Would the Govt response be different in NO.......

[kgeaux]

Just not GW's "people."

On a thread in the PP there is a quote from the President's mother, Barbara, that seem to imply that because the refugees come from disadvanged backgrounds, they are actually better off in shelters than in their own homes.

I'm sure it wasn't said to be unkind, but the implied point of view should be very disturbing to us. And we should at least suspect her son has inherited a similar understanding


Nova-- her statement was shocking to me also-- I believe she also made some comment about " the silver lining" in this nightmare --:doh:
j2m

This isn't going to be popular, and I think Mrs. Bush certainly could have chosen her words better, BUT: any evacuees from those ghettos have lived in a place where their children are shot down by drive by shooters. They have lived in a place with a higher rate of murder than even New York City. They have lived in a place that is hot as hell with no air conditioning. They have lived without three meals a day. Their children have been educated in schools that are among the very worst in the entire nation. They have lived with NO HOPE. I am pretty sure that some, if not many, of them are celebrating having hope right now. They are happy to have someone finally reach out to them, FINALLY. They are happy that no bullets are ripping through their front doors right now. Happy to have three meals, happy that their children may now have a chance at a real education.

There is a silver lining in this, although it may sound racist to say so. If anyone can escape the hell they've been living in and find a better life for themselves and their little ones, that will be wonderful.

 

[marrigotti]

This isn't going to be popular, and I think Mrs. Bush certainly could have chosen her words better, BUT: any evacuees from those ghettos have lived in a place where their children are shot down by drive by shooters. They have lived in a place with a higher rate of murder than even New York City. They have lived in a place that is hot as hell with no air conditioning. They have lived without three meals a day. Their children have been educated in schools that are among the very worst in the entire nation. They have lived with NO HOPE. I am pretty sure that some, if not many, of them are celebrating having hope right now. They are happy to have someone finally reach out to them, FINALLY. They are happy that no bullets are ripping through their front doors right now. Happy to have three meals, happy that their children may now have a chance at a real education.

There is a silver lining in this, although it may sound racist to say so. If anyone can escape the hell they've been living in and find a better life for themselves and their little ones, that will be wonderful.

Thanks for that well reasoned response, kgeaux. I think you understand perfectly what Mrs. Bush was trying to say.

 

[tipper]

I've heard quotes from some of the refugees saying the same thing Barbara Bush said and they should know.

 

[cynder]

These people sadly will soon be absorbed into the same public housing without AC, high crime neighborhoods, low achieving schools, and living in the same dangerous, drug filled, poverty ridden environment - except that they will be Houston's responsibility, not New Orleans'. Within the month it will be just as if nothing had changed (except the address on their checks). Unless we overhaul the system that left them in poverty without a hope of getting out - without daycare, insurance, or an education - they will be no better off in Houston, or Dallas or wherever, than they were in New Orleans.
Without social change of a magnitude that Martun Luther King envisioned 30+ years ago (but has still not come to pass) those that were in poverty in New Orleans will still be in poverty. Nothing has changed....in a few weeks of spin the faces that have so haunted us will be nothing more than an unpleasant memory we'd all like to forget.

 

[marrigotti]

These people sadly will soon be absorbed into the same public housing without AC, high crime neighborhoods, low achieving schools, and living in the same dangerous, drug filled, poverty ridden environment - except that they will be Houston's responsibility, not New Orleans'. Within the month it will be just as if nothing had changed (except the address on their checks). Unless we overhaul the system that left them in poverty without a hope of getting out - without daycare, insurance, or an education - they will be no better off in Houston, or Dallas or wherever, than they were in New Orleans.
Without social change of a magnitude that Martun Luther King envisioned 30+ years ago (but has still not come to pass) those that were in poverty in New Orleans will still be in poverty. Nothing has changed....in a few weeks of spin the faces that have so haunted us will be nothing more than an unpleasant memory we'd all like to forget.

I seriously doubt that they will all stay in Houston. That is too much of a burden for one state.

