IS THIS AMERICA... OT??????????

[JeannieinMa]

Is any one as shocked and in disbelief as I am when watching the news??? Do you think it looks like a third world country down there??? It is amazing to me that people from America are with out food and water for days because they are waiting for congress to PASS A BILL???????? OMG, its hard to believe this is America??? We can invade a county in one day yet we can not save our own people. Whats scary is , everyone including the goverment knew this storm was going to hit, actually it was supposed to hit as a catogory 5 not that conditions could be much worse, but WHAT DID OUR GOVERMENT DO TO HELP ?? They had NO just incase plans??? It saddenes me to know that we have people in American starving, with no water or shelter and its been 5 days. I thought we were the most powerful nation, I thought we had the most powerful military. The are pursecuting people for looting but are they really stealing or just trying to survive? Trying to feed thier children?? I hope that no other country watches this scene and sees just how weak we are, we can not even help our own. Imagine what would happen if we ever did get invaded? I guess it would be days before we had food and water??? May God bless all the people effected by this horrible tradgedy.!!! Sorry for rambeling but this really is soo sad to watch. Its also scary to think that our Goverment could let people go hungry and thirsty with no medical attention!!!

[proudmamaa]

I can see you point hun, but what where they suppose to do exactly? NO one walking this earth can change or stop the weather. I know without a doubt that what can be done by our goverment is being done or going to be done when able. If we don't have faith in them to take care of there own then we're lost. I don't beleive we are any less important in the eyes of our goverment. We just need to pray for them to have speed.

Mellissa (proudmamaa)

[missus]

Yes, it is hard to believe this is our Country because you never see this in America. I was so saddened to hear that a few of the precious little babies died and elderly people died on the side of the road and in the dome.

Hubbys uncle (who left Saturday to get to Houston) said this happened back in 1965, but it wasn't as bad, and because he was in it then, decided to leave. He lived in one of the most posh areas and he's not sure if their house is intact. He doesn't care though, life is too precious.

Anyhow, keep praying and send whatever you can to help our fellow citizens who need us now.

God Bless America



Missus

[chriswil20]

Unfourtunetly people go without food, clean drinking water or medical attention everyday in this country. But I think that our government is doing what they can, no one expected this, I have a friend in New Orelans and she didnt evacuate because they have been evacuated so many times before and nothing has happend. I think a major problem with the people not getting the help they need is that there is basically only one major road to get into the city, as horrible as it sounds it does take time to make things happen. As for the people looting, umm I think some of them are just STEALING--what do people need with flat screen TVs and other electronics when they dont have a home to put them into? As for the military, they are on their way, these military personal have families and stuff and i am sure they couldnt just drop what they were doing pack their gear and get on a ship, it does take time, you said we invaded a country in one day, yeah but how many months and months did it take to plan that attack--my hubby is in the marines I know. Ok so since things are not getting done for those people what are we going to do about it? What about the family that V posted about, we might not have the sizes/things they need but I am sure we can spare a few dollars to send to them to buy food with. Ok I am done, I hope you dont think i am attacking you or what you think, but I just feel that our government is doing what it can in the four days since the hurricane.

[V-]

It is so frustrating to see things like this going on....that is why....my very favorite quote is..


"BE THE CHANGE"

[flab2fab]

It is very sad. I hate looking at the tv but its so hard to turn. I just can't believe that they are out there without water and food. It is now Friday and there are elderly people and a lot of children. No A/C, no bathrooms, etc. Even President Bush said the the relief efforts are "not acceptable". When the tsunami hit, we were out there in a couple of days, this happened on Monday! I don't agree with people looting tv's, electronics and unnesesary(sp?) things because that is looting and they will be taken care of because I do think that is stupid. But there are good people out there who have small children, elderly parents and a sick loved one that are stealing for food and water to feed them, I totally understand. They don't want to have there love ones die in their arms. They can't go to the store to buy things because the stores are gone, so what are they supposed to do? You have people who are diabetics that can't eat peanut butter sandwiches. I understand why people are so upset, it has been almost a week. They told everyone to evacuate three days before this hit because they knew this was going to happen. These people didn't have the funds to just leave and go to another state, so they went to the superdome where they were told that they would be taken care of, so I would be a little irate myself at this point. I did see that the government is doing something now so that people can eat so that is good. I pray for everyone there and hope that relief will be there soon.

