RACISM and Blaming the Victim: Feds SCARED of angry Blacks?

"And then I see citizens of New Orleans shooting, raping, burning, and plundering while their government officials stand by helplessly...."
http://corner.nationalreview.com/

I believe that either an amassed group of frustrated black people frightened the government into inaction,
OR,
an amassed group of frustrated black people is being used to excuse government inaction.

You can see it in the remark above, and in so many levels of the government's response this week -- a sea of black faces, chanting in outraged desperation for help, freaked out the government. "It's dangerous! Keep the Red Cross out, it's not safe! Send in the military, with orders to shoot!" Dr. Joyce Brothers warned that if they don't act well, Americans will be less likely to want to help! Talking hairdo's are still chanting, "The chaos! The anarchy!"

Suddenly, all of the "citizens of New Orleans" -- the "refugees" -- are out of control. Suddenly, "looting" for survival or taking a bus to get people out is equated with rape and murder -- "zero tolerance," it's all lawlessness! They're out of control! Send in the military, and keep the Red Cross out!

I'm not excusing violence, but it's obvious what will happen if you congregate thousands of people of ANY sampling in ANY one place, under squalid conditions, thirsty, hungry, sick and in survival mode, in darkness and desperation, watching people die around them, with no sign anyone's going to help them, no authority, no control, no communication, no meds, no hope. YES, people will do what they can to survive, YES they will help each other, and YES a criminal element will show itself, as well (along with mental illness and drug or alcohol withdrawal). Indeed, it could have been much, much worse.

Yet it seemed like the authorities became AFRAID of the people they'd neglected, and amassed, and had the responsibility to save. Think of the mini-cartoon in "Bowling for Columbine," outlining the short history of America, which all leads to whites' fears of an angry mob of black people reaping vengeance -- and the subsequent need to take up guns to feel "safe" from them. THAT became our government's response to its own inadequacy.

Did our government see a group of people who'd lost everything, who'd fought to get to the places where they were told there was hope, who were frightened and separated from their families and unsure of their futures and watching people die, crying for help day after day?

Or did our government see a group of angry black faces, an unruly mob, a potential riot, a "security situation?"

Reporters were there, right among the survivors, where the government was afraid to go, and they weren't getting shot at. Talking heads from their comfortable deskchairs were asking reporters, government personnel, and military authorities in the area about "reports" of gunfire -- including right after the helicopter went down tonight -- and the answer was nearly always the same: "We've heard of it, but haven't seen anything like that."

Fires were attributed to arson -- without any evidence of arson, and despite the fact that fires are a frequent result of floods due to opened gas lines.

The victims themselves have been blamed for "not getting out" (as if they could), for having a "welfare mentality" to seek help (as if there's something wrong with seeking help), for "looting" (as if there's a code of conduct for survival mode), and no doubt they'll soon be blamed for the diseases they face as a result of federal delay.

In essence, they'll be blamed for choosing to be Black Americans, for choosing to be children, and elderly, and poor, and victims, and above all, for scaring the goddamn federal government, and the sheltered, cowardly, incompetent assholes in charge.

Whether or not that's the reason for the neglect, watch for the spin. "There was a security situation." "Anarcy, chaos!" "Lawlessness! Rape, Murder, LOOTING!" BULL. The US government is fully capable of dealing with any and all of this and delivering assistance at the same time.

and they do hate blacks.

and a lot of angry poor people
and lot of angry disabled people

even a lot of angry children.


the republicans pretty much hate everyone.
time for them to go.

I think they don't care about the disabled, the children, and the elderly.

I think they fear the able-bodied poor and angry.

as much as the idea of "race riots."

That little cartoon in the middle of Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" explains it so well. The collective GUILT in our national consciousness makes many afraid of an uprising of African Americans.

There's a stereotype that all blacks are violent, primative, out of control, dangerous people -- if you stay away from their neighborhoods, you're safe. If you see a group of them together, angry, run away.

Nor did I ever hear any gunshots on the audio part of these tapes. I'm sure there were a few incidents, but nothing out of the ordinary considering the level of crime that is normal for a big city and the dire circumstances.

Did the reports of violence freak them out and scare them away from sending in humanitarian aid, insisting the military had to go in first?

OR, did the reports of violence provide a nice little cover for their own incompetence in failing to respond adequately from the start?

I'm not saying there wasn't violence. I'm just saying it was easily anticipated and easily dealt with.

Don't even TRY to tell me this isn't about race.

They used it has an excuse to delay. Of course the racist within the republican party that are terrorized of Black men accept it.
They used bigotry as an accomplice.

They delayed because they're incompetent and/or just didn't care, and then they put out photos and stories of dangerous, angry Black men to excuse themselves.

That may be more likely than them just being scared for the Red Cross.

And the rainbow of fingers is pointing straight at THEM.

But our multi-racial party's rage is cast as "leftwing fringe.)

A mass of angry dark skin is cast as 1960s race riots, Rodney King, danger! Security! Skip the food and water, we need GUNS!!

How I WISH our whole party's "rainbow of fingers," as you put it, would make them as fearful. (And underneath all their bluster, their constituency has a majority of cowards.)