10X BETTER THEN WHAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR COUNTRY!!

Americans are way to kind to people! This is not their country, it doesent matter if they had kids here, im not responsible for having to support them. I don't care if your an American, I shouldn't have to support you. The government was not set up to support their citizens (and non citizens for that matter).

 

[Patch'sD]

Racial No, Political Yes. The Race card is being played to make it a political point in 2006 Elections. It is a shame, that it has to be that way. As far as the people be responsible to get themselves out, Bunk. These people where to travel 50 miles on foot to get out. The City new that a large part of the population relied on Mass Transit, but never had a plan to use it.

 

[staci]

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that in order to evacuate people in this type of emergency the school buses should be used to assist all those who have no other means of transportation. Why is it then that we have seen countless images of all those school buses submerged under water?

Yeah, I dont know who dropped the ball there. I do know, however, they were not all useless, there was just no one trying to drive them apparently. Did anyone else see the story of the 18 year old kid who hotwired a school bus that was left somewhere, filled it with total strangers, drove to the astrodome, and got there hours before the first rescue buses from the superdome arrived? Our local news was saying how he could face criminal charges for stealing the bus I really hope they dont do that. Im hoping that was just an assumption made by our local reporter.