NationStates Jolt Archive

What a heart-warming tale.

"This was sent to me by a Retire Marine Col. who lives in

Texas.

Subject: FW: SO I VOLUNTEERED...

This is from a guy here in Houston that went to volunteer his time to help the hurricane victims. It is pretty sad and disappointing to think people could be so ungrateful.

SO I VOLUNTEERED..........

I thought I might inform the few friends I have on my recent traumatic experience. I am going to tell it straight, blunt, raw, and I don't give a damn. Long read, I know but please do read!!!

I went to volunteer on Saturday at the George R. Brown convention for two reasons.

A: I wanted to help people to get a warm fuzzy.
B: Curiosity.

I've been watching the news lately and have seen scenes that have made me want to vomit. And no it wasn't dead bodies, the city under water, or the sludge everywhere. It was PEOPLE"S BEHAVIOR. The people on T.V. (99% being Black) where DEMANDING help. They were not asking nicely but demanding as if society owed these people something. Well the honest truth is WE DON'T. Help should be asked for in a kind manner and then appreciated. This is not what the press (FOX in particular) was showing, what I was seeing was a group of people who are yelling, demanding, looting, killing, raping, and SHOOTING back at the demanded help!!!!! So I'm thinking this can't possibly be true can it???? So I decide to submit to the DEMAND for help out of SHOCK. I couldn't believe this to be true of the majority of the people who are the weakest of society. So I went to volunteer and help folks out and see the truth. So I will tell the following story and you decide:

I arrived at the astrodome only to find out that there are too many volunteers and that volunteers where needed at the George R. Brown Convention Center. As I was walking up to the Convention Center I noticed a line of cars that wrapped around blocks filled with donations. These where ordinary Houstonians coming with truckloads and trunks full of water, diapers, clothes, blankets, food, all types of good stuff. And lots of it was NEW. I felt that warm fuzzy while helping unload these vehicles of these wonderful human beings. I then went inside the building and noticed approximately 100,000 sq. ft. of clothes, shoes, jackets, toys and all types of goodies all organized and ready for the people in need. I signed up, received a name badge and was on my merry way excited to be useful.

I toured the place to get familiar with my surrounding; the entire place is probably around 2 million sq. ft. I noticed rows as far as the eye can see of mattresses, not cots, BLOW UP MATTRESSES!!! All of which had nice pillows and plenty of blankets. 2 to 3 bottles of water lay on every bed. These full size to queen size beds by the way where comfortable, I laid in one to see for myself. I went to look at the medical area. I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing!!! A makeshift hospital created in 24 hours!!! It was unbelievable, they even had a pharmacy. I also noticed that they created showers, which would also have hot water. I went upstairs to the third floor to find a HUGE cafeteria created in under 24 hours! Rows of tables, chairs and food everywhere - enough to feed an army! I'm not talking about crap food either. They had jason's deli food, apples, oranges, coke, diet coke, lemonade, orange juice, cookies, all types of chips and sandwiches. All the beverages by the way was put on ice and chilled!!!! In a matter of about 24 hours or less an entire mini-city was erected by volunteers for the poor evacuees. This was not your rundown crap shelter, it was BUM HEAVEN.

So that was the layout: great food, comfy beds, clean showers, free medical help, by the way there was a library, and a theatre room I forgot to mention. Great stuff right????

Well here is what happened on my journey -

I started by handing out COLD water bottles to evacuees as they got off the bus. Many would take them and only 20% or less said thank you. Lots of them would shake their heads and ask for sodas! So this went on for about 20-30 minutes until I was sick of being an unappreciated servant. I figured certainly these folks would appreciate some food!!! So I went upstairs to serve these beloved evacuees some GOOD food that I wish I could have at the moment!

