Who Agrees With Farrakhan? Were Black neighborhoods targeted?

[Chicago Democrat]

Poll question: Who Agrees With Farrakhan? Were Black neighborhoods targeted?

Farrakhan thinks the Bush administration and a whole bunch of white people conspired to make 250,000 Black folks homeless and turn their homes into a luxury beach condos? What do YOU THINK?

[nonconformist]

1. I think it was just flat-out incompetence.

I don't think there was a greater plan to it all. They just suck.

[babylonsister]

8. I agree. This admin is inept, and to tie it into racism

might not hurt, but that wasn't the real intention. No one had a clue, despite all the warnings. And our country is not protected. They fucking suck.

[benburch]

2. The fuckups were real fuckups...

But the bonus of ridding NOLA of its poor black folks and making lots of white folks rich with the land they used to live on was very welcome to Bush**.

[TahitiNut]

3. Opportunism is often mistaken for planning.

:shrug:

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Well stated.

[alarcojon]

5. Gotta agree with you. n/t

[babylonsister]

13. I think that's difficult to believe, given the major

backlash. It's incompetence; they are fuckups!

[petronius]

22. I've heard a similar idea expressed as 'Hanlon's Razor'

“Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.”

[TahitiNut]

30. In my sig: "Stupidity is the same as evil if you judge by the results."

There's nothing stupid about opportunism. Corrupt. Immoral. Cowardly. Not really stupid.

[scarletwoman]

6. To those who voted "Farrakhan is a racist" in this poll -- SHAME ON YOU!

The very BEST I can say about you is that you're deluded. That's being VERY generous.

Racsim is the institutionalized and enculturated attitude of white=normal. In a country where the dominant culture is absolutely swimming in white privilege, your inability to grasp this simple fact is pathetic.

If you are white, ask yourself; would you ever, under any circumstance, prefer to be black?

sw

[KittyWampus]

7. you don't think Farrakhan is a racist? Okay, he's a bigot. YOU need to

read what that jackass has actually said.

And frankly, I think this poll was started by someone who just wanted to stir some shit up on DU.

[scarletwoman]

9. Why don't you post an example to support your assertion?

Why is Farrakhan a bigot? Because he says mean things about whites?

I think "white" culture is the most destructive force on this planet. Am I a bigot too? (I'm white, btw -- a real race traitor, if you will)

sw

[Chicago Democrat]

10. Well okay I'll bite.. "Nation of Islam" is Afro centric and Afro advocate

and does a ton of great stuff, but isn't it an all-Black organization. Isn't the whole idea of a nation of (Black) American Muslims inside America. Plus he's said a few things. I think he's racist in a good way does that makes sense, occassionally he goes too far, but NOT IN THIS CASE.

Seeing as Blacks are only about 4 generations removed from being owned, its natural for Nation of Islam to be a refuge and a way up.

[scarletwoman]

11. How does he "go too far"?

Just wonderin'...

sw

[Chicago Democrat]

12. I don't exactly remember.. something probably about jews...

I forgot and forgave along time ago. He's gotten better over the years, everyone says stuff and his words are gone over with a fine tooth comb.

[MS68]

40. It was Jews..

I saw him on Phil Donahue years and years ago, and he and his followers supported the beating of a jewish boy who happened to make the mistake of wandering into the wrong neighborhood. They are very anti-jewish.

He's a racist pig and I wouldn't listen to anything he had to say.

[LoZoccolo]

18. "I think 'white' culture is the most destructive force on this planet."

What does that have to do with Farrakhan?

[Qibing Zero]

28. Now when you say 'white' culture...

Do you include the spin-offs of the horrible money/power worshipping society we live in that aren't white involved at all?

I think assertions of race being the reason for any problem society faces is a cop-out, nothing less. There are much deeper issues.

[Chicago Democrat]

27. honestly not meant to stir up anything but the truth.. God Bless DU

and thank you for your honest opinion.

We are a family here. Its okay to discuss the controversial. I want to know about what people here think. I need to test my own ideas.


Thank you for your patience and indulgence.

[eridani]

29. Racism and bigotry are very different things

Anyone, no matter how downtrodden, can be a bigot. Racism = bigotry + privilege. Black Africans can be racist in countries where they have all the political and social power, but African Americans can't be by definition.

[donheld]

14. We had this arguement last week

I still say, in my opinion, those who bad mouth the Minister do so because the MSM has programmed them to do so. They've never actually sat and listened to what the man says. They've listen to sound bites the MSM has prepared of him, usually out of context, and call that enough. They wouldn't accept these standards for Howard Dean, or Dennis Kucinich, but since Minister Farrakhan is a scary black muslim who says things white folk don't want to hear it's ok. The ADL has been caught lying about the man, but they don't want to hear that.

In the gay area Minister Farrakhan is bigoted, he insists all gay men want to be women, and lesbians men. Now us gay men and lesbians know that's not true. I've heard the man say that for myself, that's not what anybodies told me. I believe the Minister is coming to a point where he will bend on the gay issue.

Now as far has him hating all jews or whites that simply is not so. I've listened to the man off and on for 10 years and feel for a gay white man i think i know the man and his beliefs pretty damn good.