[git-r-dun]

Yet again, I have to post the web site for the American Red Cross:

http://arc.convio.net/site/PageServe...15nolv1.app23b

Victims of Hurricane Katrina are attempting to recover from the massive storm that is still making its way across the Mid-Atlantic States. American Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to the hardest hit areas of Katrina’s destruction, supplying hundreds of thousands victims left homeless with critical necessities. By making a financial gift to Hurricane 2005 Relief, the Red Cross can provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.

[JeannieinMa]

Chris my brother in law is also in the Marines so its not that I have no respect for the military because I do. Yes your right it took months and months and months to have a plan for our attack on Iraq, however this leads me to believe that we have NO plan if we were to ever be attacked or if there is another natural disaster. Dont you think that since we could be attacked at anytime, or in a situation like this we should have some sort of plans , perhaps a Just in case plan.The military and the goverment should have had a plan in place ( you know years and years ) of planning because we are not invincable. People keep saying well they were told to leave, but most of them are poor and didnt have the money nor the means to leave. I guess it just really really makes me sad to see people living in such horrific conditions, starving and with no hope. It breaks my heart to think they really dont have alot of hope in the near future , its not like next week they will have a paycheck and go back to thier businesses and thier jobs because they wont have one. If we cant supply food and water how will these survive the long haul. There is no place to work, there is no job to get. It just makes me sad and I felt the need to vent.

[JeannieinMa]

Git R dun, Got a question for you? They say that the red cross has already recieved millions and millions of dollars what I find strange is they havent made it to Lousisana or Missippi yet either. I saw a woman this morning on CNN she was begging for the Red Cross wondering where they were to take care of her and her children?? I know all things take time but 5 days.. seems rediculas to me, its not like they are in Europe, hmm it only takes us a day to get there???

[KayBee]

The unbelieveable part to me is the amount of TIME that has gone by...the government can not stop the storm but why does it take the government so much time to get basic supplies to one of our own cities...there maybe only one road in to New Orleans but why is that one road not bumper to bumper with trucks carrying water, food, diapers, medical supplies, and buses to get those people OUT.

If the media and Harry Connick, Jr. can get in to New Orleans...why can't help?? Those people were told to go to a location with no provisions...they were calm and in good spirits even without food and water for a couple of days but now it has been FOUR DAYS since Katrina came and went. I know that it is a "developing" disaster - that the water is still there because of the levy breaking in several places. I don't expect the city to be re-built or anything that extraordinary but get those people so WATER, FOOD and MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

I'll tell you what...if I were in that situation and had my two children with me, I'd be breaking into some building to find some food and water.

Every place on earth has the kind of people who take advantage of situations like this to steal, the shame is that the situation is forcing some people to do it to survive.

I blame the bureaucracy involved and lack of interagency communication. One refugee who recently got back from Iraq said "I'd rather be in Iraq - they have 3 meals a day and a plan."

[missus]

Kaybee

Missus

[kittie]

Mayor Ray Nagin took the government to task today, and here are a few excerpts from the speech:


NAGIN: I told him we had an incredible crisis here and that his flying over in Air Force One does not do it justice. And that I have been all around this city, and I am very frustrated because we are not able to marshal resources and we're outmanned in just about every respect.

You know the reason why the looters got out of control? Because we had most of our resources saving people, thousands of people that were stuck in attics, man, old ladies. ... You pull off the doggone ventilator vent and you look down there and they're standing in there in water up to their freaking necks.

And they don't have a clue what's going on down here. They flew down here one time two days after the doggone event was over with TV cameras, AP reporters, all kind of goddamn -- excuse my French everybody in America, but I am pissed.

NAGIN: But we authorized $8 billion to go to Iraq lickety-quick. After 9/11, we gave the president unprecedented powers lickety-quick to take care of New York and other places.

Now, you mean to tell me that a place where most of your oil is coming through, a place that is so unique when you mention New Orleans anywhere around the world, everybody's eyes light up -- you mean to tell me that a place where you probably have thousands of people that have died and thousands more that are dying every day, that we can't figure out a way to authorize the resources that we need? Come on, man.

I don't want to see anybody do anymore goddamn press conferences. Put a moratorium on press conferences. Don't do another press conference until the resources are in this city. And then come down to this city and stand with us when there are military trucks and troops that we can't even count.

Don't tell me 40,000 people are coming here. They're not here. It's too doggone late. Now get off your asses and do something, and let's fix the biggest goddamn crisis in the history of this country.


