A Failure of Government in These United States

Bro. Curtis

WHEW! I would hate to play you in hard ball ...

God Bless,

Wayne

 

We are asking why our government failed? We are a govenment of the people, by the people, and for the people. After seeing the way the citizens of New Orleans are acting, I think we quit governing ourselves a long time ago. When I am hungry, the first thing I do is try to eat a pair of designer jeans, or a tv. When I am angry, I fire on medivac helecopters.

The sad thing is, the 3rd world victims of the tsunami acted vastly more civilized then we are are acting. That is the true tradgedy here.

 

Bunyon,

Be careful with the humor. I got into trouble for it in this thread.

 

LorrieGrace,

I'm sorry if you thought I was calling you racist, because I was making a general statement. I was talking about posts I have seen throughout the board on many different subjects. I apologize for that.

Also, I am not saying that only black people were affected. I do however, believe that the media has given black people a bad rap, which further fuels misconceptions in this country. A prime example is that of the captions of some of the photos of this disaster. They have caused such an uproar that they have been pulled by the AFP. these are links to mirror images of the photos, with the captions in tact.

http://www.bairey.com/journal/katrina1.jpg

http://www.bairey.com/journal/katrina2.jpg

http://www.bairey.com/journal/katrina3.jpg

Notice in the captions that "black people loot," while their white counterparts "find." This is only one instance of media bias in this tragedy.

As far as the suing is concerned, the people in New York received money after a terrorist attack. The situation is different. Yes, there might be some people who sue, but frankly the constitution gives them that right, if their rights were violated. That is how America works, like it or not, whether or not they should. I would not want to take away your right to sue if you suffered an injustice, let them have theirs. Besides the money that was received by 9/11 victims was based on potential earnings, not just pain and suffering of the family. Some of these people worked in very well paying jobs in the finical district, not the inner city.

As far as LA receiving money from the Federal government, all states receive money from the federal government for a variety of reasons. I'm not exactly sure why you thought I excluded LA. If you don't recall, I said ALL branches of government failed these people not just the Federal government. I made the remark, because a variety of people are complaining about "their" tax dollars going to the relief and rebuilding of the gulf states. I was pointing out that if the situation was reversed, their state would request money to help rebuild.

 

Filmproducer,

<Extending olive branch>

We are brother and sister in Christ. I realize that there are some articles that seem to be racist.

 

It will be. Remember the words of the Prophet[ess] on this Forum: Yes, America will pay dearly for some of the actions of this President.

 

Yes, there are "bad apples", in New Orleans, but the number of good, decent, SUFFERING people far outweighs those that are bad. Some of these people have reached the breaking point, because no one is helping them, or help was slow in coming. They are TRAPPED in the city and the government will not let them out, and the government (state, local, and federal), will not tell these people what is going on. Frankly, I believe the reason information is not being disseminated to people is because no one has any answers. Everyone is unprepared. It is too bad that all you see in the media images are the bad apples.

 

The new construction consisted of rip rap and concrete slab fragments. That is what failed. The old earthen dikes that were packed and tamped held there own.

 

Filmproducer,

Its not just, the images. Right now behind me on the tv a black man is accusing the government of genocide. That is ridiculous. It is a disaster plane and simple. Actually it is two disasters. A category five huricane and then a flood. And another black man just said "you had to fight for your life, people were shooting guns and stuff." Who is the real enemy? I am tired of the excuses and the blame game. These folks will recieve an aid package that will be the envey of the world. That is the fact of the matter.

Right now there are refuges in Chad who escaped from a real genocide in Sudan with only the cloths on there back and are now living in the hot dusty desert in tents, and they are not acting like divas. They are thankful. I hope the terrorist never really hit us hard and cause a national disaster. I think we would tear ourselves apart based on what I have seen in New Orleans.

 

Those are images on TV! NOT EVERYONE feels that way. How dare you call these people DIVAS!!! I am ashamed! We should not have to compare our American citizens and the treatment they have gotten to the refugees in an African 3rd world country! You obviously are not a minority or are particularly close to anyone who is. If you were you would not be making these comments. You are looking past those who ARE obeying the law and are waiting and DYING! you are blaming the victims for being victims and acting as if they are "whining and complaining" without good reason. What gives you the right to look at news story and then label and judge people in a situation you could not even imagine? You talk about the aid packages they will receive. What about now? People are dying by the minute and they are not receiving help, or are just now starting to receive help. Mothers and fathers are watching their children DIE and they are helpless to help them. God help you if you were to ever be in that situation. They have a right to be angry, their government FAILED them and is still FAILING them.

