Rapper wrong about racism in rescues

[Lil Red]

Kanye West is way off base.

During an NBC network fund-raiser Friday to help Hurricane Katrina victims, West, a hip-hop artist, let loose with an incredibly destructive diatribe. Among other crass comments, West said, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."

Is West so full of himself that he didn't understand he was asked to participate in the telethon to pump up contributions, not turn off prospective donors?

West certainly was not the only one to throw down the race card. Some other blacks also accused the federal government of neglecting New Orleans because it has a black majority and rampant poverty.

The racial friction is unwarranted and counterproductive.

I'm no fan of President George W. Bush, but here's a fact that can't be denied: He was not slow to prepare for last week's disaster.

Bush declared a state of emergency for Louisiana on Aug. 27. That was two days before Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. The declaration started the process to assemble federal resources.

The racial criticisms made by West and others are an insult to the heroics of U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force rescuers I watched on the television news. These guys have been descending on cables from helicopters and carrying New Orleans residents out of flooded neighborhoods. The rescues started on Aug. 29, the same day the hurricane hit.

And here's an interesting thing that I noticed in those rescues. All of the men I saw come down from the helicopters were white. The majority of the people plucked from the rooftops were black. Yet those white rescuers didn't seem to care what the victims looked like. The rescuers were energetic and compassionate. In one incident, a white Coastguardsman and a black guy stranded on a rooftop embraced as though they were brothers. Tears filled my eyes. That scene made me extremely proud to be an American.

Having to wait five minutes for help in New Orleans must have been excruciating. But it's impossible to ignore practical considerations. Mounting the aid mission for New Orleans was a little more complicated than throwing three suitcases into the back seat of a sports-utility vehicle and putting the pedal to the metal.

That's not the way the military works. The military's main role is to fight wars, not provide disaster assistance. Changing from the war-fighting mode to a civilian-humanitarian mission takes time to assemble the proper supplies and equipment. What would have been said if the military rushed in with the wrong equipment or inadequate supplies?

The nightmare conditions at the Superdome and the New Orleans Convention Center, where tens of thousands fled for help, wasn't the fault of the military or President Bush. That blame belongs squarely on the shoulders of New Orleans officials.

Does it bother me that most of the victims in New Orleans were black and poor?

Absolutely. There really needs to be a serious discussion about chronic black poverty in America. But considering the crisis that we're up against right now, the race discussion can wait until next week.

Is there room to improve the federal response to large-scale disasters?

Absolutely. But that discussion can wait, too.

By the way, many of people afflicted in Mississippi and Alabama by the hurricane were white. On Sunday, many of them complained they still had not received federal help.

This is not a racial matter. The scope of this disaster is mind-boggling. It covers an area greater than the size of Great Britain. There could be 10,000 dead. Throwing down the race card doesn't achieve anything.

It's obvious that Kanye West doesn't get it.

Yet it's clear that easing the agony of our Gulf Coast neighbors will require Americans of all colors to work together.

David Porter can be reached at dporter@orlandosentinel.com, or at 407-420-5533.

[Iacobus]

I think the Feds did drop the ball on this real bad. The US Armed Forces have been engaged for a long time in missions like this. Iraq is partly a humanitaian mission now, as is Afganastan, Yugoslavia, Solmia, etc. Moreover, the role of the national guard is to respond to things like this. The men in the units did not do anything wrong, nor did the Coast Guard, it was the higher ups in FEMA (which, save the Clinton years, has always been a political hack bin) and DHS. It wasn't a racial matter it is just pure and simple pure SNAFU. Also, the declearing of the area as a disater zone the few days before was in reply to the last hurricane to hit the area... 7 weeks ago.

But what is more important about the whole screw up is not that it is showing some deep seated racism (not in the first responders and I doubt any poltical hack or Bush himself is going to not act to get people rescued for racial reasons, we are a long ways past that day), but that the DHS is messed up. What would happen if there was a terrorist attack? Can they not blow up levees? Also, what if they set off a "dirty" bomb in the city? Everyone would have to be evacuated then as well and the ability to move freely in the city would be hampered. If we can't respond to this, how can we think we can respond to a large scale terror attack?