***The following statements are graphic, truthful, and discuss UNRATIONAL behavior***

Evacuees come slowly to receive this mountain of food that is worth serving to a king! I tell them that we have 2 types of great deli sandwiches to choose from - ham and turkey. Many look at the food in disgust and DEMAND burgers, pizza, and even McDonalds!!!! Jason's deli is better than McDonalds!!!! Only 1 out of ten people who took something would say "thank you" the rest took items as if it was their God give right to be served without a shred of appreciation!!! They would ask for Beer and liquor. They complained that we didn't have good enough food. They refused food and laughed at us. They treated us volunteers as if we where SLAVES. No not all of them of course...but 70% did!!!!!! 20% where appreciative, 10% took the food without any comment and the other 70% had some disgusting comment to say. Some had the nerve to laugh at us. And when I snapped back at them for being mean, they would curse at me!!! Needless to say I was in utter shock. They would eat their food and leave their mess on the table... some would pick up their stuff many would leave it for the volunteers to pick up. I left that real quick to go down and help set up some more beds. I saw many young ladies carrying mattresses and I helped for a while. Then I realized something...their where hundreds of able bodied young men who could help!! I asked a group of young evacuees in their teens and early twenties to help. I got cursed at for asking them to help!!! One said "We just lost our ****ing homes and you want us to work!!" The next said "Ya Cracker, you got a home we don't" I looked at them in disbelief. Here are women walking by carrying THEIR ****ING BEDS and they can't lift a finger and help themselves!!

WHY THE **** SHOULD I HELP PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO HELP THEMESELVES!!!!

I waved them off and turned away and was laughed at and more "white boy jokes" where made at me. I felt no need to waste my breath on a bunch of pitiful losers. I went to a nearby restroom where I noticed a man shaving. I used the restroom, washed my hands and saw this man throw his razor towards the trash can...he missed... he walked out leaving his disgusting razor on the floor for some other "cracker" to pick up. Even the little kids where demanding. I saw only ONE white family and only TWO Hispanic families. The rest where blacks...sorry 20% to 30% decent blacks... and 70% LOSERS!!!!!

I would call them ******S, but the actual definition of a ****** is one who is ignorant, these people were not ignorant......they where ARROGANT *******S. The majority of which are thugs and lifetime lazy ass welfare recipients. We are inviting the lowest of the low to Houston. And like idiots we are serving the people who will soon steal our cars, rape, murder, and destroy our city while stealing from our pockets on a daily basis through the welfare checks they take. We will fund our own destruction.

By "US" I don't mean a specific race, I mean the people who work hard, work smart, have values and morals. Only people who want to help themselves should be helped, the others should be allowed to destroy themselves. I do not want to work hard, give the government close to half the money I earn so they can in turn give it to a bunch of losers.

I don't believe in being poor for life. My family immigrated here, we came here poor, and now thank God, and due to HARD WORK we are doing fine. If immigrants, who come here, don't know the language can work and become successful... WHY THE **** CAN'T THE MAJORITY OF THE HOMEGROWN DO IT!!! If we continue to reward these losers then we will soon destroy our great country. I just witnessed selfish, arrogant, unappreciative behavior by the very people who need help the most. Now these same people who cursed me, refused my city’s generosity, who refuse to help themselves are DEMANDING handouts on their own terms!!!!!!! They prance around as if they are owed something, and when they do receive a handout, they say it's not good enough! Well you know what......these types of people can go to hell for all I care!"

I've just lost a lot of faith in humanity...

Yup, yes sir, we have just been living in a hell hole, watching all that we have being downed or blown away, we're missing our friends and relatives who maybe, maybe not, be alive. We just spent a number of days in a convention center or stadium with no food, toilets, water, air conditioning, with the sick, the dying, and the dead, watching as everyone BUT us were evacuated. We've lost everything and have no idea when we'll be alowed home, if we even have a home, or when we'll even have a city to CALL home. We have no idea where we'll go and what we'll do, and we've just been shipped to another stadium...

Yes, sir, we'll still be polite and say thank you and be oh so appricative to those who come down to see us to get warm fuzzies for themselves. /sarcasm

Yup, yes sir, we have just been living in a hell hole, watching all that we have being downed or blown away, we're missing our friends and relatives who maybe, maybe not, be alive. We just spent a number of days in a convention center or stadium with no food, toilets, water, air conditioning, with the sick, the dying, and the dead, watching as everyone BUT us were evacuated. We've lost everything and have no idea when we'll be alowed home, if we even have a home, or when we'll even have a city to CALL home. We have no idea where we'll go and what we'll do, and we've just been shipped to another stadium...

