"Brother's Keeper" - Faith-based N.O. evacuation for church members.

[barbaraann]

Dr. Maestri (Jefferson Parish Emergency Official) on WWL talked a little while ago about this program which matches up church members who have transportation with members that they know who don't and need to be evacuated. He said there are 100,000-150,000 people in the metro area who lack transportation. He mentioned some programs for people with special needs but I didn't hear anything specific for low income people other than Brother's Keeper.

I'm shocked beyond words that there could be a government program that would help church members escape disaster but not help non-church members. IMHO, this is WRONG. Are Christians supposed to only take care of other Christians? When I went to church, I was never taught this.

I really hope Katrina hits an area where there has been full, efficient evacuation and not New Orleans.

[MnFats]

1. So a Muslim or Jew, say, is left to fend for himself?

I think that would seriously piss Jesus off.

[Horse with no Name]

2. Actually the article said--I posted it earlier today

That this was an interfaith program with Muslim and Jewish communities included.
So it isn't just Christians.
BTW...I thought it was a very good plan.:shrug:
>>>>snip
The 30 minute DVD will also be shown on public television stations throughout September. Truehill says 900 congregations throghout the city, including Muslim and Jewish groups, are on board with the plan. To learn more about the plan, watch ABC 26 This Week on Sunday morning at 11:30.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4474331&mesg_id=4474331

[barbaraann]

3. So agnostics and atheists can just drown?

n/t

[Horse with no Name]

6. That's reaching

In my opinion, any effort to get people out is a good effort.

From the article:
""We're trying to say to people, you have to be responsible for yourself, your family and your neighbors." Truehill said.

It doesn't say only neighbors of faith. I take it to mean EVERYONE in these faiths are to reach out to their neighbors NO MATTER what their affiliation is.

[barbaraann]

8. Well, I disagree.

Disaster and evacuation programs should be inclusive - totally inclusive. Period. If there is a disaster in my community I do not want to see people excluded because they didn't have "connections." The people in the evangelical churches think I am bound for hell and I would not want to count on them to save me. I don't want Rapture believers participating in evacuation and disaster programs.

[Horse with no Name]

10. Guess you can't please everyone

People bitch when Christians don't do anything and then they bitch when they do.
This isn't "in lieu of" any federal or state programs, it is in addition to. It is just people who want to help other people and have devised a way to do so.
If this program only got 10 extra people out of New Orleans--then it was worth it.
Sheesh.

[barbaraann]

11. Wouldn't a neighborhood-based program make more sense?

A program that made sure everyone had a way to get out block by block?

[Horse with no Name]

12. It absolutely would

However, nobody has done that. I would think that the city planners would take that into account because of the likelihood of great devastation and arrange neighborhood associations.
However, these people are just trying to reach out and do their own little part in the world to take care of another.
How can you fault that?
I sure can't.

[barbaraann]

13. Did you see my later post about privitization?

Hurricane disaster planning was privatized and a half million dollar contract was award to some consultants. There should be a plan.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4480507

[Horse with no Name]

16. I saw it

I have nothing but disgust for the privatization of things that should be sacred to a community and those people that live and work there.
Those are the people that have a vested interest in the safety of their own community. Not some corporate entity whose only interest is in the bottom line.

[barbaraann]

18. And it was sad to see a for Clinton official involved.

:-(

[FreedomAngel82]

49. I think that's a good idea

Kind of like a carpool. Why does everything have to have a religious theme to it? Whatever happened to being kind without any type of gain?

[blondeatlast]

51. Yes; and it would have been nice if someone applied for a grant to fund

such a program--damn nice. But whatever gets anybody out of the path of what is sure to be devastation gets no second-guessing from me right now.

[Conservativesux]

27. Well we cant save all that human riff-raff. Let God sort em' out.

After all, they are unbelievers so what do they matter?

[barbaraann]

32. Jesus would save the riffraff.

Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, GWB, Tom DeLay and all of the other GOP "Christians" wouldn't.

