NationStates Jolt Archive

I've heard a lot of people claim that if there were less African-Americans in New Orleans, and more whites, the rescue process would've went much smoother.

What does everyone here think?

I think God punished america for using his name so often to justify to do such terrible things around the world.

I've heard a lot of people claim that if there were less African-Americans in New Orleans, and more whites, the rescue process would've went much smoother.

What does everyone here think?
I think everyone needs to let the race thing drop. Whites need to stop doing whatever the hell they're doing to everyone else and everyone else needs to stop playing the race card to get stuff for free. [/rant]

I think God punished america for using his name so often to justify to do such terrible things around the world.
Yeah, because America goes around killing people in the name of God. :rolleyes:

WE are not an islamic hate group. WE are a nation.

I think God punished america for using his name so often to justify to do such terrible things around the world.

You are free to think that. In fact, I heartily encourage you. Please... go somewhere and think that...

I've heard a lot of people claim that if there were less African-Americans in New Orleans, and more whites, the rescue process would've went much smoother.

What does everyone here think?

Sounds like someone just wants an excuse to be racist. I can't think of what reasons they might be thinking about.

Oh, wait, you're saying that the rescuers would have been faster....
Doubt it, somehow. The US stinks at dealing with natural disasters, and the only things that could have been done were citywide and thus would have been done for the whites. Seems like the problem is just general incompetence, not racial incompetence.

Antre_Travarious']Yeah, because America goes around killing people in the name of God. :rolleyes:

WE are not an islamic hate group. WE are a nation.

You do realize he was being sarcastic, right?

Race doesn't matter one bit. Economics does. And to be very blunt, a section of the black community does not have a culture where they are proactively looking for advancement, but prefer taking what they can get. This isn't all, and indeed, there are many successful blacks. Can't say that for every black. And this applies to whites too, though poor whites tend to be more rural. I have a few relatives that are utter white trash, for example.

Race doesn't matter one bit. Economics does. And to be very blunt, a section of the black community does not have a culture where they are proactively looking for advancement, but prefer taking what they can get. This isn't all, and indeed, there are many successful blacks. Can't say that for every black. And this applies to whites too, though poor whites tend to be more rural. I have a few relatives that are utter white trash, for example.

Which has WHAT to do with the rescue efforts?

Or was this just a platform for a race rant?

I've heard a lot of people claim that if there were less African-Americans in New Orleans, and more whites, the rescue process would've went much smoother.

What does everyone here think?

I think you are an uncaring, insensitive, unadulterated, flaming jerk. I feel sorry for anyone who would post something like this. Get a life.

Bottom line is that racism does exist. Some whites hate blacks. Some blacks hate whites. But even though I've seen mistakes made in the rescue efforts, I certainly haven't seen the KKK sitting on boxes of food and water, laughing at New Orleans. Ive seen people busting their ass to get help to people. You wanna blame some one? My opinion would be to blame these people.
1)The Governor
2)The Mayor
3)The people shooting at rescue workers
4)The ENTIRE senate for politicicing EVERYTHING in this country (rep and dem)
5)The cops who abandoned their citizens.
6)AND MOSTLY all Americans who think we are invulnerable to things like this. 3rd world country? Thats just stupid. Give mothernature a target, and we are ALL 3rd world!

Which has WHAT to do with the rescue efforts?

Or was this just a platform for a race rant?
Quite a bit, in terms of economics. I mean, the worse one's economic situation is, the more likely one is to disrespect authority, for seeing no gain iin it. This doesn't apply to all people, but then again, Beverly Hills does not have the same crime rate as Detroit. And if you wanna call me a rascist, fine. But I think I'm only as rascist as the next guy, regardless of color.

You do realize he was being sarcastic, right?

Why do I doubt that? People don't make crass statements like that and defend it by calling it sarcasm.

Race doesn't matter one bit. Economics does. And to be very blunt, a section of the black community does not have a culture where they are proactively looking for advancement, but prefer taking what they can get. This isn't all, and indeed, there are many successful blacks. Can't say that for every black. And this applies to whites too, though poor whites tend to be more rural. I have a few relatives that are utter white trash, for example.

Another racist raises his/her ugly head.

