Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Friday, September 02, 2005
Hurricane hierarchy: blacks loot/whites find...plus: Katrina vs. McDonald's and helping the animals
Lead paragraph of today’s NY Daily News:
“Take back New Orleans
Editorials:The guardians of the public order in Katrina-ravaged New Orleans, where mobs of gunmen openly loot and rape and carjack and busjack and peg shots at police officers and soldiers at will - and where anarchy, Mogadishu-style, is just around the corner if they’re not stopped hard and fast - must regain control immediately. They must do whatever it takes to curb the hard-core, armed, violent felons who are making it impossible to save the city.”
anarchy, Mogadishu-style, is just around the corner? What do they mean by “must be stopped hard and fast?” Have these people even been to the place they are writing about?
A little more from the editorial:
“Today, New Orleans is spinning wildly out of control, as armed-to-the-teeth killers carve out post-apocalypse gangdoms with little fear of consequences. The critically ill are under siege in hospital beds. The elderly are driven from nursing homes. Snipers fire at evacuation points. These are budding warlords. The city must be taken back from them. The members of this lawless army need to know their own lives are in danger.”
I don’t know what is happening there, but these types of editorials are criminal.
Posted by James on from Puerto Rico 09/02 at 08:16 AMThanks, James.
I’m curious: Has “warlord” become the new euphemism for “uppity nigger”?
We get the messages loud and clear:
Protect property, not people.
Poor people are expendable (especially if they are black).
Solve all problems with overwhelming violence.
Don’t bother preparing for disaster; there’s lots of $$$ to be made in rebuilding.
...and so onThe facade is stripped away. The realities laid bare. Will most Americans demand change or join the call to put down the “warlords” like it was a damn video game?
I think we all know the answer…
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/02 at 08:25 AMEmailed you a link to another animal-rescue organization. Here it is for all and sundry:
http://www.noahswish.org/This isn’t funny anymore. The joke can stop now. Clearly this entire Administration has been a worse-than-usual Punk’d episode. Okay, Ashton, we get it ha-ha, now let’s get back to the REAL government. The MTV version is just not worth my attention anymore.
What’s that? This IS reality, not “reality TV”? >despair sets in more firmly than ever<
Posted by Richard on from Texas 09/02 at 10:01 AMI forgot to give y’all this link, too:
http://www.UnlockingAutism.Org
Another very good orginization helping out.
From the forum I found it on:
{{In view of the tremendous needs of families with children on the autism spectrum in the Gulf area hit by hurricane Katrina, Unlocking Autism has set up our website to accept donations for these specific needs.
Shelley Reynolds, UA President, lives in Baton Rouge as well as several other UA volunteers. We also have a UA State Rep who lives just outside of New Orleans. These contacts will enable us to find needs and distribute funds to those with children with autism.}}
Posted by Richard on from 09/02 at 10:11 AMThe Mercy Corps is a top rated, low administrative cost charity.
Posted by Harry on from 09/02 at 12:00 PMOne of my friends posted this up on his blog. It’s an interesting amalgam of reactions pertaining to the current situation down there. It’s a little long, but interesting nonetheless:
----------
1. CNN weatherman flips out on air:
Video here: http://s36.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0BH5K1W0XVMAG0XBQF078QHB2C [Have to download it.]2.Anderson Cooper of CNN flips out:
Video here: http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Anderson-Cooper-Landrieu-Katrina.mov3. New Orleans Mayor Nagin flips out on air:
[audio at http://www.atypical.net/mm/nagin.mp3]
http://www.wonkette.com/politics//nagins-nightmare-full-transcript-123683.phpExcerpt:
ROBINETTE: Well, you and I must be in the minority. Because
apparently there’s a section of our citizenry out there that thinks
because of a law that says the federal government can’t come in
unless requested by the proper people, that everything that’s going
on to this point has been done as good as it can possibly be.
MAYOR NAGIN: Really?
ROBINETTE: I know you don’t feel that way.
NAGIN: Well, did the tsunami victims request? Did it go through a formal process to request?
You know, did the Iraqi people request that we go in there? Did they ask us to go in there?
What is more important?
And I’ll tell you, man, I’m probably going get in a whole bunch of trouble. I’m probably going to get in so much trouble it ain’t even funny. You probably won’t even want to deal with me after this interview is over.4. Jack Cafferty goes off on Bush admin.
