Katrina Aftermath - Your help is needed

[andsome]

I really think that the American people and those affected are the best placed to comment on this issue.

I don't think this is true. What you are implying is that we should not voice our opinions on anything that we are not directly involved in. ie: Iraq, Israel etc:

We can of course only comment from a distance, as indeed is the case for most of America. I have so far seen very little praise in news items for the authorities.

[deuces wild]

Bush is handling this issue very well, and is doing all he can to help these people.

He didn't break his holiday in Texas till Wednesday.

A third world reaction from the world's only super power.

Your statement shows you have no idea what you are talking about. And as Nellie pointed out, that is a problem.

The federal government could not act until asked to do so by the Governor. And that did not happen until day 3. It is a legal thing called States Rights. And if you think that the President is out of touch, is not as informed or cannot make the same decisions when on "vacation" as compared to physically being in the White House then you again are mistaken.

And since the blame game is once again brought up...........

Clearly, most of the blame belongs at the personal level....if folks did not

have the sense to get out with a predicted Cat 5 heading down on them, shame

on them. The Federal Govt. is not responsible for that. No government can

protect you from danger....*you* must take responsibility for *your* safety.

The next level of blame lies with the Mayor of New Orleans.....he had plenty

of warning and had the resources to order the folks out of the city....for

those not having cars or other means to get out he had a fleet of school and

city buses/vehicles at his disposal.

Want to see what that fleet of school busses now looks like?

http://tinyurl.com/8uedp

No evacuation plans for a city sitting 20 feet below sea level and subject to a direct his from a Cat 5 hurricane.

The next level of blame lies with the Governor of Louisiana.....again she

had plenty of warning about this storm and should have formulated an

emergency plan for the State.

The next level of blame lies with the previous Administrations. As

previously posted the warnings were posted yet funding was not provided to

address the flooding and hurricane exposures in the 1990's.

Now we can blame the Federal government....yep they were slow to react. Yet

their hands were tied for a while.

As I have said all along let's stop with the blame game for now.....it

serves no purpose.....plenty of time for it after this disaster is under

control.

[Thos]

I am with you, deuces wild, in every sense ( except the physical one, of course).

Thos.

[Sir T Fireball]

WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - The United States has not actively sought foreign aid following Hurricane Katrina but dozens of countries lined up on Friday to help with rescue efforts, from hefty cash donations to tents and helicopters.

Shame

Help was not limited to allies and opponents of U.S. policy such as Cuba and Venezuela put aside their political differences to join the chorus of nations offering help.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez offered to send cheap fuel but the State Department said a decision had not been made on whether to accept this offer.

Not that needy then.

The department listed donors so far as: Australia, Austria, the Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, China, Columbia, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, the European Union, France, Germany, Guatemala, Britain, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, NATO, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Organization of American States, Paraguay, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sweden, Venezuela and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

I hope their offers are accepted and Bush's ego doesn't cost yet more lives.

Katrina/Reuters

Whatever, whoever is to blame, I pray that the toll isn't as high as the figures being touted around today...10,000+ is way too high for something forecast well in advance and in a 1st world country. I also hope that the seemingly lack of effort isn't in any way due to the fact that the affected population is predominantly black and poor.

Good luck to them all and wishes for a speedy recovery.

[nellie2]

Can I ask that a new thread be started for political discussions on this issue!

What you are implying is that we should not voice our opinions on anything that we are not directly involved in. ie: Iraq, Israel etc:

Not true... I just don't think this particular thread is the place to voice those opinions.

[Chris]

Can I ask that a new thread be started for political discussions on this issue! 

What you are implying is that we should not voice our opinions on anything that we are not directly involved in. ie: Iraq, Israel etc:

Not true... I just don't think this particular thread is the place to voice those opinions.

I agree!

This topic has already been cleaned once. Please let's not do it again. I know there are many different opinions on the Bush Administration and what has/is happening in New Orleans at the moment. We can discuss it to to all forms of extreme, but it doesn't help at all. And let's face it we're not going to be able to do anything about it are we? Unless one of us has contacts in Washington?

What we can do is raise money and [if you believe in A God] Pray for all the people who have lost their families, their homes and maybe even their hope :(

If you don't want to offer some of your money, then fine, you are after all under no obligation to do so and I [and everyone else?] will not think of you any different.

[catgate]

This topic has already been cleaned once.

Is "cleaned" the most suitable word to describe the operation carried out?

[Robbers Dog]

Clearly, most of the blame belongs at the personal level....if folks did not

have the sense to get out with a predicted Cat 5 heading down on them, shame

on them.

