I will likely get a lot of negative responses to this quick post, but I bet that if Hurricane Katrina had hit somewhere more socio-economically valuable, that the move to assist and help would have been greater.
I also bet that people are less likely to help people of colour, specifically those of African descent.
I also bet that many think that the United States should have been prepared for this, and that as one of the richest nations, they don't need or deserve the assistance of other nations.
Am I being cynical or playing the race or political card? Maybe I am, but looking back historically, I can't help but make this assumption. It's not something I or anyone wants to hear, but I think it needs to be said, so that we keep ourselves in check. We will never reach humanity if we aren't compassionate for everyone. People all suffer and hurt, so forget about politics or race, or the fact that this happened in a rich country.
p.s. I'll be back when I have more time, and hope all is well with everyone.
11 comments:
You're absolutely right. No white person would have waited FOUR DAYS for water. This whole thing is so disgusting. Civilizations are measured by how they treat their powerless, their poor, their weak, and their insane. What we did to these people is unthinkable. Shame.
yeah, john said he saw an ad collecting for aid for people in new orleans and he just shook his head. he said "this is the self-professed richest nation in the world, shouldn't they be doing the donating?"
this is not to say it isn't a worthy 'cause, just, well, disgusting that the gov't hasn't stepped in.
i totally agree with you hon and posted something similar yesterday. it's so messed up and it saddens my heart that racism and classism is alive and well here in the u.s.....
i also hate to see g.w. smirking on television saying stuff like 'what are THEY doing?' like he suddenly isn't a part of his f-ed up administration...
Yes, but how is it different in Toronto? There are so many divides. I hear about gun violence in Scarborough all the time and I'm not volunteering or doing anything to help out there. It's a disaster going on in Toronto and personally, I'm doing nothing. Now if a natural disaster or major crisis suddenly hit the east end of T.O., can I even say that I would board someone in my apartment for a month? Not likely. I say this as a financially comfortable white woman who, although I like to think of myself as progressive, wouldn't know how to respond either.
Actually, the latest I've read says that the relief hasn't made it to the white areas, either. The press just hasn't made it into those parts of Mississippi to cover it. Since they made it to New Orleans, Louisiana, it looks like it's racially motivated.
I really don't think it's bigotry behind this (although the people in charge may not care much for minorities). I think it's incompetence and would play out the same way no matter where this happened.
As for aid to the US, I think it is noble when other countries help out. God knows the US has been there to help everyone else. Yes, the US has done things wrong (tell me who hasn't), but when other people are in trouble, the US has been there. Even former enemies got help. So maybe the US should be able to go it alone, but real friends (and good people in general) don't stand back and let someone in need stagger through it, even if they're richer. They send generators, bottled water, whatever they have around that can help. Don't let politics and a stupid Administration cloud the view of people in need.
I'm not heading down there, but I've already donated a lot of money (to the Red Cross, Americares, the Humane Society of the US) and will continue to give as much as I can. The government fell down on the job, but there's still a "right thing" for people to do.
It's so true, sad, but true. They show blacks looting on tv but never explain that the stores these people were breaking into had food and water that was almost non-existant for 5 days in the heat. Plus these are predominently black areas of the south not the rich white areas as you mentioned.
Even though it was hell down there, little glimpses of humanity sparkled and race became a non issue for most during this horrible time.
k
Now if only our f-ing politicians were capable of such humanity. THAT GOES FOR YOU BUSH!!!
sweetheart you are preaching to the choir. and actually, this is *very* out in the media right now. a lot of people are looking at why all of those poor and working class american citizens were just ignored. its a class issue, not a race issue. though predominantly black there were white and latino as well. but the one thing they all had in common was that they weren't well off enough to get out like the others.
george w. didn't want other countries and canada's help at first, because they might have a "political agenda". i say screw the red tapes and policies, if someone offer, "hey, anything you need, just name it, we're there" ACCEPT the offer right away and get your people out of the polluted water, give them food and shelter. and yes, it is a class issue more than race, very sad. at desperate times, people really need to help each other out to survive together.
I have to agree. The reality is that the government has not come to step in soon enough. As with anything, political agendas cloud and delay humanitarian aid that is needed for it's own people. Such a shame that our society still behaves like this. Yet, I do relate to Snooze, as I too, being a financially stable white male, does not do enough of my own to support others in need, even those right here in my own backyard. So perhaps I have to reflect on this whole situation more deeply within myself too.
Probably doesn't help that they've got probably 80 percent of their military committed to that stupid war, and they've driven themselves so far into debt due to the same that it'll be surprising if they ever get clear of it.
Oh and on the racial note, a friend sent me two images. One was of two white folks wading through the water having 'found' food. The other was an african american, clearly carrying groceries not electronics, having 'looted' a store. Riiiight.
Aethlos - I personally hate making this a race issue, but felt it was a possibility. Reading through the other comments, I also have to agree it is much more a class - socio economic division. It is truly sad.
Mainja - The fact that George W. Bush so readily made an announcement to nominate John Roberts for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court so quickly after William Rehnquist's death, when he took so long to make any concerted or committed effort to help victims in Louisianna is a disgrace. The political agenda of Bush apparently precedes any humanitarian assistance.
Wanton Wonton - Exactly. People always want to believe that classicism and racism have been eradicated, but it is in these moments that it becomes even more glaringly obvious. Thank goodness that there have been so many private groups and citizens jumping in to help.
Snooze - That is very true, and maybe the heart of my point. We can't be there for everything and everyone. We choose our battles and our crusades, but when your own nation fails you, it is a sad state of affairs. I think if a situation like that happened here, we might change our position. I don't think we can truly know the horror or collective pain that these people are going through.
Jess - I am sure there are many White families that have lost much and also not received help, but when 9/11 happened to the wealthy city of New York and to the political hub of Washington DC, Bush was swift and committed in his response. If those in charge do not "care much for minorities" then it is racially motivated. Incompetence is a poor excuse.
Knottyboy - I think the media does play a vital role in propagating racial stereotypes. I was watching an American news channel this past weekend, that showed a White man and his family taking food from a store and called him a "gatherer". They interviewed him and said he was scared of the looters and robbers, who they then pictured in a video as Blacks and Hispanics (who by the way, were also taking food). Why the difference in terminolgy and semantics?
Bees - I know...I can get that way can't I babes? I am just livid at the way this has gone,a nd how media portrays people.
Spoony - Very good point. I think he is now accepting help though.
EssentialStephen - I think you an dSnooze it on a the heart of the situation. We do what we can right? If we can't or won't help out on all issues, we can't feel guilty about it, but we can at least be aware and spread the conversation around. That in itself is helping.
Daelyn - I guess you saw the SAME American news channel I did...See my comment above to Knottyboy.
Thanks all for the amazing comments. All are very true. I leave with a quote.
"A hazard is something Mother Nature throws at you; a disater is when you are not ready. You can't prevent the storm but the storm doesn't need to be a disaster." - Paul Kovacs, Execustive Director of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction at the U of Western Ontario.
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