Yes, sir, we'll still be polite and say thank you and be oh so appricative to those who come down to see us to get warm fuzzies for themselves. /sarcasm


I think you missed the point....these people do have a right to be pissed..but not at the people who are helping them.

Up here in canada during the icestorm...i went to houses and centers and even a gym which the owner lent to us for the night.I never stoped being nice to people....we hear peoples roofs were caving in so could ours but i never made fun of people giving me water and a bed and food.hell someone asked for me to help pass water i did...i did not say no...they helped me so it was only fair that i help them,right?

On 9/11 flights came to canada...some americans were stranded for weeks even months...they never call those people names....a black familly was taken in by my cousin in toronto.....there kid talked to me on msn...my cousin always said "wow they are stuck here and they are sooo nice!"

they have a right to be pissed...but NOT AT PEOPLE WHO COULD BE HOME...INSTEAD THEY ARE HELPING THEIR UNGRATEFUL ASSES.

I think you missed the point....these people do have a right to be pissed..but not at the people who are helping them.
*snip*
they have a right to be pissed...but NOT AT PEOPLE WHO COULD BE HOME...INSTEAD THEY ARE HELPING THEIR UNGRATEFUL ASSES.
And the people helping them don't have the 'right' to DEMAND that they be thanked. The tone of that letter is "I'm giving up MY Saturday to help you all, and see, we've set up ALL these wonderful beds in a stadium, so you should be falling all over yourselves to say thanks".

I'm not missing the point, I'm reminding you that these folks have been through hell. They have lost EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING, ok? This isn't I'm stranded for a bit, this is a loss of everything they have and no idea, or way, on where to go from here. They were also abandoned by their country for a few days. They're shell shocked.

I also love the fact that this gentleman made a number of statements that says he went down there for HIMSELF. He wants the warm fuzzies, and he is seeing this as a bum heaven (love that phrase). It's like a king designing to give a half eaten meal to a pesant, and then being shocked when the peasent doesn't fall over himself in saying how WONDERFUL the king is.

I'd have been thankful....

Yup, yes sir, we have just been living in a hell hole, watching all that we have being downed or blown away, we're missing our friends and relatives who maybe, maybe not, be alive. We just spent a number of days in a convention center or stadium with no food, toilets, water, air conditioning, with the sick, the dying, and the dead, watching as everyone BUT us were evacuated. We've lost everything and have no idea when we'll be alowed home, if we even have a home, or when we'll even have a city to CALL home. We have no idea where we'll go and what we'll do, and we've just been shipped to another stadium...

Yes, sir, we'll still be polite and say thank you and be oh so appricative to those who come down to see us to get warm fuzzies for themselves. /sarcasm


and you know what....if all the VOLUNTEERS walk off and said "fuck this" then people would be all pissed off.Why did they leave?

You know what though they plead for help...and when they get it it is not good enough for em.

tell you something my friend...if i were in that situatiuon and man came up and said here is a sandwhich....i would smile...look up...say thank you...and eat. i would not saY "CRACKER GIVE ME A BIG MAC"

you know why?

because if that guy was not there...if no one was there..i would have to wait longer for someone to give me food and water...those people are godsends and should be treated like that.

ohhh they lost there homes ok....but then you got people raping,killing,shooting....stealing T.V.s?

and yes you lost everything which is hard....but that gives you no right to treat these people like this...and if you do treat them bad i hope they leave you there to starve ohhh then you'll want them,then you'll threat them nice....then you will take tha motherfucking sandwhich and say thank you and injoy it.

You have obviously never worked at a hospital or nurseing home. When people have lost everything and have little hope left they will, and have every right to be entirely selfish. Being a volunteer is a selfless task, you will never get warm fuzzies. If that's why you're doing it, you should stick to putting 20cents in the donation box at Walmart.

I help serve food to the homeless in my city every friday (for the past six years, not just in the wake of this disaster) and I rarely get a thank. The kind of behaviour youo describe is common. "Can't we have McDonald's instead" etc.

But I don't bitch and moan.

Why? Because unlike you I am not in it for self gratification or seeking to prove an already established belief. I do it because I am a human being and believe I owe a duty of care to other human beings less fortunate.