Cafferty: ...I’m 62 and I remember the riots in Watts, I remember the earth Quake in San Francisco, I remember a lot of things. I have never, ever seen anything as badly bungled and poorly handled as this situation in New Orleans. Where the hell is the water for these people. Why can’t sandwiches be dropped to those people that are in that Super Dome down there...This is Thursday...This storm happened five days ago. It’s a disgrace and don’t think the world isn’t watching…
VIDEO HERE: http://movies.crooksandliars.com/The-Situation-Room-Cafferty-on Katrina.mov
5.Bush responds: “Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott’s house...”
PRESIDENT BUSH: The good news is—and it’s hard for some to see it now—that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott’s house—he’s lost his entire house—there’s going to be a fantastic house. And I’m looking forward to sitting on the porch.
(Laughter.)
GOVERNOR RILEY: He’ll be glad to have you.
[...]
PRESIDENT BUSH: Now is the time to love a neighbor like you’d like to be loved yourselves.
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On a positive note, my preorder of 50 American Revolutions just shipped out, and I look forward to reading it.Posted by David on from Pennsylvania 09/02 at 02:53 PMThanks, all. Great links and leads.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/02 at 03:15 PMThis is like watching people you love get lined up and executed.
Then their animals are kicked out into the water, to keep them out of the way.What can we possibly say about this nightmare?
The administration has been even more callous and cruel than I expected, and I expected what I thought was - the worst.One reads, here and there, all round the web, that they’re gearing up for some new terrorist attack, after which they’ll declare martial law, and we’ll see soldiers marching through the streets, and we’ll be in Post-Weimar Germany.
Such things no longer seem at all far-fetched. We’re well into our new Fascist Era. Black communities oppose our new order. See, see how the Reich deals with those who would stand against the Will of the Fatherland…Posted by joe on from Berlin? 09/02 at 03:35 PMImages from the land of the free:
Check out the home page here: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/02 at 03:46 PMOne last quote to chew on:
Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco warned looters and rioters yesterday that National Guard troops are under her orders to “shoot and kill” to end the rampant violence in the city.
Announcing the arrival of 300 National Guard troops fresh from service in Iraq, Blanco said, “These troops are battle-tested. They have M-16s and are locked and loaded. These troops know how to shoot and kill, and I expect they will.”
Posted by James on from Puerto Rico 09/02 at 03:58 PMA fine blogger has explained the logic of the—I’m not sure what to call it—here.
Posted by Harry on from 09/02 at 04:51 PMThanks, Harry.
Another variation on the theme...from Michael Parenti:
http://www.zmag.org/sustainers/content/2005-09/03parenti.cfmPosted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/02 at 06:07 PMWhat do you think of this one…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/randall-robinson/new-orleans_b_6643.htmlPosted by rosemarie jackowski on from crossing the line 09/02 at 07:06 PMI’m not sure I’ll believe the cannibalism stories until I learn more, Robinson’s anger and frustration speak volumes, Rosemarie. Thanks. I would like to add that while race is a huge component, class is the unspoken element. Some of the folks left behind were poor whites.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/02 at 07:37 PMYes, it’s more class related than anything else.
The poor are guilty of their poverty; poverty reflects moral inadequacy, lethargy, self-indulgence, and stupidity. The good, the upright, the worthy are rewarded from on high, with wealth and plenty…
Generally, the Ruling Class seems to have a corporate attitude toward everything: Bottom Line makes right. They probably don’t care much for blacks, but are too busy counting the loot, to find the time to hate them. They’re a generalized annoyance: Those who aspire to, and succeed at the “great climb” toward some sort of Elite status, like Oprah or Condi or Colin Powell are welcome. Otherwise, they’re flys to be swatted away…
Just like the rest of us.Green is the color, not black or brown or red or yellow or white. Divisions and disagreements between colors are exaserbated ( perhaps even created ) by the Elites, for their own purposes. Most of the racial hatred, sadly, probably occurs within non-Elite classes.
Amazing links, today. Especially, I was amazed by Harry’s Von Worden, and by Michael Parenti: Outstanding work. Frightening but, I think, realistic perspectives.
As to the supposed cannibalism: I guess it does not matter whether it’s true or not. One way or another, human lives are being consistently consumed, here in the Fatherland.
Posted by joe on from Oregon 09/02 at 08:16 PMCase in point, Joe: The effort put forth to find and rescue Fats Domino.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/02 at 08:25 PMI agree with you, Mickey, about the lack of verification of the cannibalism story and also that class is the more important factor. Eventually, after the immediate human needs are dealt with, will this all be forgotten or will there be a serious examination of the failure of the levee system. Will more homes be built in flood plains, downstream of dams, on the sites of toxic dumps, etc. The rich live high on the hill, the poor live where the flood waters flow.
