Racism? Let me tell you a story,

[Coexist]

http://www.stpetetimes.com/2005/09/04/Worldandnation/Racism_Let_me_tell_yo.shtml

<snip>
"They formed a makeshift camp, but had no food or water. Tempers flared. The daytime heat was astonishing. The nighttime darkness was terrifying. Almost all were black."

<snip>
"I wrote down what he said. After a while, I asked where he got the food and water. He looked down and said some good Samaritans brought it. I knew that wasn't true. I told him if he broke into nearby shops for food and water, I didn't think anyone could blame him. He admitted that's where the stuff came from."

<snip>
"This isn't 1965," he told me. "This shouldn't be happening."

"His suspicion of people in power was so resonant that he, like many black people in New Orleans, believed the city purposefully broke the levy that flooded their neighborhood so the famous French Quarter and white areas of town could be spared."

[Der Blaue Engel]

1. But...but...this isn't about race

:sarcasm:

nominated and kick

[Mairead]

2. Mr Smith should get a medal and be made head of FEMA

He is a shining example of doing the right thing. I hope he doesn't get lost in the shuffle--the nation needs him.

[yardwork]

3. As a matter of fact, some black neighborhoods WERE flooded on purpose

The reason given was to reduce flooding in other areas. I don't have a link, but there are first-person accounts in the news of people being told that they had a couple of hours to abandon their houses on Tuesday, before their neighborhoods were flooded.

That's how a lot of people ended up at the Superdome.

[Coexist]

4. well, we couldn't have the nicer homes damagaed now..

think of their hardwood floors.

(sarcasm intended)

[blonndee]

5. I'm kicking because I want to know what others think about this. THIS

would be MIHOP, and if there's ANY evidence of it, we need to find it ASAP!!!

Would explain leaving as many as possible to perish, delaying rescue efforts in the neighborhoods and at the Superdome and Convention Center.

[Kenroy]

13. I'm not sure how it could be accomplished

how do you flood one neighborhood but not another? it all depends on the elevation of the land.

[EC]

18. I saw an article on this too, but read so many papers

don't recall which it was, that they blew out part of the retaining wall to divert the water away from the ?Bay Area?

[FreedomAngel82]

6. Amazing

One wonders. It's so disgusting.

[fishwax]

7. kick

:kick:

[pat_k]

8. All the denals that racism is killing people there -- incredible!

I am flabbergasted by all the denials that racism is killing people there.

It is like denying the sky is blue.

Racism is behind the hysterical paranoia that stopped the rescue operations. Racism and fear created the situation at the convention center, where the people were imprisoned at gunpoint. (They weren't trapped, they weren't abandoned. Men with guns kept them there. Decisions were made.)

Racist fears and images are behind the widespread assumptions that young, Black American men must be the source of the lawlessness and chaos. Racist fears and images are behind the failure to pay any attention to he lawlessness and chaos caused by the armed, untrained, paranoid vigilantes that are out there shooting their guns off at every perceived threat.

Rumors run rampant in a crisis, but it is racist belief systems that are so deeply entrenched in every corner of America that allow the rumors to escalate without question. (the unspoken thought, Well, THEY are like that...)

Racism is behind the fear in the eyes of the police patrolling. For some, it is fear of retribution for the abuse they have heaped on "those people" for years.

Let's get real people. Racism is a driving force at every level of this momumental tragedy.

[sam sarrha]

9. I believe i am getting backlash at work, all black but me,they are really

making my life miserable, and difficult.. they run the controls and are not doing what they did last month. when the line gets a piled up they are supposed to back it up, so it doesn't spread 2 tons of hardwood boards 24 feet long all over the drag line.. then it take me 1/2 hour to stack it back right.. lately they dont stop jams and run it tight against the far side where it is literally impossable for one exhousted person to do anything about.. and they refuse to help at all.

they leave early and i have to clean the whole place up.. we are talking raking and shovelling a ton of board ends and knots and sawdust..

there are the blank faces that refuse to look at you, and they all move over to another area if i go get a drink ...

I am being Shunned.. and it is disturbing.. i always went out of my way to help everyone there, i am from the Pacific Northwest.. not the Southern Heartland. i have never had a problem with black people, ever.. but it looks like I have one now.

[Tomee450]

14. I am black and

am very sorry this is happening to you. You cannot be blamed for the actions of very insensitive people in Washington. Hopefully, things will get better soon.

[sam sarrha]

15. thanks, i am just making an observation, i see they are in Pain, they have

family and friends there, they see this as genocide, i agree with them.. the RePugNuts are shipping the poverty out of NOLA and will steal their property.

only 1 in 5 survivers even have shoes..

i sit and cry for all the NEEDLESS sufferig and death.. It happened because they LOOTED the canal repair and FEMA funds for the F*CKILNG
WAR IN IRAQ.

i need to mow the lawn but i cant stop crying, i cant go outside

[Swamp Rat]

10. This is 1941 n/t

[toymachines]

11. i wonder how many articles will ponder this

"will New Orleans become known as the first battle in the new American revolution?"
Ponder away...

[Zodiak]

12. I am sick and tired...

of the choices of words the media is engaing in right now. I just heard an anchor on MSNBC refer to New Orleans as being just like "Baghdad". You bastards!!!

This is NOT Baghdad! Those aren't terrorists there. They are Americans!

I'm telling you, all of the talk about war-like scenarios and the comparison of this disaster with the war in Iraq and 9/11 sicken me. Black people are not the enemy, but one wouldn't know it from the language used.

1. Black
2. Arab
3. Muslim
4. Gay
5. Liberal

All of these people have already felt the hatred of Bush. "They came for the communists and I said nothing", indeed.

[I Have A Dream]

16. You could add 'Female' to that as well. n/t

[EC]

17. So is this saying that it was the more well to do white people

that had the guns?

I knew this, too. We had interviewed a white resident who lived there. He described an enclave that feared the group of black people. He said many residents were armed and organized.

He mentioned nothing of helping them, even as he tried to joke to us: "The natives are getting hungry." We didn't laugh.

[Coexist]

19. fear and ignorance cause riots and mayhem

and those who were defending themselves can be portrayed as the problem.

It wouldn't be the first time.