Here is a link with the full transcript as well as a link to play it in their media player. It's worth listening to.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/nag...ipt/index.html

[JeannieinMa]

Way to go Nagin, he is protecting his people , they are the ones that voted him in. He is a stand up man saying things that he knows could loose his position.. Imagine he has to BEG to get help... his frustrations must be endless..Imagine what we see on TV, I am sure that is only a small portion of the reality of the situation. I know 911 looked bad and scary but my brother went there he said it was 1000 times worse then what a camara could show..I can only imagine what a horrific site it is down there. I can only imagine a mothers pain to see her child hungry or sick. I hope some one some where can get this job done , those people need help , food water shelter what ever we can give them...

[KayBee]

Amen to Nagin....the good news we are finally seeing some RELIEF getting to the refugees...everytime they show Bush tour Missippi, I mute the TV.

BTW: I was a Republican up until about two years ago...now I'm just an AMERICAN!

[JeannieinMa]

LOL KayBee, I think that would be a wise choice for us all )

[Ang4Short]

Personally, I would be upset with the state if I was there. I mean this is where they told the people to go who couldn't evacuate!! Didn't they have a plan to at least get water to them? It seems like they have no preparedness for such an event. Meanwhile they've known that this could happen. The state should have had something set up to help their residents until the feds arrived. They didn't even have any kind of rescue boats stored in nearby that could have been brought in quickly. It's not like this hurricane was an unlikely event. They should have known how vulnerable they were.

I've heard how Texas has been planning for a disaster for years, California has planned extensively for earthquake disasters, in our state we have plans for a disaster at our nearby nuclear plant.

I'm upset about how long it's taking too. I'm just trying to figure out why the rest of the state didn't have a plan to help their own city in the event of a disaster like this.

[kittie]

ang- the governor gave 200 million to the saints last yr but couldn't find 30 million to reinforce those levees. WTF?!?!?!

federal money was requested for the past 3 yrs in order to reinforce the levees and every yr bush gave it to something ewlse in the country. they have predicted that when a hurricane hit, this would happen and it would be devastating. they are getting supplies in as they can but with what we are dealing with, nothing is going to be good enough. please pray for these people everyone.

i just saw sharmane sp? neville on local news. she is famous for her jazz music and the sister of aaron neville. she was in shock. this poor woman. i can't even stop crying to tell her story. she was raped, stole a boat and rescued as many people out of a hospice as she could, two people she tried to save were attacked and eaten by alligators right in front of her, pushed dead babies out of the way, walked over countless dead bodies, found a big city bus that would run and drove as many people as she could out. i don't think i can take much more of this. i am at a loss for words.

[coco-pebbles-aholic]

After surviving the storms here in central Florida last yr I know how tragic & inconvenient it is.Alot of people such as my future MIL is on well water so no electric meant no toilet,no bathing,nothing....here we lived like that for up to 2 weeks.It took alot of preparing & planning just to get trucks thru to remove debris,allow electric trucks in,etc.No the red cross wasn't here for me & mine but it should've been.But I think over all living thru as much as we did last yr thru 3 hurricanes,personally it takes time to accomplish anything.The gov is slow so LA ,Miss,Al can't put all their faith in the gov we gotta put it in each other.

Meaning that as a neighborhood here each neighbor pulled their share to help others & the neediest.There they r raping,looting,killing,& who knows what else.That is scarey!!!to think I can't go to someone else for help becaz they may want to shoot me.I lived in the ghetto last yr.The police even expected the worse from our people in the area but do u know we all used our chainsaws to help out.If someone had a grill they cooked.If others had water we shared.People in my neighborhood who I had never took the time to meet helped.Isn't that what America should be about?ANyways we had our share of turmoil here & Ilost my home I know they have lost much more in the path of Katrina but they also got to act civilized.......This also proves not everyone from the top to the bottom thought this would be this bad or EVERYONE would have evacuted as instructed.I personally believe the people & the gov never imagined this even to the extent it is.I say give them another day to see the results of what needs to occur.To think where will all these people go?Where do u put them?

Imagine some r criminals,how do u house them?where do u put the convicts,the pediphiles,murderers,the insane?It would be inhumane to not do for them as well.I am glad I don't have to make those decisions becaz this is a tough thing to figure out.