No, because this is the first time a disaster of this scale involved so many people with so much devastation. This has simply never happened before, and we wern't prepared for it. This isn't racism, just a lack of preparedness.

Playing the race card is just an excuse for failiure, and people who suggest it are just trying to profit off of the situation politically. They should be trying to help, rather than sitting back letting others do it while they denigrate the people risking their lives out there.

Another racist raises his/her ugly head.
I'm not a rascist. If anything, I discriminate by culture. Many good blacks are out there. Take Oprah, for example. God, it's gonna take me months to clear my name.

I'm not a rascist. If anything, I discriminate by culture. Many good blacks are out there. Take Oprah, for example. God, it's gonna take me months to clear my name.
Don't worry man, we may disagree alot, but if that statement makes you a racist, I guess I'm one too.

Don't worry man, we may disagree alot, but if that statement makes you a racist, I guess I'm one too.
Thank you. Now, if you don't mind, I have to get into my white hooded outfit for the annual KKK/Black Panthers wrestling match. :p

I'm not a rascist. If anything, I discriminate by culture. Many good blacks are out there. Take Oprah, for example. God, it's gonna take me months to clear my name.

So you are a cultural and economic racist? Oprah is OK because she is rich and black, but if someone is poor and black that is a different story?

Thank you. Now, if you don't mind, I have to get into my white hooded outfit for the annual KKK/Black Panthers wrestling match. :p
LOL Yeah, I have to go oppress some miorities now.

I've heard a lot of people claim that if there were less African-Americans in New Orleans, and more whites, the rescue process would've went much smoother.

What does everyone here think?

I think it's obvious. God must be mad at poor black people. And Red States. God is getting majorily pissed at the Red States.

I'm not a rascist. If anything, I discriminate by culture. Many good blacks are out there. Take Oprah, for example. God, it's gonna take me months to clear my name.

Hitler wasn't a racist either.

So you are a cultural and economic racist? Oprah is OK because she is rich and black, but if someone is poor and black that is a different story?
As I see it, there's a difference between poor and broke. Broke is a state of having no money, and a determination to get it. Poor is despairing about how you became poor, and expecting some magical event to lift you outta poverty. There are broke blacks and poor blacks, as there are broke whites and poor whites, and rich whites and rich blacks, and middle class whites and middle class blacks, and broke Asians, poor Asians, rich Asians, get the picture?

Antre_Travarious']Yeah, because America goes around killing people in the name of God. :rolleyes:

WE are not an islamic hate group. WE are a nation.

How do you define 'hate'? If you mean simply disliking someone, then they could call us a hate group.

You can argue that they're evil, but how would you define evil? If you think it's something that is deemed wrong by your society, then evil is simply a differing, alebit disturbing, point of view. /matrix

Seriously, are you judging them or their society?

Quite a bit, in terms of economics. I mean, the worse one's economic situation is, the more likely one is to disrespect authority, for seeing no gain iin it. This doesn't apply to all people, but then again, Beverly Hills does not have the same crime rate as Detroit. And if you wanna call me a rascist, fine. But I think I'm only as rascist as the next guy, regardless of color.

Curious approach to my post. I'm not convinced I DID call you racist...

Which, again, would have been avoiding answering the question.

What does that have to do with the rescue effort?

Are you saying that poor people are harder to rescue? Deserve to be rescued less?

I've heard a lot of people claim that if there were less African-Americans in New Orleans, and more whites, the rescue process would've went much smoother.

What does everyone here think?
I think that's completely ridiculous, and I don't like Bush any more than you do.

Curious approach to my post. I'm not convinced I DID call you racist...

Which, again, would have been avoiding answering the question.

What does that have to do with the rescue effort?

Are you saying that poor people are harder to rescue? Deserve to be rescued less?
Ah, I see. Anyhow, they complicate it. Some are just more desparate, haviing started from a lower base of material wealth, anyhow. Others resort to criminal acts, and as we are seeing in NO, they are reminiiscent of terrorist attacks. I don't think anyone can say that crime rates are higher among the middle class than in poorer communities.

No, because this is the first time a disaster of this scale involved so many people with so much devastation. This has simply never happened before, and we wern't prepared for it. This isn't racism, just a lack of preparedness.