[Conservativesux]

58. You are correct, but they dont follow the teachings of Jesus.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. It is but how much more effective would those tax dollars be

with organized community outreach funded programs that didn't exclude anyone.? No wonder these people consider themselves saved.

[barbaraann]

5. Gives new meaning to "saved," doesn't it?

n/t

[Erika]

7. You've seen the fallacy of faith based programs

And probably as anti-Christ to ever be witnessed.

[barbaraann]

9. Yes. It's just more dramatic with a huge natural disaster.

n/t

[wli]

14. all part of the plan to kill atheists n/t

[barbaraann]

19. I wonder if Pat Robertson's 700 Club is involved.

I wonder if they would rescue Chavez supporters.

[drfresh]

15. No worries

>>Are Christians supposed to only take care of other Christians?

There's probably several government evacuation programs including ones that utilize the networks that are present in churches or wherever. It sounds like a good idea to me, and I am sure the authorities are helping all kinds of people get out.

[barbaraann]

17. I didn't hear anything about a plan for total evacuation.

Not one person should be left in the path of Katrina against their will. The people who refuse to leave are another problem.

[Horse with no Name]

20. I totally agree

and I am sick at the thought of people being left because they are too old, too frail,mentally incompetent, didn't have the money or just simply fell through the cracks.

[barbaraann]

21. I wonder what the homeless people are doing.

I haven't heard a word about plans for them.

[Horse with no Name]

22. I keep seeing people mention the superdome

But what I read specifically said that you had to meet certain criteria to get admitted in there and they wouldn't waiver.
I just don't know.
I'm growing weary of the attitudes in this country that some people just simply don't matter because of their psychosocial status.

[barbaraann]

24. Yes, they keep emphasizing that the Superdome is not open to all.

Do you suppose they would actually turn desperate people away?

[Horse with no Name]

26. I certainly hope for their sake that they don't

and if they do...I hope karma is an evil bitch.

[Roland99]

34. No one said that

At noon the Superdome will open to anyone. It's only open to those with physical/medical conditions at this point.

[barbaraann]

36. Well, that's a good thing!

n/t

[FreedomAngel82]

53. Wouldn't surprise me

I get so sick and tired of all this "holier then thou" crap. What if a known gay person needed help? Would they help them or just try to "convert" them?

[drfresh]

23. Lets hope/pray that there is one

Hopefully local government will not let the people of New Orleans down, there's a lot at stake.

[barbaraann]

25. I'm hoping.

We paid half a million dollars for a plan and goddammit we deserve a plan.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

28. Can someone kick to Swamp Rat

His mother and her SO are staying behind, because the SO is fragile.

I have no clue about the condition but SR is a great poster!

I can't search DU to save my life (tried to get another poster to inform SR), but guys, if you could get this to him it will be appreciated by many!

[I_Make_Mistakes]

29. Man, the RW are affecting your brain cells too!

TRUE people of faith do not discriminate, period! However, those who attend houses or worship are known. The un known are unknown!

What do you suggest? I am tired of the unfaithful, knocking the faithful. Do you suggest that the faithful die because they are knocking on the doors of every person in the city (with no one to answer because they left?). How STUPID!

This is a block of (faithful) people (like any other block, ethnic, community etc.) Who will give their lives to help others.

Get over yourselves, the non-believers, do you think, if I came to help you and you said "I don't believe in God, I wouldn't help you and walk away?

You need to get over the same persecution that the RW are claiming, OMG, is it TRUE the far left are the far right wing are converging?

[barbaraann]

31. I suggest a plan that covers every resident in the City.

Even if mobilizing the churches is a good idea, it hasn't been done well in this case. For example, the Red Cross uses churches as shelters but doesn't do it in a hit-or-miss fashion, just as a part of a complete plan.

[FreedomAngel82]

56. Exactly

And that should be the point and the case. Nobody should be left out. Who would Jesus leave out?

[barbaraann]

30. Apparently he's leaving.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4479788&mesg_id=4480021

Thank goodness!

