Right-wing radio host lambastes and ridicules hurricane survivors...

This morning, our local right-wing radio personality lobbed a steamy pile of derogatory and highly critical remarks about the hurricane survivors.

Apparently, state officials and volunteers in Iowa, have been working diligently to prepare for the arrival of many hurricane survivors. The latest news is that the evacuees are not coming to Iowa, because they want to stay put in Houston.

Jan Mickelson, our local conservative radio host (and more often than not, a Bush apologist), positioned the hurricane survivors as lazy, contented people who aren't going anywhere because they're being housed, fed and clothed. Mickelson made these people sound like freeloaders who didn't want to move out of the Astrodome--because they're living the "Life of Riley" and don't want to let go of such a good deal.

A catty female caller chimed in, "You know Jan. These people are just so USED to sitting around and waiting to pick up their checks! That's what this is about!"

I called into the show, and was put on hold for so long that I had to hang up.

I'm utterly astounded.

How long did it take these "Christians" to begin ridiculing, lying about and hurling mean-spirited tripe at these disaster survivors? The answer is: Less than five days from when they were pulled from the flood waters, with no food or water.

The survivors of the hurricane have been TRAUMATIZED! They might want to stay put because they haven't located family members. They might want to stay put because they are afraid. Many have small children and are probably trying to provide stability and predictability after enduring a living hell on Earth.

They witnessed people dying, and most likely, faced their own mortality! I know a great deal about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)--and one of the hallmarks of the condition is to seek stability immediately after the trauma. Your brain is fried. Your adrenaline levels soar to horrendous levels--and your body craves space and time to "come down" from the trauma. The last thing you want to do is move five states away--into the unknown.

These people are giving themselves stability and predictability in the only way can--and right now that means staying put in the Astrodome.

Why do these right-wing hatemongers have to be so vitriolic?

I would also like to add, that the hurricane survivors ALSO refused to board a luxury cruise liner, where suites and gorgeous amenities awaited them. This plan was scrapped, for the same reason that the Iowa plan was put on hold--because the survivors want to stay in Houston. If they were lazy freeloaders who only wanted to laze around and sponge up whatever they can get in their clutches--wouldn't they have taken advantage of the stately, private rooms and the five swimming pools???

These people are STAYING because they are hurting and seeking stability---just a few short days after their homes, lives, jobs, memories, friends, neighborhoods, communities, schools--and every aspect of their lives--has been washed away.

God, I can't stand the pathological thinking of these right wingers who have all ready begun making sport of the survivors of this tragedy.

I imagine we'll see a great deal of "Let's dehumanize the victims"--as Bush--through his minions in right-wing radio--attempt to snuff out the truth about their shocking, dismal incompetence. If the right-wing-radio gang can effectively market the survivors as lazy, freeloading sloths--then America will not care as much about the crimes our government committed against these people.

Revolting. Simply revolting.

many of the people WORKED for a *lousy* living---many were casino or tourist industry workers at min wage. The Houston shelter has teachers, laborers, and librarians. They are not all "welfare cases" but a full cross-section of the people who go to work everyday and do the best they can and people whose burdens in life have caused them to resort to the public aid that any decent society would offer.

Tell me most of these radio-losers aren't a paycheck away from disaster themselves?

...how could they not be on welfare? :sarcasm:


(and in case anyone missed it:
:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: )

The soulless ghouls heaping scorn on the victims can at least take satisfaction that the deceased are no longer among us to "sit around and do nothing except collect government checks". No doubt they wish the number was larger than the 10,000 currently projected.

How mean & hateful people are in this country. We overheard a guy in a local restaurant, friday night. He said all they needed in New Orleans was a drop by B-1's (bombers, we live near the base B-1 are housed). When he looked my way I gave him a look that could have killed. He didn't know if someone in that room had family affected by Katrina. I can hardly go anywhere and not hear some hateful remark spoken in public like it is acceptable now to be a hate-filled bigot. People have become so self absorbed, only seeing how things effect them. They are so paranoid that someone is going to get something free. If they only knew how much money they have given to the corporations the last few years in the form of tax credits.


AValdoux

...these same people will lambaste the storm victims as a bunch of foolish, self-centered greed-heads for wanting to go back to their communities and rebuild, rather than taking a much-too-low offer from either a big developer or an "environmental restoration project" that would return some of the lowest-lying areas (where the po' folks live) to a more "natural state" (which it won't be) in order to alleviate future flooding problems.

Perhaps somebody from Iowa should have looked into the need for their services prior to allocating resources. I would suspect that Houston is popular because it is fairly close to "home".

In my town, the First Baptist Church has converted it's Sunday School rooms (In it's gym where it has showers.)into motel rooms and has collected supplies for Katrina victims. Other churches in town are coordinating their help with the FBC. This is without any federal funding.

Please don't tar all Christians because one person may claim to be a Christian.

like this radio show host, who gets well paid for "being a personality" would criticise anyone for not working. Please, post the bastards phone number, I have unliminted long distance, and I am in the mood.