Playing the race card is just an excuse for failiure, and people who suggest it are just trying to profit off of the situation politically. They should be trying to help, rather than sitting back letting others do it while they denigrate the people risking their lives out there.

I absolutely agree. Disorganization and unpreparedness. It's hard to coordinate federal, state, and local governments, especially in an unprecedented and unparalleled event. The levees in New Orleans weren't built to withstand Hurricane Katrina's magnitude. Poverty contributed to the fact that so many blacks were stuck in New Orleans after the governor and mayor told everyone to evacuate, but it's not racism or poverty that's preventing relief efforts. It's just plain ol' disorganization.

How do you define 'hate'? If you mean simply disliking someone, then they could call us a hate group.

You can argue that they're evil, but how would you define evil? If you think it's something that is deemed wrong by your society, then evil is simply a differing, alebit disturbing, point of view. /matrix

Seriously, are you judging them or their society?
I'm judging them. Hate is a feeling deep inside of a human. It is natural. It is instinctual. It is suppresable. Some choose not to.

I wonder if the bush admnistration has realized that this is one of the consequences of global warming that they insist in getting it worse and worse for the sake of defending industry...

Bush must have thought like this:

"I found the link between katrina and kyoto!
Both of them start with 'K'."

I think you are an uncaring, insensitive, unadulterated, flaming jerk. I feel sorry for anyone who would post something like this. Get a life.

What part of my post makes you think that?

I wonder if the bush admnistration has realized that this is one of the consequences of global warming that they insist in getting it worse and worse for the sake of defending industry...

Bush must have thought like this:

"I found the link between katrina and kyoto!
Both of them start with 'K'."
You insight betrays you intelligence. The Wisdom? (snicker)

I don't think this disaster with relief is race-based at all...lots of cities have high populations of black people and would get better relief than this, and lots of cities have large populations of white people and would be just as screwed. If a bunch of white people started looting in a city full of corrupt cops and politicians while under several feet of water, the National Guard and the U.S. military would be just as out of luck.

And as much as I hate to say it, I don't know if it's really a good idea for people to go back into New Orleans at all after this. People need to get the hell out of there now, since it's hard to say if it's even going to be a viable city in a couple of decades. It's been below sea level for years and is dropping further below sea level, and with how prone it is to these disasters, it's just not a good situation.

I've heard a lot of people claim that if there were less African-Americans in New Orleans, and more whites, the rescue process would've went much smoother.

What does everyone here think?

if the white community was lead by people like jesse jackson and al sharpton the opposite would be true

I wonder if the bush admnistration has realized that this is one of the consequences of global warming that they insist in getting it worse and worse for the sake of defending industry...

or perhaps they listen to the climate scientists who said that this was bound to happen rather than taking the word of internet posters

I wonder if the bush admnistration has realized that this is one of the consequences of global warming that they insist in getting it worse and worse for the sake of defending industry...

Considering this is all false, probably not.

Katrina affected so many blacks because so many blacks were poor. They were poor as a result of a tiny bit of racism a long time ago and the whole "it's not your fault" idealogy. Blacks are given the race card to use. They are given more respect because of something that might have never affected their families ever. If whites are given Mr. Racecard, there would be fewer rich whites and far more poor whites. If blacks are held to the same standards as, say, just about everyone else in terms of work, there would be far more successful blacks. I mean, whites can't complain about mistreatment, especially the men, without being labled crybabies and possibly racist and/or sexist. Whites are expected to work alot. So are hispanics. So are Asians. If the government went from simply keeping them alive to getting them back on their feet, Katrina would have claimed fewer lives and far, far less people would be waist-deep in water containing sewer water, feces, and who knows what else. There is racism in America, but it's in the form of pity on the blacks because of slavery and segregation of the past. If we eliminate the pity and sympathy and expect more from them, they'd do more. It's like how people are dependant until a little after their lifeline has been cut.