[coco-pebbles-aholic]

I just saw 1 good thing on the news about the looters.They were taking the food they stole to the people who needed.Now to steal for eating purposes is a little different then stealing a tv,c.d.'s,& guns.Necessities of life r little more understandable & forgiveable.God help them all!!!!!

[Dawn01]

First of all let me say that I am very saddened for these people who have lost everything.But I think our whole country relies way too much on the Federal Government,if you know what I mean.And these people were warned for atleast a week to get out, MANDITORY EVAQUATION!!!If you ask me they should be more upset with their State Government, for instance this "Ray Nagin" who got on tv and made an *** of himself critisizing the Federal Government for not sending someone to do what he should have .Then just a few minutes later another Senator got on the tv and told that he,Ray Nagin, demanded that a bunch of tourists from the nice hotel across the way from the DOME be evaquated first. INstead of his own people.I dont think that anyone anywhere wants this to take any longer than it has to but all things take time, especially something this catastrophic.The government is good but they are not God. And God is really the only one who could have helped these people any faster than our Federal Government did. Im sick of people thinking that the government should take care of all people who wont take care of themselves. Like I said I am really sad for these people but I think that all is being done that can be done.I pray for these people everyday and I think they would be alot better off to use all the breath they are wasting critisizing the government , praying for help from the ONE who can help them more.God Bless them all I want only the best for them.

[RADJOJO]

The situation is perhaps the most catastrophic and devastating that the U.S. has ever seen. (? more than Sept 11?) All of you have very good points, and your opinions are shared with millions of others around the world. I don't see the point in trying to find someone to blame. Seems like an unnecessary use of energy at this point. I live in San Antonio where they are currently bringing in 25,000 folks from New Orleans. And trust me, we have been doing A LOT in this city... churches, stores, individuals donating time, money, and shelter to these victims. Yes, I believe that this IS America. This is what America is about... people who reach out at this time of crisis and do whatever they can for their fellow American. It is NOT up to just one man! Bush is JUST ONE MAN! He has a LOT on his plate... wouldn't want his job, would you? The whole thing is horrific. Every single part of it. Children and women getting raped. Children seeing all these events unfold. Bodies laying in the water or on the side of the road. Maniacs with guns trying to shoot the rescuers! Their is plenty of blame to go around. Thank God that we can sit here in our air conditioned houses on our computers and actually have time to THINK about who is to blame!

[Dawn01]

You are soo right.

[KayBee]

If everything takes "time" then God better help us if we are ever attacked on US soil...the only thing that took time was the authorization and paperwork. The American people wanted to help from day one.

The mandatory evacuation order did not go into effect until a couple of days before the storm hit and there was not enough coordinated, public transportation out of the city. There were some people who stayed because lack of judgment but there were many who stayed because they didn't have a choice.

It isn't about "blaming" it is about fixing it. If you put yourself in their shoes and were in 90+ weather, no water, no food, no place to use the bathroom, no insulin if you were diabetic, no diapers or formula if you had babies, how valid would "It takes time" sound to you?

The military can set up a drop zones and get any supplies they need to any location on the planet within hours...everything Nagin said was true. He was driven to make those comments in frustration. Relief efforts of this magnitude must begin with the president and in this situation, for reasons that are not apparent, it took too long to set things in motion.

[ September 06, 2005, 06:08 AM: Message edited by: KayBee ]

[busybody]

If it were just one building, or one city, the response would have been inexcusable. If this were a crisis like 9-11, help could have arrived, checked into nearby hotels and used gas to drive people to safety, electricity and phones to coordinate efforts.The magnitude of this crisis was so much bigger than the Superdome. It was chaos and lack of resources and flooded land for miles and miles and miles. My best friend lived 2 blocks from the beach in Biloxi. She needed help just as urgently as the people in Slidell, New Orleans, Gulfport, and all the other little places no one ever heard of before Katrina. Blame is pointless. Even if the "government" or the Red Cross or whomever supposedly didn't do enough, had been right there waiting on standby just in case, guess what? Their people and their supplies would have been destroyed by Katrina too. The New Orleans police spokesman committed suicide for God's sake. The authorities were just as helpless as the poor civilians. The rescue workers had no access to their equipment and no road to travel. Walk a mile in their shoes. Unless you were there at the end of theday, you're just a mile further from the truth, in someone else's wet shoes!!!

