America’s racist response
Just because many chose not to heed evacuation warnings, that’s no excuse to leave people to die in the New Orleans flood. Many of the estimated 100,000+ who stayed were too poor, frail, or didn’t know where to stay. Even if they were just plain stupid, it’s our elected government’s duty to do everything possible that can be accomplished safely, as it is to educate people in the first place. Supplies and escape buses and boats are late in arriving. I’ve even heard reports of law enforcement firing upon refugees!
This was a man-made disaster waiting to happen, and was predicted long ago by scientists and engineers. The Army Corps of Engineers could not make more improvements to the levy system because funding went to the war in Iraq. Now it’s going to cost a lot more.
New Orleans is low income, and two-thirds black. I think that’s why the president and possibly the governor have not allocated more resources to the crisis. Whether direct or indirect, the end result is racist.
posted by Tom Cleland @ 9/02/2005 06:49:00 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
(Just disabled anonymous comments!)
For the record, I don’t want to condone the looting, violence, and crazed drug addicts. That being said, I still believe government can do a lot more to prevent crime in the first place. I also want to give credit to those heroes who have helped the victims, and the rescuers arriving now and in the future. I also want to encourage people to donate. My intent is only to be a humble role model in mentioning that I chipped in some to the Red Cross.
Back on the subject of cause, one other thought is that global warming theory predicts that hurricanes will become more intense. That’s impossible to prove here, of course, but I’m inclined to believe it played a role.
As mentioned earlier, this disaster was predicted. I hope that one of the top lessons learned will be to take to heart the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” There are other real threats ahead, and not just a California earthquake. Just as the New Orleans flood was foretold, Peak Oil is foretold, economic collapse is foretold, and food shortages are foretold. For more information, read “The Party’s Over” by Richard Heinberg.
Yes, and I just noticed ftw was also saying something similar:
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/090205_bet_life.shtml
I think you guys probably have something there. Black voters don't vote Republican. Otherwise, they would not have needed Blackwell in Ohio to fix the vote there.
Let them die and you don't have to worry about disenfranchising them AGAIN in 2006.
The good thing is that this tactic is a bit of an eye opener for some Republicans who have been fooling themselves in so many ways.
Tom , you should record your SUV song. With gas prices shooting through the roof this is the most effective time to disseminate that. And believe me, timing is everything with political songs (if you want them to be heard anyway.)
No. The book is more important. You finish the song. Or post the lyrics.
Yes, gas prices are already rising. Ted, you can expect gas prices to keep rising. When costs hit the snapping point, brace for impact…
I'll write my own based on the ideas from brainstorming with you.
OK. With your permission, then, I’ll post what we came up with so far, though I may hold off for a while out of respect for the flood victims. I already posted the chorus music.
Absolutely, go for it! I feel more like I was just helping brainstorm. I think of it as your song.
Well you song until the millions start rolling in anyhow. ;-)
I've been working on my song about how I see patriotism as synonymous with reformist activism.
I'm, so fussy. I asked my ex-boyfriend for advice and then I don't want take half of it. But then he told me I should change the 8th measure from Db-Cb-Cb to Db-Bb-Bb, except that the eighth measure is actually Db-B-B. I think maybe the harpsichord is throwing him off. Because he was picking the notes from ear. Maybe I should have just sent him the sheet music. Cause really I just wanted to know if I had made any major blunders in my harmony.
It was actually cleaner than I thought. :-) I wish I understood chords better.
Good, due to its satirical nature, let’s give it until the weekend. Then I’ll post it with both our by-lines and without copyright.
Glad you got it posted! :-)
Did you receive the copy of my new song in your email?
I wanted you to stroke my ego and tell you really liked it.
Here are more details on the reports of law enforcement firing on the refugees. If true, the city of Gretna, Louisiana should be shunned by the rest of the nation.
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/091505_blocking_gretna.shtml
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