My daughter spent her Honeymoon in New Orleans because she loves the city so much. I always told her, that living below sea level, near the ocean is risky. I hope that all of the victims of the failed levee system can be re-located to houses high on the hill. This was a catastrophe that was predicted and forseeable.
The real shock and awe is that the citizens of the U.S. have allowed the government to bleed the resources for an illegal war at the expense of those on the bottom of the economic pecking order. The failure of the infrastructure is just beginning.
Today, many more times than ever before, people came up to me and said that they are ashamed to be an American. If the U.S was not invading and occupying that other Gulf, they could have been here preventing the tragedy in this Gulf.
Now is the time to use the new Emminent Domain law. All second, and third homes should be immediately confiscated and ownership transferred to the victims of the failed levee system. Today, NO ONE has the right to more than one home.
Posted by rosemarie jackowski on from crossing the line 09/02 at 08:25 PMAnd just one more thing....It is good to see all of this compassion for the levee system victims (if you call them victims of the hurricane, you let the government off the hook), BUT, where was all of this compassion for the Iraqi victims?
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Sept05/Ferner0901.htmPosted by rosemarie jackowski on from crossing the line 09/02 at 08:54 PMYou took the words right out of my mouth, Rosemarie. My post tomorrow will specifically discuss your last point.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/02 at 09:03 PMThat is wonderful, Mickey. I will tune in early......Just one more thing and I promise that I will be quiet. While we feel the pain of the levee victims, we through our government, right now are doing the opposite to the Iraqi victims. See what we do when Iraqis need medical help.
http://vitw.org/archives/978Posted by rosemarie jackowski on from crossing the line 09/02 at 09:28 PMG. Bush says there should be zero (0) tolerance for looters. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050901/ap_on_go_pr_wh/katrina_bush_s_challenge_5 when i read this i was thinking who’s he going to bomb this time ‘cause that’s all he did after 9/11. then i read they say shoot the poor desperate for food(http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2005-09-02T030459Z_01_N01575002_RTRIDST_0_WEATHER-KATRINA-KILL.XML)and bush says zero tolerance (http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1089382&page=1) (both links from informationclearinghouse) I mean is that his solution to everything? kill the poor. global warming and broken levee, because of gov’t policy kill the poor. children are dying of preventable diseases in iraq again because of gov’t policy kill the poor. does it hurt for him to look inward to say maybe if i wasn’t dropping napalm, depleted uranium, bombing innocent people things would be different but i know i know politicians don’t care about the masses only about filling their pockets with cash. And they care about the power which they believe makes them special. Democrats pretend they really are concerned for the poor “Some Democrats circulated an article suggesting that spending pressures from the war in Iraq and Bush’s tax cuts drained money from flood-control projects."-from that yahoo news story above. always looking for a way to win but most of them voted for the war and the tax cuts. upon close reading it reads they are trying to protect their own hides. don’t blame us he made us put all that money into killing those people in Iraq. Variation of crocodile (dial a crock)tears: politicans criticizing themselves. Bush understands your pain now get out of his face, when it comes to killing the poor in New Orleans and killing the poor in Iraq, Bush says we can do both: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050902/ap_on_go_pr_wh/katrina_bush_1
Posted by tm on from the seagull 09/03 at 01:24 AMI like the shape of 50 American Revolutions—I can carry it in a pocket, like a CD. I enjoyed a few revolutions over dinner. I am really going to be a walking fountain of historical information, that’s for sure. I’m especially looking forward to Hepburn’s Revolution and Patti Smith’s. Both in one book, does it get better? Interesting: Smith, at one recent concert, said that humans who won’t stop messing with nature are going to find out who really wins in the end when nature spits us out. (I’m cleaning up the language a little bit here. To hear the real thing, you have to go to a concert.) The problem is that the first spittees are the animals, the poor of finance and the rich of pigment. Are a few politicans and Fortune 500 bosses going to be standing in those pretty clothes on the world’s last unsubmerged piece of ground, each thinking the other would be nice with béchamel sauce?
Posted by Lee Hall on from 09/03 at 02:50 AMThis should not go unnoticed. I’m not a big fan of Kenye West’s music, but I appreciate him speaking out (much to the chagrin of NBC and their desire to project a happy-happy joy-joy atmosphere).
Posted by Keir on from The Hague 09/03 at 03:50 AMI really did admire Kenye West’s comments as well. He really managed to bring out the emotion felt, I’m sure, by many Black Americans. There’s resources available to help “liberate” Iraq, but none to help the citizens of the United States of America! Doesn’t that just seem wrong?
Posted by Nina Minhas on from British Columbia 09/04 at 01:30 AMWelcome to the site, Nina. Hope to see you back here soon.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/04 at 06:42 AM
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