(no subject)

[drewbear]

I'm finding a lot of racism and classism in a lot of the reactions with regard to the people who stayed as Katrina bore down on them. As someone who has lived under the poverty line and is still not that far above it, I get livid at these people's blind assumption that "of COURSE only idiots and fuckheads would stay behind!" (paraphrased) Unfortunately, this is one of those occasions where my rage is so severe that I can write either coherently or politely, but not both. Luckily, there are people who can keep cooler heads than I.

They stayed because they could not run, and now they might die because they cannot swim.

Lessons that Katrina is teaching us.

The economics of disaster

EDIT: I know that a lot of you want to help but may not be able to physically get there. I also know that the Red Cross website is flickering on-and-off due to the high traffic. I also know that some of you have philosophical disagreements with the Red Cross. So here's an alternative: Direct Relief International.

EDIT 2: Los Bastardos, a Rocky Horror troupe based in Dallas, is taking donations for Katrina relief in lieu of payment for its prop packs. They're going to be doing this through the end of Septemper, so check it out if you're in the area and thinking about doing Rocky Horror.

Also, some news: the breaks in the Lake Pontchartrain levies are flooding massive areas of NO and keeping them flooded. This includes the Superdome, which was housing approximately 30,000 refugees. Since the Superdome was no longer safe, Houston offered the Astrodome and refugees are becoming evacuees as we speak.

Comments

[lysariala.livejournal.com]

yeah, making people pay for things that are supposed to be RELIEF is kinda stupid. the red cross has been doing that sort of behavior since papaw was in the air force... doubt theyre found reason to change.

thats why its the salvation army and carter blood care for me ^_^

[legionbear.livejournal.com]

refugees are becoming evacuees as we speak.

It's funny you should mention that. We had this entertaining conversation last night at work about the differences between refugees and evacuees and how we've getting since of people not knowing the difference. I realize it's a very small semantic point (and I shouldn't be worried about it in light of the situation involved), but when over 50% of your conversations with customers begin with, "I'm a hurrican refugee and I need...", it gets old fast. I hate when folks just throwing out a word they heard without knowing what it means at all.

I realize I'm probably just a bitter, cynical old man, but I'm already tired of people playing the "refugee/evacuee" card when asking for a service that we cannot and are not allowed to provide. The pointless guilt tripping of peons who are not allowed to assist you because of policy restrictions grates on my very last nerve and instantly vaporizes any chance you might have had of me even trying to help you. "I've lost everything I ever owned and you won't help me find [x]?" is not how you ask for help.

Sorry for the rant...