Katrina affected so many blacks because so many blacks were poor. They were poor as a result of a tiny bit of racism a long time ago and the whole "it's not your fault" idealogy. Blacks are given the race card to use. They are given more respect because of something that might have never affected their families ever. If whites are given Mr. Racecard, there would be fewer rich whites and far more poor whites. If blacks are held to the same standards as, say, just about everyone else in terms of work, there would be far more successful blacks. I mean, whites can't complain about mistreatment, especially the men, without being labled crybabies and possibly racist and/or sexist. Whites are expected to work alot. So are hispanics. So are Asians. If the government went from simply keeping them alive to getting them back on their feet, Katrina would have claimed fewer lives and far, far less people would be waist-deep in water containing sewer water, feces, and who knows what else. There is racism in America, but it's in the form of pity on the blacks because of slavery and segregation of the past. If we eliminate the pity and sympathy and expect more from them, they'd do more. It's like how people are dependant until a little after their lifeline has been cut.
Woah.
Good post. It is a scary truth that people are going to have to face, especially when the inevitable investigation into the aftermath of this thing.

For a minute there, I thought I was going to be called a bigot. But, although some would disagree, Mr. Truth and Mrs. Observations must come before the ACLU.

Katrina affected so many blacks because so many blacks were poor. They were poor as a result of a tiny bit of racism a long time ago and the whole "it's not your fault" idealogy. Blacks are given the race card to use. They are given more respect because of something that might have never affected their families ever. If whites are given Mr. Racecard, there would be fewer rich whites and far more poor whites. If blacks are held to the same standards as, say, just about everyone else in terms of work, there would be far more successful blacks. I mean, whites can't complain about mistreatment, especially the men, without being labled crybabies and possibly racist and/or sexist. Whites are expected to work alot. So are hispanics. So are Asians. If the government went from simply keeping them alive to getting them back on their feet, Katrina would have claimed fewer lives and far, far less people would be waist-deep in water containing sewer water, feces, and who knows what else. There is racism in America, but it's in the form of pity on the blacks because of slavery and segregation of the past. If we eliminate the pity and sympathy and expect more from them, they'd do more. It's like how people are dependant until a little after their lifeline has been cut.
I do agree with you, for the most part. One only needs to look at what black kids call role models in order to have this view reinforced. But I do have to say that this is not just a black problem. Whites have it, too, and we hide it under the rug. But they exist, and you can't deny when half of your family (mostly illegitamite children) are white trash, like mine is.

My family is messed up too but none of them accept government hand-outs or depend on others. My family is so messed up. My cousins are split up into the normal(kids of my dad's sister), spoiled(kids of mother's brother. Nasty divorce followed by one selfish and slightly psycotic girlfriend for a couple of scary weeks.), and messed up in the melon(mother's sister's kids.). Plus, my brother is mean to me, my older sister is in eastern Canada(I live in southern Nevada, which it touching California, a west-coast state.), and my younger one isn't exactly normal either. Heck, I can't even make friends and can barely talk to strangers. Yep. One messed up family. None are supported by Mr. Welfarecheck.

Race doesn't matter one bit.
Okay, go on....

Economics does.
Race doesn't matter but economy does. Hmmmm.

And to be very blunt, a section of the black community does not have a culture where they are proactively looking for advancement,
Oh, then race does matter?

but prefer taking what they can get.
This is just black folks taking "what they can get" then? Hmmmm.

This isn't all, and indeed, there are many successful blacks.
Agreed and there are many successful whites too?

Can't say that for every black.
Nor every white?

And this applies to whites too,
Ahhh some balance?'

though poor whites tend to be more rural.
And this has got to do with what?

I have a few relatives that are utter white trash, for example.
Thanks for pointing out that "race doesn't matter one bit". :rolleyes:

For a minute there, I thought I was going to be called a bigot. But, although some would disagree, Mr. Truth and Mrs. Observations must come before the ACLU.

F yeah, our inability to dicuss race in this nations without having looking over our shoulders is ridiculous

I know. If it was up to me, there would only be one race. Everyone would be grouped into Mr. Humanrace. No "African American race" or "Hispanic race". Racism would be hypocracy entirely.

if the white community was lead by people like jesse jackson and al sharpton the opposite would be true
Care to qualify your comment?