 

We've been given a glimpse of the heart of man, under duress. When the restrainer is taken out of the earth, this gulf coast thing will be a picnic by comparison.

 

Those are images on TV! NOT EVERYONE feels that way. How dare you call these people DIVAS!!! I am ashamed! We should not have to compare our American citizens and the treatment they have gotten to the refugees in an African 3rd world country! You obviously are not a minority or are particularly close to anyone who is. If you were you would not be making these comments. You are looking past those who ARE obeying the law and are waiting and DYING! you are blaming the victims for being victims and acting as if they are "whining and complaining" without good reason. What gives you the right to look at news story and then label and judge people in a situation you could not even imagine? You talk about the aid packages they will receive. What about now? People are dying by the minute and they are not receiving help, or are just now starting to receive help. Mothers and fathers are watching their children DIE and they are helpless to help them. God help you if you were to ever be in that situation. They have a right to be angry, their government FAILED them and is still FAILING them. </font>[/QUOTE]I have seen no one on this forum blame the victims for their plight. They are, hawever, responsible for how they react to it.

 

A phone call that should have happened immediately after the flooding:

"Rudy."

"George."

"My rear is in a sling, man. Help me out."

"Yes, Mr. President, what do you need."

"This situation is outta control, man. Get it done. I'll temporarily appoint you to take charge - set up command and control - you can have whatever you need - and we'll clear it with Congress and do whatever is necessary with details when Congress reconvenes..."

"Sure, George."

"I'll send for you. Make it happen."

"Yes, Sir. Thanks for your confidence in me, George."

"Thanks, Rudy."

 

Those are images on TV! NOT EVERYONE feels that way. How dare you call these people DIVAS!!! I am ashamed! We should not have to compare our American citizens and the treatment they have gotten to the refugees in an African 3rd world country! You obviously are not a minority or are particularly close to anyone who is. If you were you would not be making these comments. You are looking past those who ARE obeying the law and are waiting and DYING! you are blaming the victims for being victims and acting as if they are "whining and complaining" without good reason. What gives you the right to look at news story and then label and judge people in a situation you could not even imagine? You talk about the aid packages they will receive. What about now? People are dying by the minute and they are not receiving help, or are just now starting to receive help. Mothers and fathers are watching their children DIE and they are helpless to help them. God help you if you were to ever be in that situation. They have a right to be angry, their government FAILED them and is still FAILING them. </font>[/QUOTE]Filmproducer,

Have you ever visited or lived in New Orleans for an extended period of time?

I have personally seen conditions in NO and the surrounding area that equaled any squalor in any Third World Country. I have ministered to people in Violet, Louisiana which to me was the most wretched place I have ever been on earth.

The truth is that may areas of NO and the surrounding areas more closely resembled third world countries before the storm hit than they did America.

 

Regardless of how talented Rudy is , the scope of the disaster he dealt with in New York was minor in comparison to NOLA.

I'm not speaking of the horror of it or the loss of life or the shock of seeing 3000 people intentionally murdered versus the devastation of a hurricane. Just the scope.

New York still had electricity, water, sewer, communications, and millions of possible rescuers immediately available from the local population.

NOLA had none of that and would be a hundred times more difficult to deal with than 911 was. All help had to come from outside the immediate area.

 

Hardsheller I am not arguing that NO was not a poor city that had problems, and yes I know of and have been to the the poor areas of NO, as well as many other places that you would not even begin to imagine. I take issue with the fact that these people are being called DIVAS, as if they have no right to complain about the treatment they have received.

 

The truth is that may areas of NO and the surrounding areas more closely resembled third world countries before the storm hit than they did America.

The sad truth is that there are COUNTLESS cities in America that are the same way, but that does not mean the people who live there are not decent and hard working.

 

This is true. I was thinking of Rudy as a person who knows how to organize and get things done that need done and has had prior disaster experience. The present Director of FEMA is a Bush friend and has no prior experience or education regarding such. And it shows.

 

No, it shows that the people on the ground were dazed and confused ...

The phone call you allude to should have been. "Mr. President, the levees are giving way. This is the disaster we have feared. If the federal governement does not take over & begin to arrive within 8 hours in force, our local government will fail. It is already beginning to fail."