They owe me nothing, not a thank you, not mannors. It would be nice, but alot of these people eat once every two-three days. They can't afford nice.

This letter shows a two-way perspective.

This guy expects undying gratitude from these people and the people expect thankless help and the volunteers to be slaves because they 'lost everything'. It shows the dark side of both victims and volunteers.

Yup, yes sir, we have just been living in a hell hole, watching all that we have being downed or blown away, we're missing our friends and relatives who maybe, maybe not, be alive. We just spent a number of days in a convention center or stadium with no food, toilets, water, air conditioning, with the sick, the dying, and the dead, watching as everyone BUT us were evacuated. We've lost everything and have no idea when we'll be alowed home, if we even have a home, or when we'll even have a city to CALL home. We have no idea where we'll go and what we'll do, and we've just been shipped to another stadium...

Yes, sir, we'll still be polite and say thank you and be oh so appricative to those who come down to see us to get warm fuzzies for themselves. /sarcasm
Right on sir....well stated!!

This letter shows a two-way perspective.

This guy expects undying gratitude from these people and the people expect thankless help and the volunteers to be slaves because they 'lost everything'. It shows the dark side of both victims and volunteers.


that point is a good one you go there to help not make people say thanks.


You have obviously never worked at a hospital or nurseing home. When people have lost everything and have little hope left they will, and have every right to be entirely selfish. Being a volunteer is a selfless task, you will never get warm fuzzies. If that's why you're doing it, you should stick to putting 20cents in the donation box at Walmart.


yes but you also cannot say that laughing at them or calling them names is good to do either.

also i have never experianced it but i have seen alot of nurseing home work,i see it all the time when i visit my mom..but no i have never done the work first hand...i do get a sence of it.

yes that point is a good one you go there to help not make people say thanks.





yes but i dont think that laugh at you and call you cracker when you dont give them macdonalds.

also i have never experianced it but i have seen alot of nurseing home work,i see it all the time when i visit my mom..but no i have never done the work first hand...i do get a sence of it.
Then allow me to give you a taste of what's it's like volunteering at an old age home. I'm black so this may help you understand this actual scenario, and how relivant it is to Katrina victems.

Me: "How's you soup Mr [name removed]?"
Gentlemen: "I wanted chicken, ******"
Me: "I'll see what I can do for you, sir"

Now there is no doubt I was offended, but the guy's old and dying. So you let it slide and do what any good volunteer does. Try to help

It would be nice, but alot of these people eat once every two-three days. They can't afford nice.
Bullshit, that is all the more reason to be polite and thankful. If the shelter you volunteer at wasn't there, they wouldn't get that much.

Bullshit, that is all the more reason to be polite and thankful. If the shelter you volunteer at wasn't there, they wouldn't get that much.
It's not about you. Stop trying to make it about you. If you want to volunteer, be selfless. If you want to be selfish, then find something else to do.

You may want thanks, but you shouldn't expect it from the starving and needy. Let them worry about surviving.

Bullshit, that is all the more reason to be polite and thankful. If the shelter you volunteer at wasn't there, they wouldn't get that much.
Have you ever tried service work with those less fortunate than yourself?

I have found that service work is a truly humbling experience and that it has given me a sense of gratitude. It appears that your purpose in posting this article is to cast the survivors in a poor light and stifle humaintarian efforts to help your fellow citizens?

BTW, I found this article on the net:

Post: The Other Side of the Story (http://texas.teachers.net/chatboard/topic8479/9.07.05.20.00.00.html)

And I found a rebuttal:

Re: The Other Side of the Story
Posted by army guy on 9/09/05 (http://texas.teachers.net/chatboard/topic8479/9.09.05.18.53.47.html)

Your story is very interesting!! What makes it so
interesting is that I was there and saw something totally
different. yeah there were some ungrateful individuals
there as in any group of people. But for the most part, the
people were nothing like what you were describing. Did you
go looking for that type behavior because that's the image
you already had in your mind of those people? I'm sorry but
I saw something different and I'm as white as snow.

I am not impressed by your post, but I am not surprised after reading some of your other posts on these boards.