Ah, I see. Anyhow, they complicate it. Some are just more desparate, haviing started from a lower base of material wealth, anyhow. Others resort to criminal acts, and as we are seeing in NO, they are reminiiscent of terrorist attacks. I don't think anyone can say that crime rates are higher among the middle class than in poorer communities.

What has 'desperation' to do with the rescue attempts?

You realise that the BULK of 'criminal' activity since the hurricane has been the theft of food and similar essentials? And that a disproportionately SMALL minority of other looters, are making an unfair impact on perception?

You are aware that those original lootings were because ALL THE STORES were closed, and there is no water supply.... and the streets are filled with swamp and sewer water?

You are aware that there IS deperation in New Orleans, because help effort s are ONLY JUST starting? Citizens died in the streets of New Orleans for three days before anyone came to help.

Are some of the crimes reminiscent of terrorist attacks? I have heard rumours of alleged gunfire at aid targets. I have heard a lot of rumours about looters being shot. None of which seems to be 'acts of violence designed to use fear to change the policy of another organisation or nation', which would sound like a definition of 'terrorist activity', to me.

Care to qualify your comment?

part of leading one's community is chewing it out when you have to. there are black gunmen shooting at black doctors trying to treat black patients - jesse jackson and al sharpton should be doing their jobs putting those people to shame but instead all they do is blame it on the other races. if white leaders have that attitude we'd be in just as poor a position

I've heard a lot of people claim that if there were less African-Americans in New Orleans, and more whites, the rescue process would've went much smoother.

What does everyone here think?

Actually, if the people would have gotten out of New Orleans in the first place, they wouldn't have lost so many things, such as photos, pets, friends and such. Almost everybody would be in my town. Yeah, there's locos from New Orleans rushing around :mp5: *My parents'll shoot em if they steal our animals and stuff :p* Joking!

I know. If it was up to me, there would only be one race. Everyone would be grouped into Mr. Humanrace. No "African American race" or "Hispanic race". Racism would be hypocracy entirely.

Wouldn't that be awesome. Alot of our worlds problems would be solved if that were the case.

The sad thing is: One of the most powerful and stupid political weapons is the race card. Yep. Mr. RC. More powerful than a million Moores forming the super-Liberal Stereotype. More powerful than Bush. Even more powerful than pie, although uber-pie has been seen taking out the cake menace.

Us white folk are pawns to the media. They could have said Godzilla was coming to New Orleans and all the white people would have packed their bags and scurried to the hills.

part of leading one's community is chewing it out when you have to. there are black gunmen shooting at black doctors trying to treat black patients
Can you provide a link to support this comment?


jesse jackson and al sharpton should be doing their jobs putting those people to shame but instead all they do is blame it on the other races.
Other races or the government? Huge difference? BTW, Jesse played the poverty card (white and black):

Rev. Jesse Jackson accused the Bush administration on Friday of not acting faster to rescue New Orleans' beleaguered flood victims because they were largely black, poor and Democrat.

"Many black people feel that their race, their property conditions and their voting patterns have been a factor in the response," Jackson told the New York Times after meeting with Louisiana officials.

"I'm not saying that myself," he quickly added, but then said: "What's self-evident is that you have many poor people without a way out."
Rev. Jackson said cities like New Orleans had been dismissed by the White House because the president received few votes there.

Leading House Democrat Charlie Rangel echoed Jackson's demagoguery, telling the Times that Bush should have recognized the flood danger to New Orleans.

"I assume the president's going to say he got bad intelligence," Rangel said sarcastically.

"I think that wherever you see poverty, whether it's in the white rural community or the black urban community, you see that the resources have been sucked up into the war and tax cuts for the rich," he added.

if white leaders have that attitude we'd be in just as poor a position
Perhaps someday when the US elects a black President, you can test out your theory?

Thank you. Now, if you don't mind, I have to get into my white hooded outfit for the annual KKK/Black Panthers wrestling match. :p


oh and on a side note. The black panthers would so whoop the KKK's ass lol

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus Puppy
And to be very blunt, a section of the black community does not have a culture where they are proactively looking for advancement,

CanuckHeaven:
Oh, then race does matter?

Race and culture are different. Lotus Puppy seems to be talking about trends in black culture, not any sort of inherent genetic flaw of the black race. Culture is environmental, dynamic, and participatory, which means that black culture has absolutely nothing to do with the black race.