I remember the first time really listened to him was when he was on the "Phil Donohue Show." I was ready for this hate monger I had always heard about. The entire hour he was just as sweet as he could be. Now of course he sounds hateful when he talks about the evil, and injustice people have done to other people, but in that he's just as hard on one as he is to the other. I've heard him take gang-bangers and other blacks to task many times. :rant:

[mwb970]

20. I like listening to him talk.

But I don't always agree with what he says.

[Behind the Aegis]

32. Different opinion.

He is very much an anti-Semite. In his recent attempts at another "Million Man March," he has extended his hand to the gay community. He is still bigoted against gays, in my opinion, but to deny he is bigoted against Jews is just wrong!

Although, you make the claim that the ADL has lied about him, the quotes they provide, I have found some (I did not search them all) at other 'reputable' sites. Learn about Farrakhan in his own words...Farrakhan speaks

As a gay, white, Jewish man, I am very aware of his speeches as well.

[Roy]

15. When did Farrakhan make those statements?

"Farrakhan thinks the Bush administration and a whole bunch of white people conspired to make 250,000 Black folks homeless and turn their homes into a luxury beach condos? What do YOU THINK?"

[Richard Steele]

16. Given the level this thread has devolved to, I'm sorry I voted now. nm

[Poppyseedman]

17. Farrakhan stated the levees were blown up to kill black people

There are plenty of examples of racism in this country and to fabricate BS like the levees were dynamited is simply race baiting in it's worse form.

No need to make crap up and inflame people when there is plenty of REAL information available to make a point

[Chicago Democrat]

21. I did not know he said -that-... I think malevolent criminal neglect

cronyism and division of funds/equipment to Iraq and because they are poor and black is bad enough.

[alarcojon]

23. Let's look at what EXACTLY he said

"I heard from a very reliable source who saw a 25 foot deep crater under the levee breach. It may have been blown up to destroy the black part of town and keep the white part dry."

http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/091205-ad-wcnc-farrakhan.4fb21767.html

Personally, I disagree even with the suggestion that this may have been a deliberate act. Still, we need to be careful - there IS still a distinction between a suggestion and a statement of fact.

Come to think of it, this seems to me like a good example of how Minister Farrakhan's actual words are subtly changed around by the time they reach the level of general public consumption.

[Roy]

25. Subtly changed????

You are a very kind and generous person.

[The Stranger]

42. Isn't there history to this? Weren't levees blown in the 1920's flood,

destroying the poor, black parts of Southeastern Louisiana, but saving white New Orleans (white at that time)?

[The Stranger]

43. Found it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Mississippi_Flood_of_1927

In the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 the Mississippi River broke out of its levee system in 145 places and flooded 27,000 square miles or about 16,570,627 acres (70,000 km²). The area was inundated up to a depth of 30 feet (10 m). The flood caused over $400 million in damages and killed 246 people in seven states.

. . . .

The flood propelled Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover, in charge of flood relief operations, into the national spotlight and set the stage for his election to the Presidency. It also helped Huey Long be elected Louisiana Governor in 1928.

. . . .

As the flood approached New Orleans, Louisiana 30 tons of dynamite were set off on the levee at Caernarvon, Louisiana and sent 250,000 ft³/s (7,000 m³/s) of water pouring through. This prevented New Orleans from experiencing serious damage but destroyed much of the marsh below the city and flooded all of St. Bernard Parish. As it turned out, the destruction of the Caernarvon levee was unnecessary; several major levee breaks well upstream of New Orleans, including one the day after the dynamiting, made it impossible for flood waters to seriously threaten the city.

By August 1927 the flood subsided. During the disaster 700,000 people were displaced, including 330,000 African-Americans who were moved to 154 relief camps. Over 13,000 refugees near Greenville, Mississippi were gathered from area farms and evacuated to the crest of an unbroken levee, and stranded there for days without food or clean water, while boats arrived to evacuate white women and children. Many African-Americans were detained and forced to labor at gunpoint during flood relief efforts.

[Poppyseedman]

46. Minister Farrakhan know exactly what he was saying

...there IS still a distinction between a suggestion and a statement of fact.

Maybe that's because Minister Farrakhan has no evidence to back up his assertion.

[Roy]

24. Apparently the fabrication is on th part of the OP!

The OP talks about what the minister "thinks".

I asked the OP when did the minister make these statements, yesterday. I got no reply.
Now the OP in replying to you states in wonderment "I didn't know he made those statements."

And then go on to agree with the statement, that excepts what he says (or has fabricated) as factual quotes):

"There are plenty of examples of racism in this country and to fabricate BS like the levees were dynamited is simply race baiting in it's worse form.

No need to make crap up and inflame people when there is plenty of REAL information available to make a point"]

It seems that the OP fabricated an outrageous statement, attributes it to the minister, and then in a reply agrees that the minister shouldn't fabricate BS and is race baiting in doing so.

Am I the only person that's flabbergasted here!

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Even a broken clock is correct twice a day

[DemocratSinceBirth]

26. This Government Is More Incompetent Than I Thought

To spend 250 billion dollars to create condos for rich white folks....


