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Originally posted by ZTABullwinkle
Okay...I am going to put my two cents in here.
First off, why are people making this out to be a race issue. Blacks are not the only low-income people who have been stranded at the Superdome or Convention Center. Like it was aid before, it comes down to money/socioeconomic status.
As for the rapes...why didn't anyone stop them? With so many people at the convention center, someone should have stepped in. Apparently, there was some drug use and drinking taking place there also. We can all comment that drinking makes you do or say things that you really regret later.
I agree that there should have been tons of relief supplies sent to the "refugees." But I don't blame the government one bit that they stopped because someone was shooting at the very helicopters trying to deliver aid.
As for the looting, I can understand taking food, drinks and even in some cases, clothes from stores. Those are VITAL items for survival. It is the taking of TVs, video games, expensive sneakers that burns me. There is no need for it.
I got the impression that the reporters were struggling also. They had limited supplies of food, water and gasoline. I am sure that they are out. I have heard countless stories of reporters being asked for use of their cell phone. Even the reporters are having troubles using them. I can remember Shepperd Smith from Fox calling in one report from a Pay Phone on the street!
These reporters are not purposely ignoring the pleas and needs of those displaced in NOLA. There is only so much they can do. I think they are doing a damn good job showing what is truly happening down there. Made a whole lot of important people wake up and realized that in no way was the US prepared for a disaster of this nature.
I am ready to be flamed, but please...take a moment to think about those who have lost EVERYTHING in these affected cities. Do what you can to help, every little bit is needed.
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While many may not see it as racism, many also do - geven of course the fact that racism or discrimination has alot to do with why so many of those left behind are from the poorest segments of society. Now that being said I have seen on some of the international media broadcasts rather blunt statements about this revealing the "ugly side" of America - the racism, the economic disparity, the violence, and the hypocracy (not my words but those of some foreign reporters).
Which of course leads me to ask if anyone else saw the BBC reporter "lose it" reporting about his disgust with the treatment of African Americas by the government and authorities - I think it was the incident he reported regarding a cop yelling racial epitaths and threatening a old woman seeking help with a shotgun before driving off... which prompted the BBC crew to render medical aid to the woman and family (woman had a snake bite).
I'd be interested in learning exactly what effect the images and reporting is having internationally... given that I have seen the foreign reporters pull less punches, and not really hold back from showing graphic images.