As can be seen from the news reports, most of the people left behind in New Orleans did not have transport or the wherewithal to escape the impending storm.

From your statement you are obviously not poor or black.

[andsome]

Clearly, most of the blame belongs at the personal level....if folks did not

have the sense to get out with a predicted Cat 5 heading down on them, shame

on them.

As can be seen from the news reports, most of the people left behind in New Orleans did not have transport or the wherewithal to escape the impending storm.

From your statement you are obviously not poor or black.

The roads were jammed solid anyway.

[deuces wild]

Clearly, most of the blame belongs at the personal level....if folks did not

have the sense to get out with a predicted Cat 5 heading down on them, shame

on them.

As can be seen from the news reports, most of the people left behind in New Orleans did not have transport or the wherewithal to escape the impending storm.

From your statement you are obviously not poor or black.

Nope. Not black. Not poor. Exactly what are you insinuating Robbers? That because I am neither that I have no compassion? If not, what was your point?

Next time do not take my comments out of context. Try posting the rest of my post, specifically this:

The next level of blame lies with the Mayor of New Orleans.....he had plenty

of warning and had the resources to order the folks out of the city....for

those not having cars or other means to get out he had a fleet of school and

city buses/vehicles at his disposal.

Want to see what that fleet of school busses now looks like?

http://tinyurl.com/8uedp

No evacuation plans for a city sitting 20 feet below sea level and subject to a direct his from a Cat 5 hurricane.

The next level of blame lies with the Governor of Louisiana.....again she

had plenty of warning about this storm and should have formulated an

emergency plan for the State.

There were poor folks, black folks, rich folks, white folks, catholics, jews, protestants, folks with short hair, folks with long hair, folks with no hair.........all sorts of folks killed and stranded.

Now to the big question Robbers......are you black? Are you poor? If not how on earth are you able to make a judgement on this?

Now that sounds about as silly as your comment.....eh? :rolleyes:

[scuzzman]

I just want to add this:

If anyone wants to listen to live coverage via talk radio here in the states, you can listen online at http://www.610wtvn.com

Click "Listen Live" on the left, and create a free account.

[Robbers Dog]

There is no compassion in this quote.

Clearly, most of the blame belongs at the personal level....if folks did not

have the sense to get out with a predicted Cat 5 heading down on them, shame

on them.

Black as the ace of spades, and proud of it.

[deuces wild]

There is no compassion in this quote.

Clearly, most of the blame belongs at the personal level....if folks did not

have the sense to get out with a predicted Cat 5 heading down on them, shame

on them.

Black as the ace of spades, and proud of it.

Ah, the race card is played, although race never had anything to do with this thread until you brought it up.

And we digress even further.

But help me understand how my comments...............

Things continue to get worse in the aftermath of Katrina. Over 1/2 million folks stranded in the city of New Orleans alone. The power (and water) may out out in New Orleans until the end of the year. No place to buy water or food. 80% of the city is under water, with the water containing dead bodies and human waste from the sewage treatment plants. It may take months to pump the water out of the city. Then comes months of cleanup.

Similar themes in other Louisiana and Mississippi cities. No one knows how many people died and the tally may not be known for months.

Please contribute to the Red Cross.

and.....................

The purpose of my initial post to this thread was to bring a tremendous disaster to your attention and ask for you to consider a donation to help in the relief efforts.

and ...................

Clearly, most of the blame belongs at the personal level....if folks did not

have the sense to get out with a predicted Cat 5 heading down on them, shame

on them. The Federal Govt. is not responsible for that. No government can

protect you from danger....*you* must take responsibility for *your* safety.

and ...................

The next level of blame lies with the Mayor of New Orleans.....he had plenty

of warning and had the resources to order the folks out of the city....for

those not having cars or other means to get out he had a fleet of school and

city buses/vehicles at his disposal.

Want to see what that fleet of school busses now looks like?

http://tinyurl.com/8uedp

No evacuation plans for a city sitting 20 feet below sea level and subject to a direct his from a Cat 5 hurricane.

The next level of blame lies with the Governor of Louisiana.....again she

had plenty of warning about this storm and should have formulated an

emergency plan for the State.

.....................somehow makes me an uncompassionate racist? :blink:

As Denzel Washington said in the movie Philadelphia....Help me understand. Explain it to me like I was a nine year old.

BTW: I have already received a PM from a membe here who will remain nameless. The message? Please leave this forum.

Amazing how some folks cannot discuss a tragedy like this without making it personal.

I see no positive future in this thread and request that it stay but be locked.

'Tis a shame the way it spiraled downhill when all I was initially asking for was to consider donating to the Red Cross. :blink:

[-pops-]

Locked at the request of the originator.