What has 'desperation' to do with the rescue attempts?

You realise that the BULK of 'criminal' activity since the hurricane has been the theft of food and similar essentials? And that a disproportionately SMALL minority of other looters, are making an unfair impact on perception?

You are aware that those original lootings were because ALL THE STORES were closed, and there is no water supply.... and the streets are filled with swamp and sewer water?

You are aware that there IS deperation in New Orleans, because help effort s are ONLY JUST starting? Citizens died in the streets of New Orleans for three days before anyone came to help.

Are some of the crimes reminiscent of terrorist attacks? I have heard rumours of alleged gunfire at aid targets. I have heard a lot of rumours about looters being shot. None of which seems to be 'acts of violence designed to use fear to change the policy of another organisation or nation', which would sound like a definition of 'terrorist activity', to me.
Desparation hhas a lot to do with rescue efforts. The more desparate people are, the more eager they are to get out, and the more they will do to try and stay alive. Can't say as I blame them, but this is turning into a very messy process.
As for the terrorist attack analogy, I've heard of helicopters being fired at, rescue trucks being hijacked, police stations overrun, and crimes happening in broad daylight. I heard the other day that a man at the Superdome raped a seven-year-old girl. He, in turn, was beaten to death right on the spot. That's what enough desparation can do.

Desparation hhas a lot to do with rescue efforts. The more desparate people are, the more eager they are to get out, and the more they will do to try and stay alive. Can't say as I blame them, but this is turning into a very messy process.
As for the terrorist attack analogy, I've heard of helicopters being fired at, rescue trucks being hijacked, police stations overrun, and crimes happening in broad daylight. I heard the other day that a man at the Superdome raped a seven-year-old girl. He, in turn, was beaten to death right on the spot. That's what enough desparation can do.

Leave people half a week, then send in men with guns... you have to expect things to get messy.

Let's look at the claims you make... how many rapes took place? I've heard of one alleged rape - which is hardly representative when you consider something like 100,000 people were left in New Orleans.

So - the big question SHOULD be - why are we focussing on the handful of delinquents among the population? It took HALF A WEEK to get any aid into a city in America... and yet we can get food to Sri Lanka in 24 hours.

WHY are thousands of people dead or dying, in a city in the USA?

'Desperate' citizens don't explain why the government allowed New Orleans to turn into a septic cesspool, and allowed children to die in diseased swamp-water for half a week before they did anything.

Race and culture are different. Lotus Puppy seems to be talking about trends in black culture, not any sort of inherent genetic flaw of the black race. Culture is environmental, dynamic, and participatory, which means that black culture has absolutely nothing to do with the black race.
Thank you for making that distinction. There are whites and others that fall into the trap of black culture, almost to the extent of making the term "black culture" obsolete.
On a side note, whites grew black culture. We probably remember the famous quote by Ulysseys Grant (sp?) that every freed black would have "a mule and forty acres". That never happened, but instead, the plantation owners, there former masters, took them on as paid workers, sometimes even at their own financial loss. And of course, with segregation, we never taught the majority of blacks to think for themselves.
The exception may be the black migration northward during the first half of the 20th century. In its earliest days, such black communities as Harlem thrived.
Then came WWII, and shortly after, the civil rights movement. While I agree that it was wrong to keep blacks out of Southern politics, it was wrong for Washington to go as far as it did. It just tried to desegregate everything under the sun, especially that which was not controlled by the government. We have forcefed blacks the notion that they are entitled to outside help, and that it will lift them out of their misery. That's not the way the world works, however, and that, my friends, is why the black unemployment rate is in the double digits.

Leave people half a week, then send in men with guns... you have to expect things to get messy.

Let's look at the claims you make... how many rapes took place? I've heard of one alleged rape - which is hardly representative when you consider something like 100,000 people were left in New Orleans.

So - the big question SHOULD be - why are we focussing on the handful of delinquents among the population? It took HALF A WEEK to get any aid into a city in America... and yet we can get food to Sri Lanka in 24 hours.

WHY are thousands of people dead or dying, in a city in the USA?