[Rickysmiles]

Let us all remember that most of the people that were left in New Orleans were some of the states most poor people. If they had the means to leave the state, then perhaps they would have. One of the biggest issues that a lot of us fail to realize is that, historically the federal government has not always been viewed as a friend to the African American man or woman. There are generations of families that have always lived in Louisiana and it's all that they know. It goes back to the days after the Civil War, when the freed slaves were promised 40 acres and a mule and guess what? They never got it. Not because it wasn't there to give but because after Lincoln was assasinated, President Johnson pardoned all of the successioners and gave the land that was promised to the freed slaves back to the plantation owners and the slaves were forced off the land or forced to work the same lands that they worked before they were freed for little to no money. They have carried this history around with them for generations and it's not hard to believe that they wanted to stay for fear that if they left, they would have nothing left to come back to and no way to claim it was theirs. I can't say that our government was completely at fault, but history has told us that poor people and people of color have always been mistreated by the government and it's not hard to believe that this tragedy was made more tragic by the failure to respond. And, although we cannot control the weather, we can prepare for the worst and unfortunately, New Orleans was not prepared for the worst. Not because it didn't want to be, but by our governments' failure to recognize the importance of being prepared for the what ifs'. Why would you build a levee that can withstand a category 3 hurricane, when you have the knowledge that there are category 4 and 5 hurricanes? Water always wins in any situation. This tragedy should have humbled us and make us more aware that we can not be complacent in our lives. We need to be more involved in what our decision makers are doing on Capital Hill and we need to take the issue of our survival in our own hands and not leave it up to someone who, with a stroke of a pen, can alter our lives dramatically. I'm sorry that this is so long, but I strongly believe that we all need to start making decisions about our policy makers. We need to stop voting along party lines and vote for the person that has OUR best interests at heart so that this never happens again and if it does people won't die at the hands of "red tape". I love America and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Hurricane Katrina has reminded us that race and class issues do exist and that yes this stuff can and does happen in America.

[EBONY POETESS]

Rickysmiles

[lanca]

OK TALK IT FROM SOMEONE IN LOUISIANA WHAT YOU SEE ON TV DOES NOT COMPARE TO THE REAL THING IT IS HORRIBLE.
AND ON THE UP HAND SINCE THEY BAFFLED IT UP SO MUCH TO GOV. IS FINALLY STEPPING UP AND TRYING TO COVER WHAT THEY MESSED UP SO BAD. BUT THEY COULD OF SAVED A COUPLE BILLION DOLLARS IF THEY WERE HERE TUESDAY OR EVEN WEDNESDAY.
IT IS A SAD SITUATION. BUT I THINK NOW A LOT OF THE POORER PEOPLE WHO WERE DOWN THERE THEY WILL COME OUT A WHOLE LOT BETTER. THEN THEY COULD OF EVER IMAGINED.
SO I GUESS SOME GOOD WILL COME OUT OF ALL THE JUMBLE AND WACKED JOB THEY DID TO THEM IN THE BEGINNING.

[missus]

Ricky how wise you are. Thanks

Lanca, when I was looking at the news, I saw your city is really growing as a result of the hurricane. I thought about you and realized we hadn't heard from you for a coupla days. Good to see you girl. Hope all is well with your parents hubby and babies.

Hugs


Missus

[KayBee]

busybody,

I read your post twice and I am afraid that you think that the consensus is that many people of finding fault with the rescue workers...I just want you to know that is not what I was trying to say at all...I'm saying that those rescue workers (including all the local authorities who did unbelieveably heroic work) needed SUPPORT and did not get it...I'm also not saying that the MILITARY did anything wrong.

All I have said from the beginning is that the bureaucracy in this country is beyond ridiculous...when you have to wait for "permission" or an "invitation" to help people in the situations we have seen in the last two weeks...there is something seriously wrong. THAT is what needs to be fixed as we move forward.

[nickandsydsmom]

"It saddenes me to know that we have people in American starving, with no water or shelter and its been 5 days." THIS HAPPENS EACH AND EVERYDAY BUT THE MEDIA DOESN'T CARE ENOUGH TO COVER IT UNLESS IT'S A STORY AND THEY CAN PROFIT FROM IT OR UNLESS IT'S NEAR A HOLIDAY.