Edited September 6, 2005 by Iacobus

[philothea]

I'm not much of a fan of Bush (though I'm a republican), but I don't think he's especially racist.

When I first learned that the city of New Orleans' official hurricane disaster plan was "evacuate or die" I was shocked... but then knowing a bit about how municipal government works, I don't really know what else they could do. Pathetic, isn't it? But cities are very limited in the revenue they can obtain. Most of them are always strapped for cash, and they can't just rack up debt like the federal goverment mysteriously can. Where could New Orleans get a load of cash to hire transportation to evacuate people, and pay for their housing?

Sure, there are federal disaster programs, and the Red Cross, but those only help after a disaster, not before.

In my opinion, I still think the majority of the problem was the gutting of FEMA and the establishment of Homeland Defense, which wasn't really set up with natural disasters in mind. There are lots of new regulations as to who gets to order what. Even if they're good regulations, they're [i]new[/i] and haven't much been used before. I still don't know who was supposed to be in charge there.

And it's a shame that the "lie all the time" mindset of government officials kicked in, and told people everything was fine when it wasn't.

Just babbling...

[Lounge Daddy]

was West the guy on tv with Mike Meyers (sp?) - hehe, when that idiot began his "all anyone shows on tv are the black people looting" and "Bush doesnt care about the blacks" -- Mike looked completely stunned and his expression seemed to say "this isnt on the teleprompter

and about the whole thing with showing black looters on tv - im not sure there are many white people that live in that area so, ya... and if it was predominantly white area - same situation, you would see more white people on tv, fool.

and another thing - i personally didnt even notice the race of the looters until people like West began calling out "racism"

[philothea]

I don't think anyone in particular in authority is racist, but there were a lot of examples where images of blacks were called "looters" where the whites were "finding food" or "gathering supplies" or somesuch.

I can give links if you want. I am not surprised that some black people are offended.

[MC IMaGiNaZUN]

perhaps Bush isn't racist (I find it hard to believe he would be, after appointing many minorities to high level cabinet positions)

I guess it is a problem, and i say this as an observer, and friend of those who have experienced it... That people who are black, have felt like the world is $#!*ing on them. And the wounds do run deep.

Honestly, as a Christian i would rather feel compelled to bring healilng. And accusing certain outspoken blacks of being rude or indefinitaly wrong, might not establish peace as well.

I guess, that i am just saying this as a sympathetic white guy. But i have had friends who say that women clench their purses when they are around, people give them dirty looks when they walk into stores. But it is a complicated cycle, where each little things adds to the pains that are allready there. And when it seems like all the people in New Orleans that are dieing are black, it only adds fuel to the fire.

I doubt Bush hates black people. I just think that as someone who is not black, it is difficult to approach those kind of accusations with full awareness of their view of the problem. And honestly, saying that they are definitaly wrong, only makes the problem worse. Only makes them feel like more of a victim.

SHALOM

[Benedict]

[quote name='philothea' date='Sep 6 2005, 05:45 PM']I don't think anyone in particular in authority is racist, but there were a lot of examples where images of blacks were called "looters" where the whites were "finding food" or "gathering supplies" or somesuch.[/quote]
The pictures taken by two different photographers were captioned by two different editors.

There was no double standard of race involved. However, did you notice that the picture with "finding food" is grammatically incorrect?

[Lounge Daddy]

[quote name='MC IMaGiNaZUN' date='Sep 6 2005, 07:52 PM']perhaps Bush isn't racist (I find it hard to believe he would be, after appointing many minorities to high level cabinet positions)...
Honestly, as a Christian i would rather feel compelled to bring healilng.  And accusing certain outspoken blacks of being rude or indefinitaly wrong, might not establish peace as well....
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ok - as Christians we are are called to heal
but is making comments like this healing:
[quote]...with the way America is set up to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off, as slow as possible.[/quote]
--[url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090300165.html"]Mr West[/url]



no!
and it is interesting that his comments were made the same time his new cd hit the market

people like him dont help anything - these people only stir the pot

[Lounge Daddy]

[url="http://soapbox.townhall.com/story/2005/9/6/165052/2340"]American Racism: The Slideshow[/url]

[CatholicCid]

[quote name='Benedict' date='Sep 6 2005, 08:03 PM']The pictures taken by two different photographers were captioned by two different editors.