[Roland99]

33. People need to settle down

Safety of everyone in the area is at the utmost of concern. The gov't's resources cannot check every house in the area. They are enlisting help in any way they can.

Making this some religious vs. atheist political stunt is RIDICULOUS!

[barbaraann]

35. Here's the point.

Instead of a complete plan to evacuate every last resident of the area, there is just a half-baked attempt at a plan with a Biblical slogan.

[Roland99]

37. And where is the money/manpower going to come from to do that?

[barbaraann]

38. Um, from tax dollars and government personnel.

n/t

[Roland99]

39. You willing to increase taxes in order to fund all of that?

Any idea what it will even cost?


I'm not trying to bash you or anything...just thinking aloud as to how much it would cost, esp. considering this is something only needed once every 50-100 years.

[barbaraann]

40. Well, yes.

There was a post yesterday about Floridians voting for a hurricane tax and if Floridians are willing to pay then anyone will.

[Roland99]

41. Big difference there. When's the last time Louisiana was hit?

Florida's been hit how many times in the last few years?

[barbaraann]

44. Well, there was damage from Ivan, for one.

http://gov.louisiana.gov/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=666

[Roland99]

55. There was very little damage in Louisiana from Ivan...luckily.

It came ashore quite a bit east around Mobile.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

43. How about this? Let's take some of the billions of dollars earmarked....

...for the Middle East and the military and put it to use for programs designed to pull Americans up out of poverty, and for programs to help people in case of emergencies like Katrina.

How much will programs like that cost? 10 billion? 20 billion?

And how much have we spent in Iraq alone?

Do you still want to argue about what things cost?

[Roland99]

46. I'd rather the spending be cut completely and work to reduce the deficit

The government can't be expected to be sure every single person is evacuated. It just doesn't make sense. Churches, friends, family, neighbors all need to be involved to help one another in a time like this.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

42. If gov't resources weren't wasted on churches, they could probably

get to a HELL of a lot more people

[barbaraann]

45. Seriously, fundies might mistake a serious disaster for the Rapture

and not evacuate people.

http://www.unknownnews.net/apocalypsenow.html

[Roland99]

47. I don't believe, in this case, gov't resources *are* being wasted

15-18hrs from now New Orleans might be underwater. Enlisting all the help they can get is the right thing to do. Politicizing this from hundreds of miles away in our dry homes is pointless.

[barbaraann]

52. It's a piecemeal approach.

It needs to be a complete approach, not a piecemeal approach.

[FreedomAngel82]

48. It really isn't Christian like and shouldn't be called such

A Christian helps everybody and anybody. Real Christians do. One night late I was in my room watching some tv and nothing good was on so I turned it onto the local TBN network and a local show was on and they were talking to a couple who had a shelter in the town where anybody can come in and ask for help whether it's for looking for a job or for getting material items etc. According to this guy they don't preach to anybody and help anybody and everybody in a non-threatning way. When Jesus Christ went around and helped people he didn't say "what church do you go to?" He just said, "do you believe I can do this?" and they said "yes" and he healed them. What this group is doing is anything but Christian. It's more like a clique or an elite country club.

[blondeatlast]

50. I think pragmatics plays a big role here. People one already knows and can

easily locate--we're talking time-sensitive here.

It could just as easily be in the workplace, at the local pub, the elementary school, whatever.

The fact that they receive federal money is a concern, I grant you, but don't fault the church for taking advantasge when lives are at stake.

[Roland99]

54. Exactly.

[barbaraann]

59. I'm faulting the Republicans, not the well-meaning churches.

n/t

[Nikia]

57. This should have been complimentary to a bigger plan

They should have had a plan for transporting everyone out, like buses, train, ect. Evidently, that's the best that they have now though. I am all for people taking care of each other. Most people feel more comfortable with transporting and potentially staying with people who they have something in common with. Ideally, other organizations, neighborhoods, and workplaces would have a program like this too. I really hope that every car leaving New Orleans is full, that people think of others who might not have transportation.