"Hurricane Katrina has reminded us that race and class issues do exist and that yes this stuff can and does happen in America." AGAIN, THIS IS SO TRUE AND EACH AND EVERY HUMAN NEEDS TO REALIZE IT!! IT IS SAD THAT AFTER CENTURIES THERE IS STILL SO MUCH HATRED AND ANGER BETWEEN US. SAD WHAT OUR ANCESTORS DID/WENT THROUGH BUT THIS IS NOW AND WE NEED TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO BE DIFFERENT.

"The mandatory evacuation order did not go into effect until a couple of days before the storm hit and there was not enough coordinated, public transportation out of the city." HAS ANYONE SEEN PICTURES OF THE HUNDREDS OF FLOODED SCHOOL BUSES SITTING IN THEIR PARKING LOTS??!! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT IF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE UTILIZED THEIR OWN RESOURCES? EACH AND EVERY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION UNIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED, TRAINS EVEN COULD HAVE MADE SEVERAL ROUND TRIPS WITH THE 5 DAYS WARNING THAT WAS GIVEN.

"Yes, I believe that this IS America. This is what America is about... people who reach out at this time of crisis and do whatever they can for their fellow American." AMEN TO THAT! BUT LET US NOT FORGET OUR POOR AND HOMELESS ON A DAILY BASIS NOT JUST DURING TIMES OF CRISIS. THEY ARE IN CRISIS EVERY DAY. IT IS SAD THAT THERE ARE AMERICANS THIS POOR AND WE ARE GIVING OUR MONEY TO OTHER COUNTRIES FOR FOOD.

"I just saw 1 good thing on the news about the looters." FUNNY HOW THEY'RE SHOWING JUST THE BLACK FOLKS ISN'T IT? GEE, WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT THE BIASED MEDIA????

"the governor gave 200 million to the saints last yr but couldn't find 30 million to reinforce those levees." SAYS IT ALL RIGHT HERE, THE RICH HELP THE RICH AND SCREW THE REST OF YA.

"You know the reason why the looters got out of control?" UH WHO CARES THE **** WAS RUINED ANYHOW AND IT WILL BE WRITTEN OFF. DO YOU THINK THE BIG CORPORATIONS ARE GOING TO LOSE MONEY. HELL NO THEY WON'T! TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH, LOOP HOLES FOR THE RICH. BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES AREN'T GOING TO BE FORCED TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATE PAY OUTS ARE THEY? NO! AND WHY? THE RICH STAY RICH AND NO ONE(GOVERNMENT) WANTS TO PISS OFF THE RICH OTHERWISE WHO IS GOING TO FUND THEIR CAMPAIGNS???

I AM SORRY IF ANYONE DISAGREES WITH ME BUT I AM ENTITLED TO MY OPINIONS TOO. IT IS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE THING THAT HAS HAPPENED. I DON'T BLAME ANY ONE PERSON, IT WAS A SERIES OF BAD THINGS HAPPENING EVEN BEFORE THE HURRICANE CAME. AMERICA NEEDS TO REALIZE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN! THERE SHOULD NOT BE HUNGRY PEOPLE HERE! WE NEED TO QUIT WORRYING ABOUT MAKING OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE US! WE GIVE THEM MILLIONS AND TRILLIONS AND THEN WE AREN'T MAKING THEM PAY IT BACK! OUR GOVERNMENT STEALS FROM THE POOR AND GIVES TO THE RICH. CORPORATE AMERICA ROBS US DAILY BY PAYING PENNIES IN TAXES WHILE MAKING BILLIONS IN PROFITS AND PAYING PENNIES FOR MINIMUM WAGES TO OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE STARVING! WE ALL NEED TO GET OFF OF OUR ASSES AND MAKE A CHANGE! WE NEED TO LET OUR GOVERNMENT KNOW THAT WE WON'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!

I'm off of my soap box(and rocker).
By the way, I am a white, middle class, female who is just frustrated.

[coco-pebbles-aholic]

Nicky&sydsmom,please understand me clearly becaz I don't mean to step on toes ever.

I am a minority,in the tune of my mom is Polish (straight off the boat) ,my father is African-American & Latino.Basically you name the joke,racial slur,or anything bad that people say vicously about a race of people I have heard it.This has not hardened my heart or changed me as a person becaz I know who I am as a woman & mother.So please never consider me the one who is racist by any means at all.

My refrence to looters said nothing about anyone's skin color.Whites & blacks were looting.I am not not gonna package it up with a pretty bow .To steal food to survive is forgiveable as I mentioned(in my eyes)But it was looting & stealing period!You cannot say it any other way.Personally I understand going into the store taking baby formula,pampers,& food during that time.Now to steal a big screen tv,some c.d's,& guns-I don't see the survival in watching tv & listening to cd's.Was it the "right" thing to do?Was it stealing?It was stealing regardless of it being a write off or whatever.