There was no double standard of race involved.  However, did you notice that the picture with "finding food" is grammatically incorrect?
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One of the photographers also noted that since he saw the people take the food literally out of the water, as in it actually floated out of the store, he could not call it looting in his mind...

Do I think the response was slow? A little, but not as bad as everyone seems to make it... Areas were completely flooded and conditions were horrible... The perimeter of the disaster was huge... To try and setup relief correctly takes time...

As for the SuperDome issues... I really see that in the fault of the people there... I remember reading about a murdered child found in a freezer... That is horrible... But it is even scarier that someone would do that and claim it was because of "panic"... Military presence would make little difference at that point imho.
Then the 'minorities' actually threatening caucasians and their lives so they are evacuated quicker, then saying it is racist to remove them?

[Winchester]

I urge all who think response was slow to never ever ever watch the nightly news again, since coverage is designed to create an impression.

There will be an investigation of this incident. It will me examined in excruciating detail, and tons of innovation will come from it. Through the Freedom if Information Act, you will probably be able to get all the relevant statistics. Until then all, including Kanye "Moron" West, can kindly shut their mouths unless they want to get jobs as rescuers.

NEWSFLASH: Reporters aren't gods, and they aren't above propaganda.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Winchester' date='Sep 10 2005, 09:16 AM']Until then all, including Kanye "Moron" West, can kindly shut their mouths unless they want to get jobs as rescuers.

NEWSFLASH: Reporters aren't gods, and they aren't above propaganda.[right][snapback]718046[/snapback][/right][/quote]

well said, thank you

[Lounge Daddy]

[quote name='CatholicCid' date='Sep 10 2005, 02:05 AM']As for the SuperDome issues... I really see that in the fault of the people there... I remember reading about a murdered child found in a freezer... That is horrible...
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ya... i heard and read a lot of horror stories about the Superdome hole-up
and then ...most of the more terrible tales are unconfirmed and may be fiction

yet another case of reporters painting everything in the worst light they can to sell the drama as news

[url="http://www.guardian.co.uk/katrina/story/0,16441,1563532,00.html"]Superdome Murder and rape - fact or fiction? [/url]

[Lounge Daddy]

[quote name='Winchester' date='Sep 10 2005, 11:16 AM']I urge all who think response was slow to never ever ever watch the nightly news again, since coverage is designed to create an impression.

There will be an investigation of this incident. It will me examined in excruciating detail, and tons of innovation will come from it. Through the Freedom if Information Act, you will probably be able to get all the relevant statistics. Until then all, including Kanye "Moron" West, can kindly shut their mouths unless they want to get jobs as rescuers.

NEWSFLASH: Reporters aren't gods, and they aren't above propaganda.
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ah yes, well said

[Lounge Daddy]

[quote]Only an impish Chris Rock couldn't resist scaring producers, looking into the camera and saying, "George Bush hates midgets."[/quote]
[url="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050910/D8CHF3C81.html"]BAM![/url]

[jmjtina]

[quote name='Winchester' date='Sep 10 2005, 09:16 AM']I urge all who think response was slow to never ever ever watch the nightly news again, since coverage is designed to create an impression.

There will be an investigation of this incident. It will me examined in excruciating detail, and tons of innovation will come from it. Through the Freedom if Information Act, you will probably be able to get all the relevant statistics. Until then all, including Kanye "Moron" West, can kindly shut their mouths unless they want to get jobs as rescuers.

NEWSFLASH: Reporters aren't gods, and they aren't above propaganda.
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couldn't have said it better..........where's my clint eastwood?

but it's a good change!