All About The Poor
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Black members of Congress expressed anger Friday at what they said was a slow federal response to Hurricane Katrina."It looks dysfunctional to me right now," said Rep. Diane Watson, D-California.Pay no attention to the race-related labels. It's all about...the poor.
She and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, along with members of the Black Leadership Forum, National Conference of State Legislators, National Urban League and the NAACP, held a news conference and charged that the response was slow because those most affected are poor.
Many also are black, but the lawmakers held off on charging racism.
"The issue is not about race right now," said Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio. "There will be another time to have issues about color."
Yes, still plenty of time to play the race card.
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Illinois, said too much focus has been placed on the looting, taking away from what should be the priority: getting food, water and stability to the tens of thousands of displaced victims.
It's OK to focus on bad news when it comes from Iraq. But newspeople have a responsibility to edit out anything that might make black- I mean poor people look bad.
Watson and others also took issue with the word "refugee" being used to describe hurricane victims.
"'Refugee' calls up to mind people that come from different lands and have to be taken care of. These are American citizens," Watson said.
Added Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland: "They are not refugees. I hate that word."
Yes, let's frame this properly. How about "victim"? Fits perfectly with the epidemic of victimology sweeping the US today.
posted by Tanstaafl at 9/03/2005 10:43:00 AM
4 Comments:
This is 21st Century America, is it not? If you dont want to be left behind (in the floodwaters), you better not be poor.
Somebody's going to be left in the water, just make sure its not you.
When the "Big One" hits, make sure you have a reliable evac plan. I still dont have one if Indian Point releases. I dont think a handgun under the bed and a shotgun over the fireplace will cut it. More than likely you will be left to your own devices.
Whatever the century we'd all be better off if people were more self-reliant, not less. "Beggars can't be choosers" comes to mind. So does the Boy Scout motto "be prepared". People in hospitals and nursing homes of course need to be carried out, but just because you get a check from the government doesn't mean you can expect a helicopter to come save your ass just because you're too fat, stupid, or lazy to get out of harm's way yourself.
Nagin didn't follow the evac plan. Bush personally requested Nagin to declare a mandatory evacuation, and Blanco to declare a state of emergency. He went on TV 24 hours before the storm hit to urge people to get out. What is he supposed to do, micromanage every state and city in the country?
The point of my original post was to highlight yet another pathetic attempt to score political points and manipulate media coverage by playing the race card, in this case while brazenly denying it was being played. Kayne West and Howard Dean drove the point home soon after, no longer in denial but instead going clear off the deep end into full blown paranoia and victimology.
No, I dont expect the president to micromanage every state and city in the country. I do expect him to micromanage the single greatest natural disaster to strike the USA when the experts advise him that it is going to be the single greatest natural disaster to strike the USA.
I do expect the president to evaluate "needs" and effectively select experienced individuals to appointed positions.
I am just as frustrated with the general American mentality of sticking on the blinders and reacting to every tragedy by throwing $$$ at the victims. Whenever we try to spend the $$$ for preventive methods (engineering, environmental, social), it never gets off the ground or the funds get re-directed. It always takes a tragedy and countless victims to make an impact on "the cows" and given time they settle into their cud and forget.
I agree on your synopsis of the race card and referred to Dean's stupidity in a separate post and with your stance on victimology regarding the media/politica spewing victimology? But, you also make reference to victims being victims ("... too fat, stupid or lazy...") - Im sure we were all thinking that at one point or another but its a little over the top, wouldnt you agree?
Yes, it was over the top.
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