'Desperate' citizens don't explain why the government allowed New Orleans to turn into a septic cesspool, and allowed children to die in diseased swamp-water for half a week before they did anything.
Sure it does. It explains the restiveness of the population. Don't forget, disaster relief efforts have never happened in such a large city, let alone one surrounded by water. The relief efforts were naturally slowed in the first place, but it is even moreso now.

Antre_Travarious']Yeah, because America goes around killing people in the name of God. :rolleyes:

WE are not an islamic hate group. WE are a nation.

Yep, A Chrisitain hate nation.

Okay...so perhaps the speed of the rescue efforts would be the same if the disaster happened in a white city.

The key point here is not the truth, but the PERCEPTION. WHY do some people think that the rescue efforts are slower because most victims are black - even if it was not true? Because of the underlying conflicts that already exist in society. Racism is still very real in America South, as what I've read and heard, and all that pent up pressure is released during a disaster - it's very natural.

Therefore, the rescue efforts are important, but the long-term equalisation of the different races in America is even more important and strategic. Multi-culturalism in the United States is one of your strong points. Do not let that turn around against you.

Sure it does. It explains the restiveness of the population. Don't forget, disaster relief efforts have never happened in such a large city, let alone one surrounded by water. The relief efforts were naturally slowed in the first place, but it is even moreso now.

It goes some way to explain why the people in New Orleans are so pissed ABOUT the lack of help... but it doesn't explain why there WAS no help.

Regarding the 'disaster relief efforts have never happened in such a large city'... that's just not true. After the London bombing, how long did it take to lockdown the city, and provide aid? In a city of 12 million people.

The administrative process that SHOULD have helped, failed to help. From the President, all the way down the line.

Why were no buses running from Saturday night onwards?

Why did the government not secure free/cheap longterm accomodation for those trying to flee New Orleans? Many people can't afford to go stay in a hotel for six months...

Why did the government not secure cheap/free transportation out of the city on mass transit? Many people could not afford to flee the city.

And if they fled on foot... and ended up homeless on the streets of Biloxi or Mobile? The government screwed up. The administration screwed up. FEMA screwed up... and that is unforgivable... this is their JOB.

Okay...so perhaps the speed of the rescue efforts would be the same if the disaster happened in a white city.

The key point here is not the truth, but the PERCEPTION. WHY do some people think that the rescue efforts are slower because most victims are black - even if it was not true? Because of the underlying conflicts that already exist in society. Racism is still very real in America South, as what I've read and heard, and all that pent up pressure is released during a disaster - it's very natural.

Therefore, the rescue efforts are important, but the long-term equalisation of the different races in America is even more important and strategic. Multi-culturalism in the United States is one of your strong points. Do not let that turn around against you.
However, I must say that even before the Civil Rights era, New Orleans was one of the more intergrated cities in the South. It was the first city to desegregate its bussing system, and this was only shortly after Brown v. Board. In addition, it was always a bit more tolerant. My thinking is that New Orleans was already made of another minority in the South, being Catholic, and thus, they had nothing to loose.
Which begs a question from me: are there that many Catholics that still live in New Orleans?

It goes some way to explain why the people in New Orleans are so pissed ABOUT the lack of help... but it doesn't explain why there WAS no help.

Regarding the 'disaster relief efforts have never happened in such a large city'... that's just not true. After the London bombing, how long did it take to lockdown the city, and provide aid? In a city of 12 million people.

The administrative process that SHOULD have helped, failed to help. From the President, all the way down the line.

Why were no buses running from Saturday night onwards?

Why did the government not secure free/cheap longterm accomodation for those trying to flee New Orleans? Many people can't afford to go stay in a hotel for six months...

Why did the government not secure cheap/free transportation out of the city on mass transit? Many people could not afford to flee the city.

And if they fled on foot... and ended up homeless on the streets of Biloxi or Mobile? The government screwed up. The administration screwed up. FEMA screwed up... and that is unforgivable... this is their JOB.
While I have a reply, I don't want to say it. You seem to being drawing your own conclusions good enough.

While I have a reply, I don't want to say it. You seem to being drawing your own conclusions good enough.

Also - of course, you don't have to defend something you don't say.

Good politics. Good choice.