I wish I could get a piece of this action...

[T Town Jake]

31. Farrakhan is a racist anti-semite...

...who once stated in a speech that it would be just if "all of white America" was wiped out in order to "even the score."

That's not any kind of "progressive" or "liberal" voice I'd be proud to hear lifted up for general publication...

[ladylibertee]

33. It's people like him who make it harder on blacks.........Now.

don't get me wrong.I am NOT one of those Uncle Tom, White House Niggas, Aunt Jemimah Condoleeza Rice SELL-OUT black people.I just do not agree with this man.He is doing the same thing that he fights against and it looks bad.Because of people like Farrakhan crying racist WOLF. Now that we really are facing it (katrina) he fucks it up for us with a crazy ass accusation.Fox News loves him.

[Tomee450]

47. Oh baloney

I find it hard to believe that you are black. Given the history of the black experience in this country, it is hard for me to believe that an African American, even one not fond of Farrakhan, would readily dismiss his statement. African Americans in the past have made claims of great mistreatment which were later found to be true. I would suggest that you read a little black history. You don't have to go back to slavery, start with the Jim Crow era. It might open your eyes.

[ladylibertee]

49. And I agree with those pass statements, but I'm sorry babe, unless

it can be proven, I just don't but it.I am black.Chocolate black too.I am very proud of it . I am just a little more MLK than Farrakhan. He is too extreme.

[Peter Frank]

34. Who Cares What Farrakhan Thinks???...

...He's proven himself to be a racist long ago. Our world needs Farrakhan like we needs Bush.

(...unless the world needs even more hypocrisy.)

[NaturalHigh]

37. I agree.

Farrakhan is a jackass racist.

[ladylibertee]

35. UNFORTUNATLY, wild , angry , bruthas....

[Peter Frank]

36. Care to Add Your Thoughts???

[hyphenate]

38. I don't think it was intentional

on the part of Katrina decimating NO like it did, and where most of the flooding occurred. On the other hand, I DO believe there was some deliberate time wasting at the back end, and whether that was because people who were left in the city and in the Superdome were mainly minorities, or because they were among the poorest in the city, I can't say. It sure as hell looks as though there wasn't enough intel (which we all know is bullshit) or that someone was having a field day acting like "god."

[DemocratSinceBirth]

39. Perhaps Farrakhan Will See The Light The Way Malcom Did

Before he died he saw the problems of America being solved through racial reconciliation and not racial division...

Call me a Pollyanna but I think white and black folks get along better now than at any time in our nation's history....

Our challenge is to bring up our black and white brothers and sisters who have been left behind economically...

[noonwitch]

41. Farakhan is nuts

Poor people lived in the areas most affected by the levee's breaking. Black people are an over-represented population group among the poor. Bush doesn't care about poor or black people, and so the response was slow due to that racism, but I doubt that NO was purposely flooded in the way Farakhan implies.

[The Stranger]

44. The History Behind This.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Mississippi_Flood_of...

In the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 the Mississippi River broke out of its levee system in 145 places and flooded 27,000 square miles or about 16,570,627 acres (70,000 km²). The area was inundated up to a depth of 30 feet (10 m). The flood caused over $400 million in damages and killed 246 people in seven states.

. . . .

The flood propelled Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover, in charge of flood relief operations, into the national spotlight and set the stage for his election to the Presidency. It also helped Huey Long be elected Louisiana Governor in 1928.

. . . .

As the flood approached New Orleans, Louisiana 30 tons of dynamite were set off on the levee at Caernarvon, Louisiana and sent 250,000 ft³/s (7,000 m³/s) of water pouring through. This prevented New Orleans from experiencing serious damage but destroyed much of the marsh below the city and flooded all of St. Bernard Parish. As it turned out, the destruction of the Caernarvon levee was unnecessary; several major levee breaks well upstream of New Orleans, including one the day after the dynamiting, made it impossible for flood waters to seriously threaten the city.

By August 1927 the flood subsided. During the disaster 700,000 people were displaced, including 330,000 African-Americans who were moved to 154 relief camps. Over 13,000 refugees near Greenville, Mississippi were gathered from area farms and evacuated to the crest of an unbroken levee, and stranded there for days without food or clean water, while boats arrived to evacuate white women and children. Many African-Americans were detained and forced to labor at gunpoint during flood relief efforts.

[Tomee450]

48. Some people don't want to

know the truth but would rather keep their heads in the sand. Things have been done to black people that were never done to any other group. I don't know if what Farrakhan has stated is true, but knowing about the many horrible things deliberately done to blacks in the past, I won't readily reject his suggestion. I certainly hope he's wrong.

[pitohui]

45. he is mistaken

i don't know where he's from but he must not be from the area if he thinks the black folks owned the homes in the most desirable locations

i personally know too many white ppl who have total losses of their homes & neighborhoods to believe this silly theory

i don't know if he is really ignorant or if he is deliberately trying to whip up race hatred for his own profit, which would make him no better than bush or rove himself

comments like this serve no purpose

if black neighborhoods were targeted explain lakeview

explain waveland

explain long beach

this was a 400 mile wide storm, it did not target