Katrina response prompts questions of race in U.S.

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N04622279.htm

HOUSTON, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Despite strenuous official denials, delays in helping victims of Hurricane Katrina have fed African-American suspicions the government cares more about the lives of wealthy white people than poor blacks.

In a country where a recent survey indicated many blacks were probably predisposed to believe the government was out to get them, many have asked if the race of most of the victims was a factor in the painfully slow relief effort and the lack of preparation to prevent the disaster.

Officials, straining to explain how so much havoc could result from a storm that experts say had been predicted for years, said they were simply taken by surprise by the magnitude of the disaster when Katrina burst the walls holding back Lake Pontchartrain from a city built below sea level.

They have admitted that the poverty of many of the victims, who simply did not have enough money to obey evacuation orders, was a factor in bringing scenes that viewers around the world would more readily have associated with Sierra Leone than the United States.

But, with blacks more likely to be poor, that explanation was not enough for everyone.

[whistle]

1. An outrage and national scandal which must be directed at....

...the Bush Administration and all elected officials, especially republicans.

[Racenut20]

2. Our Government.

Made up of "wealthy white people", most likely cares more about wealthy white people than poor black people. And of course, Leezie, who does her best to be white, and thus on the surface is treated white.

[LostinVA]

3. I'm white and I think race made a difference in New Orleans

Race AND class.

[0007]

4. Ditto

Without a doubt!

[NorthernSpy]

5. I think so too, but I also think that Americans talk about race to avoid..

... talking about class. That's the big no-no in what passes for this country's political discourse.

[LostinVA]

7. You are completely correct

So many Americans act like this is a classless society, or that we can easily move between the classes. This is a lie. This country is more classist than maybe ANY industrialized nation.

[NoQuarter]

14. Americans have been slow

in realizing that "class" is the new "race".

[Child_Of_Isis]

6. It was obvious

when you looked at the long line of blacks waiting to get in the superdome before Katrina even hit.

[gizmo1979]

8. I watched a show on Discovery

channel last night from late 90's early 2000,and they fortold almost exactly what happened with Katrina,right down to canal and levee breaks to the poor not being able to get out.So how is it FEMA couldn't imagine,of course this was science and we Know how the Bushies hate science.

[nookiemonster]

9. The pugs are trying to frame us again.

They will accuse of us of playing the race card, when in fact, it is a CLASS issue. "Class" is a dirty little word that they want to avoid at all costs.

[guruoo]

11. They deal 'um,

we play 'um.

[Lindacooks]

10. Well duh, where have they been for the past 200 years?

For God's sake, Democrats have been saying this for years. The MSM has been covering it up.

[leesa]

12. There's no question about race in America, the question is about bigotry.

I wish they would use the right words.

[Raven Remarks]

13. Katrina Warning & Native Americans

!! KATRINA HELP !! Be wary of fake donate buttons!!!
These are direct links to real sites.

https://give.redcross.org/
http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html *American Red Cross Official Donate

*NOTE- Native Americans may not be eligable for many fedral disaster relief programs!</b> Officials with the National Congress of American Indians say they have tried contacting some tribes in the path of Hurricane Katrina, and have had only mixed success.
"Out thoughts and prayers are with the people of the Indian Nations located in the region effected by Hurricane Katrina," said NCAI President Tex G. Hall. "It is times like this when it is important for Native people to come together to help one another out."

The NCAI encourages tribes who wish to aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina to send donations to:

NCAI,
1301 Connecticut Ave, NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
*Please put Hurricane Relief in subject line of check.
http://nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=6942

All donations will go directly to tribes in the affected region of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
<p>United Houma Nation
20986 Highway 1
Golden Meadow, LA 70357
[phone]

N.C.A.I. Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund
1301 Connecticut Ave., N.W
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
www.ncai.org
http://www.spcahouston.org/spcahouston/Default.asp">*Click here to donate now to the Houston SPCA.</a> Monetary donations are most needed to help us care for the hundreds of extra animals in our shelter now and those we will be taking in and caring for in the coming weeks and months.
http://www.nsalamerica.org/">*The North Shore Animal League America