 

[concernedperson]

These people sadly will soon be absorbed into the same public housing without AC, high crime neighborhoods, low achieving schools, and living in the same dangerous, drug filled, poverty ridden environment - except that they will be Houston's responsibility, not New Orleans'. Within the month it will be just as if nothing had changed (except the address on their checks). Unless we overhaul the system that left them in poverty without a hope of getting out - without daycare, insurance, or an education - they will be no better off in Houston, or Dallas or wherever, than they were in New Orleans.
Without social change of a magnitude that Martun Luther King envisioned 30+ years ago (but has still not come to pass) those that were in poverty in New Orleans will still be in poverty. Nothing has changed....in a few weeks of spin the faces that have so haunted us will be nothing more than an unpleasant memory we'd all like to forget.

A very true look at the reality. The single moms that praised themselves for keeping the family afloat until some guy showed up to give them a chance and a better life, the people who let their careers go to be better accomodated and the reality of passing the buck makes everyone so reinforced.It is just not available for everyone.

 

[cynder]

I seriously doubt that they will all stay in Houston. That is too much of a burden for one state.

Unless Texas FORCES them to leave they will stay right here. They are already reluctant to leave the Astrodome and the other shelters - many have refused transport elsewhere in the past few days.
These are people who had nowhere to go - they will not leave Texas voluntarily.

 

[Details]

These people sadly will soon be absorbed into the same public housing without AC, high crime neighborhoods, low achieving schools, and living in the same dangerous, drug filled, poverty ridden environment - except that they will be Houston's responsibility, not New Orleans'. Within the month it will be just as if nothing had changed (except the address on their checks). Unless we overhaul the system that left them in poverty without a hope of getting out - without daycare, insurance, or an education - they will be no better off in Houston, or Dallas or wherever, than they were in New Orleans.
Without social change of a magnitude that Martun Luther King envisioned 30+ years ago (but has still not come to pass) those that were in poverty in New Orleans will still be in poverty. Nothing has changed....in a few weeks of spin the faces that have so haunted us will be nothing more than an unpleasant memory we'd all like to forget.

Feeble hope maybe, but if Housten doesn't have the same concentrated projects as New Orleans did, maybe they'll get a chance to see how working people make life work, what you can have, and what you have to give up - I just hope they are exposed to this, so those that want to make a change in their life, who are willing to work to make the change can. I don't think Texas is a very friendly to welfare state, so maybe they'll be given a bit more of a prod to get them off of it, or better still, a prod combined with the programs that make it possible, like daycare and such.

 

[bulletgirl2002]

Feeble hope maybe, but if Housten doesn't have the same concentrated projects as New Orleans did, maybe they'll get a chance to see how working people make life work, what you can have, and what you have to give up - I just hope they are exposed to this, so those that want to make a change in their life, who are willing to work to make the change can. I don't think Texas is a very friendly to welfare state, so maybe they'll be given a bit more of a prod to get them off of it, or better still, a prod combined with the programs that make it possible, like daycare and such.

Public housing has A/C in Georgia anyhow granted it may be in a high crime area.....daycare is free (for you if you are in school or working poor)....education is free to low income people....gawd....do you really not know what is available? Opportunities are out there.....but you do have to work a little bit .....

 

[Details]

Public housing has A/C in Georgia anyhow granted it may be in a high crime area.....daycare is free (for you if you are in school or working poor)....education is free to low income people....gawd....do you really not know what is available? Opportunities are out there.....but you do have to work a little bit .....

Nope, I've never needed it. But I know that wherever you have these huge projects werehousing the poorest together in a huge cluster, it tends to be bad all around - bad for them, bad for those near them - all the bad habits, negative behaviors that tend to keep people poor reinforce each other, creating a culture in which having a job is unusual and kinda stupid when you can get money for free - and those who try to work and move up are held back by the higher crime rate that means their stuff will be continually stolen. It's a bad thing. Make smaller housing groupings, or as we do, make apartments and such have a percent that are reserved for lower incomes. It puts people with both a good example, and around people they can network with for a job (most jobs are found by a friend mentioning, "Hey, we're hiring - wanna come apply" - that doesn't happen as much in an area where nearly no one is working).

 

[2sisters]

We (mostly, I'm not) are white and affluent on the MS coast and aren't getting all the help NO is getting. If NO isn't getting the help they deserve then it is their own darn fault for shooting at the help. I am so tired of the race card being played constantly. I grew up in NO so I know how thing work there. I loved that city and have so many memories there. Now I am ashamed and disgusted by NO.