I’ve been reading a lot of posts lately that contrast the Katrina event with the events related to Rita and in effect trash Louisiana. I even got the following email to which I will respond. I’m tired of those who really have no idea about New Orleans and Louisiana making uninformed and hurtful comments about my city and state. Did the Mayor screw up? Very much so. Did the Governor let us down? Yep. But what really bothers me are those Bush supporters who are so rabid that they can’t take any criticism of the FEMA or national response. The absolute most moronic ststement that I keep hearing is: “George Bush did not cause the hurricane.” That statement alone displays the ignorance of those making it! I’ve never heard anyone claim that. AAAAHHHHH!
Anyway…here’s the email with my response in the dark areas:
Subject: What the media have missed: The Difference Between Texas and
Louisiana
1. Texas: Productive industrious state run by Republicans.
Louisiana: Government dependent welfare state run by Democrats.
Translation-”Rich White People are good-Poor People are lazy
Americans are so ignorant of the impact of history on cultures. What about this?
Texas: a state steeped in violence against Native-Americans and Mexicans-Our wealth comes from exploitation
New Orleans: a city with a history of brutal slave trade-Our poverty comes from outsiders who have told people of color that they should depend on others to rule over them and tell them what to do
What about this?
Texas: FEMA, Bush and the federal government make sure that they do all they can to protect this rich republican state
Louisiana: Poor black folks wait for days for food and water–George Bush hates black people
Now–how does that make you feel?
2. Texas: Residents take responsibility to protect and evacuate themselves.
Louisiana: Residents wait for government to protect and evacuate them.
Translation: Rich folks can leave town in their SUVs, Screw the poor who work for minimum wage and can’t afford cars
3. Texas: Local and state officials take responsibility for protecting their citizens and property.
Louisiana: Local and state officials blame federal government for not protecting their citizens and property.
The reality is that we do not know what would have happened if Houston was under water for several weeks. Comparing Beaumont Texas to a large metropolis is asinine!
4. Texas: Command and control remains in place to preserve order.
Louisiana: Command and control collapses allowing lawlessness.
See above genius!
5. Texas: Law enforcement officers remain on duty to protect city.
Louisiana: Law enforcement officers desert their posts to protect themselves.
Once again, the comparison is like apples and oranges. The fact is that most NOPD officers did a hell of a job. Many of those who were thought to be deserters were in fact trapped in their homes. I had one officer tell me that if she had been on duty in the Superdome, she probably would have quit too. The NOPD performed as well as can be expected. It was understaffed to begin with. The stress level was unbelievable. If you noticed, in almost every TV interview NOPD officers broke down and cried. They had lost their homes, family members, friends and when they tried to help people they were shot at. Give them a FREAKIN’ BREAK! Thank God that very few Texas law enforcement officers (who are much better paid than NOPD officers) had to deal with that kind of tragedy. Who knows how they would have fared?
6. Texas: Local police watch for looting.
Louisiana: Local police participate in looting.
This is probably true. But one CNN story doesn’t mean that the whole force is corrupt. I thank God every day for those officers who patrolled neighborhoods and did what they could. What about Abu Ghraib? That was a hell of a lot worse than looting. Does that mean that Texas Police officers are superior to US military?
7. Texas: Law and order remains in control, 8 looters tried it, 8 looters arrested.
Louisiana: Anarchy and lawlessness breaks out, looters take over city, no arrests, criminals with guns have to be shot by federal troops.
This is simply not true. I’m getting pissed. I’m going to stop now.
8. Texas: Considerable damage caused by hurricane.
Louisiana: Considerable damage caused by looters.
Have you seen the pictures of homes flooded for weeks dumb*ss?
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