I am not the kinda person who makes loud statements of look at me & my racially mixed children.We never want to be known for our color,I want people to know my heart,mind,& the very essence of my soul to identify me & my children.When each one of us turn this into a race issue we are part of a bigger problem not a solution.I believe the problem is personal accountability.If Mr Nagin & the govenor say I am sorry for not doing my part to prevent this tragic loss of life & in humane treatment as Americans we r forgiving enuf to say ok & go on.

We have forgiven many government officials in the past.It is ok to be wrong as long as u accept responsibilty for your wrongs.When the people from the nat'l weather service contacted the govenor & Nagin to understand the true power of Katrina they ignored the warning that the man gave personally.I saw his interview & we are talking about a elder gentleman who said he knew sleeping was not option for him that nite unless he made them understand becaz he could not stand at judgements door at end time knowing how devastating this was gonna be.They played his tape recorded conversation.The 2 officials seemed un-fazed by his warning.Nagin waited too late.The govenor waited too late.In Florida believe me Jeb Bush is all over tv & radio whether it is a mandatory evac or not telling everyone get out while the gettin is good.With at least a week's warning not 24 hrs notice!so please don't make it racially charged becaz it isn't.

I am not saying this makes the past ok with AMerica's treatment of minorities(or even today's treatment)I am just saying to all we have come too far to create tention & strife where it is not necessary.

Like u say we are all entitled to our own opinions.I justed wanted to clear up where u thought other wise of my statement.

[nickandsydsmom]

No, I wasn't bashing anyones comments and I didn't interpret yours negatively either, I knew what you meant. I was just commenting on the way the media portrays what they want, that was my gripe and point. I know there is a difference between looting and surviving. Have a great day!

[EBONY POETESS]

nickandsydsmom I couldn't agree with you more!
I tried to stay away from this thread because it was so much crap written here !
I can't even stomach the fact that people were more worried about people taking tv's and cd's than them living the next day.
How do you know they weren't going to try and sell these things to get food,clothes or whatever once they got out or if they got out.
New Orleans was always known for the party city
People from all walks of life reside there.
Lootig refuges reminds me of someone trying to cross the boarder from another country with a tv on his back!
It's insulting and degrading the way the media has portrayed us(African Americans) for centuries
Watching what happened to them made me want to take the American out of the African.
Other countries our treated better because of the government profiting from it.
I know there were caucasion people that were there in katrina but I didn't not once see where they showed them looting and I'm sure they were. Trying to survive just like us!But they wont show you that because keep the American tradition of racism,class,ignorance and greed!You have to read and research beyond what people show you or tell you because a well dressed truth is simply a lie

[Princess S]

Well said Ebony-your the greatest girl

I love New Orleans-Paul and I have been their twice for Marti Gras and we plan on going back again, if I ever have the heart to replace our nanny...

[coco-pebbles-aholic]

If everything is destroyed,how are you gonna sell a TV?Why would you buy a tv from the street then not buy food if indeed things are as bad as we believe they were?See I don't buy that excuse.

You can consider me as you wish but I accept no excuses for behavior that is wrong!I am not saying the past has been right but not you nor I are paying the price for the sins of our parents wrongs why do we wanna make an excuse to "make right" the sins of white's forefathers?You cannot make someone else do the death march for their father.So we need to not forget our past as Americans but remind ourselves what we will not tolerate it again.Noone can make slavery right.No one so why are we looking to some how equal it out?No one can pay back the price that was paid on the backs of our American black people.You nor I can even measure the amount that needs repaid.there are people who paid with their lives & that is immeasurable to say you now owe me this amount of money becaz my grandfather died on your land.Your grandfather's life is worth more then money could ever pay!!!!

So as much as I respect you dear Poetress I disagree with your mis-directed anger.When we disagree with something we change it!You disagree with the news media it is then time for you to make them do some changing!I don't know how,but you gotta somehow make them understand your feelings & the right way to portray what you wnat to hear on the news.You have the responsibilty to change what is not right for you.

I think everyone here has some great points but we each have a choice to be better,do better,& expect better.

but then again opinions are like........well u know the saying,so mine matters to me only I am sure.