Katrina aftermath - what the fuck???

[Lemmy]

So now you're comparing the victims to wild animals?

Why don't we just file this whole thing under "Shit Happens" and move on with our lives. I'll call the Red Cross and ask for a refund on my donation. After all this didn't happen in Connecticut so why should I give a shit?

No disrespect CaptainJSparrow, but your analogies seem a bit off.

Agreed, opinions are easy to form and as we know everybody has one. I also realize that media thrives on shit, but you just can't explain away the past week's coverage from every major news outlet in the world.

Best of luck to everyone in the affected areas!

[CaptainJSparrow]

Lemmy, there's an old saying "If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and has an orange bill..."

You keep calling them victims. If someone brings something upon himself or herself, can you still call them a victim? You also throw blame around like a blanket...but you're missing a large part of the target. That is the actual "victims" themselves.

Let me tell you, it is not the President's fault that these folks are in this predicament. It's not the fault of our governor. It's not the fault of the state police, or any of the local authorities. It is their fault. They were warned to get out. They were given a means to get to safety (yes shelters were provided ... no one was turned away) and they refused.

Now you, in Conneticut I believe, are gonna sit there and say that it is someone else's fault for their predicament? C'mon.

Hell, the man that I saw yesterday is still in harms way. Should we send a police unit over there to put him in cuffs and take him to Baton Rouge and set him free? Those police units are kinda busy guarding downed power lines that are sparking so that no one get's themselves electrecuted. Those police units are busy trying to stop those "victims" from killing their rescuers and from stealing electrical appliances (and putting themselves in harms way while they're doing it). Hell, when do we stop protecting these victims from themselves and use our resources to get on with the process of getting this city inhabitable so that all of those displaced folks can get back home. Right now, today, the police are gonna be real busy letting in the citizens so that they can go assess the damage to their homes, and get what they can salvage out. The authorities are needed to keep the order for that. Why should they have to divide their resources to go protect these victims from themselves.

Nuff said.

[Lemmy]

Originally Posted by CaptainJSparrow

You also throw blame around like a blanket...

Captain, I don't think I mentioned blame at all. It was simply what I perceived to be your lack of compassion that prompted my post. But now that you mention it...

At the end of the day, the buck does stop with the President. I'm not saying that he personally should be held responsible for every little fuckup in FEMA, the military or the National Guard, but when it became apparent early on that things were going FUBAR he didn't show any kind of leadership. Commander in Chief isn't an honorary title. He has the power to take control. He didn't.

On a side note, for the Katrina fuckup and too many other reasons to list here, I personally think GWB should be put in front of a firing squad. I believe they're still allowed to execute retards in Texas.

Originally Posted by CaptainJSparrow

Now you, in Conneticut I believe, are gonna sit there and say that it is someone else's fault for their predicament?

I really don't see what my state of residence has to do with anything.

[Bill]

Now I think I feel kinda dumb for having donated money.

Next time I'll know better.

[RawAlex]

Originally Posted by Bill

Now I think I feel kinda dumb for having donated money.

Next time I'll know better.

I am starting to get the same feeling... which is sad.

[docholly]

Originally Posted by Bill

Now I think I feel kinda dumb for having donated money.

Next time I'll know better.

If you gave it with an honest heart, no need to feel bad at all. We are each responsible for our own actions as well as those who are unable, for whatever the reason, help themselves.

[Bill]

Well, I was exaggerating momentary feelings of queasiness. I don't really feel that way.

I think I was trying to say something about how this situation is so extreme, and the political spinning and illusion-making on all sides is so extreme, that it's impossible to know how to feel about it.

Can't trust the media.

Can't trust the government.

FEMA wants me to give money to Operation Blessing and Second Harvest.

The reports of gunfire at helicopters are shown to be lies. The reports that Gov. Blanco didn't "file the proper paperwork", which filled the media, are shown to be lies. Someone created and coldly used those lies.

And the implications of what CaptainJ appears to be saying are depressing.

It's a crazy, ugly, sad situation. In situations like this, who knows if it's right to give money, and if the money you give will be used properly?

[docholly]

Originally Posted by Bill

Well, I was exaggerating momentary feelings of queasiness. I don't really feel that way.

well actually when i first read that response i was like surely he is being sarcastic.. then when RA weighed in, i was like hmmm i must be having a "old-timers" moment and just not getting it..

Originally Posted by Bill

Can't trust the media.

Can't trust the government.

FEMA wants me to give money to Operation Blessing and Second Harvest.

The reports of gunfire at helicopters are shown to be lies. The reports that Gov. Blanco didn't "file the proper paperwork", which filled the media, are shown to be lies. Someone created and coldly used those lies.

And the implications of what CaptainJ appears to be saying are depressing.

I would consider the source of the information as well. Even eye witness accounts can differ depending on whose eyes are doing the viewing.

[Halfdeck]

From seeing 20 people watch the same event and tell you 20 different opinions on what they saw, saying "this is how it really is" is as accurate as any media coverage out there. "This is how I and my friends see it down in Louisiana" is more like it.

People blaming George Bush for this is just unfounded, and the media coverage may be over dramatized for the sake of ratings, but you know what? I'm glad the media is comparing this to 9/11, the tsunami disaster and whatever else. If that type of inaccurate coverage keep people in line and speed things up and save a few extra lives, I'm all for it.

Most people around here know that those folks that are dead or stranded did it to themselves. We feel sorry for them, to an extent. Alot of folks around here also feel that these people are keeping the authorities from focusing on repairing the damage.

Honestly, my intial reaction after the hurricane hit FLA was this: "Dying in a hurricane has got to be the dumbest way to die."

But WTF, what is more important, saving lives or repairing the damage?

Blaming the victims only slows down the rescue effort. And frankly, blaming people for not leaving is as unproductive as blaming George Bush for changes in the weather.

We can blame whoever later but right now, I don't care if people are shooting at choppers and flipping over rescue boats. There are people dying/suffering out there and that has got to stop.

[CaptainJSparrow]

Halfdeck...you are right "This is how I and my friends see it down in Louisiana" is more like it." is a much more accurate way to say it.

It just get's my goat when folks try to place blame at the expense of people that are trying to help. In this instance, the fed & local governments are helping.

The dieing and suffering will stop and everything is being done by the authorities to do that. No one is perfect, they will make mistakes, but I'm proud of the efforts that I've seen, both on the news and firsthand.