I’ve avoided posting on my own blog for the past few days because I didn’t want to share my boiling emotions with the world. But enough is enough. I can’t hold it back anymore. I hate the freakin media. I watch very little TV – not for moral reasons – I just don’t have time.
So I didn’t know how bad the hurricane devastation was until I watched Good Morning America on Tuesday. Right in the middle of the show I remembered our friends, the Martins, lived in Ocean Springs, MS, just north of Biloxi. Before even thinking about it we grabbed the phone to call them. Ofcourse there is no power in the area and no cell service either. We shot off an email in the hopes they were o.k. and would check it from their place of safety. We have prayed and prayed for them and everyone else in the south as they deal with this disaster. We heard back from the Martin’s lastnight. They did evacuate in time and are staying with family members. Their house now has three feet of water in it. Steven was headed back today with his brother-in-law to survey the damage and see what is salvageable. At this point they are unsure if their house will be livable again. And they are the lucky ones. Praise God for their safety!
Here’s the anger part: MOST of the reports I’ve seen of the disaster are pointing fingers at president Bush and the government. If you’re a Bush hater you might want to click to another site now. I don’t know the whole story of the delays in relief arriving in LA & MS. I DON’T believe everything the media is feeding me. I understand that when you’re in the middle of a crisis you are desperate for help and getting it yesterday would be too late for you. I think that’s what is happening in New Orleans. A situation of this magnitude takes time to respond to even though there is no time to waste. The situation is dire, but would seeing the President of the U.S. sand bagging the levee himself, or pulling people off roofs make you feel better??? I shouldn’t be surprised, he’s been getting crap from everyone about everything else going on in the world. Let’s just blame him for causing the hurricane too while we’re at it! It has been reported over and over again that even the police weren’t safe from the violence and the looters – so let’s send our President there so we can see that he’s doing something. Good grief people!
My heart is so heavy with grief for Hardy Jackson and the rest of the people that lost, or are still missing their family members. That is awful!! I can’t imagine what it would be like to live in those conditions not knowing when or if life would ever get back to “normal”. I am doing my part by sending money and I hope you are too!
I just finished watching 20/20, a special hurricane report and it lit my fire all over again. Now there’s a cry that racism has had an effect on the relief being delayed. Give me a freakin break!!! Ofcourse it’s mostly black people who are in the greatest need. It’s no secret that New Orleans and in fact all of southern Louisiana are atleast 2/3 black Americans. It was the POOR, not the BLACKS that were forced to stay behind when everyone started evacuating. A lot of them either had no transportation, no money to travel, or no other place to go since several generations of family lived in the same area. Many chose to stay and wait out the storm, not taking the warnings seriously. One black woman said that her family had faced many hurricanes before and figured this one would be the same. A racism problem? I don’t think so. If disaster struck Arizona would we call it age discrimination if relief didn’t arrive to help the thousands of retirees that would be affected? I don’t think so. Why does the RACE card have to come into play? One female black senator was pissed because all of the people fleeing were being called refugees. She said, “They are NOT refugees, they’re American citizens and taxpayers!” Excuse me, but the dictionary at my house defines refugee as a person who flees invasion, oppression, or persecution – in this case -devastation. That’s not some nasty, derogatory label being slapped on these people! One citizen even said the media was being biased and only showing black looters!
Maybe I shouldn’t be as angry as I am. Desperate people say and do things they wouldn’t normally say and do. But where are the reports about the THOUSANDS of churches that are there helping, housing, feeding, and comforting these people??? Why is it the media is showing us pictures of dead people covered with sheets, but avoiding the large groups of people gathered around makeshift kitchens that have shown up to feed people? Why aren’t there more stories of hope and help? Why do we have to keep seeing the same footage of Hardy Jackson talking to the compassionate reporter?
Speaking of compassion – where is it for the thousands of children that die EVERY DAY from disease and starvation in Countries all over Africa. We have to hold summits, and relief concerts, and raise funds to help them while it’s too late for the little bloated stomached, bones protruding, crippled children. Where is the compassion for those that are homeless and hungry EVERY DAY on our AMERICAN streets? Too often people are judgmental about them saying and maybe even believing that they are all drug addicts and deserve their lot in life. There are BABIES AND CHILDREN sleeping on the streets of Denver tonight. Where is the compassion for children and elderly that are dying in hospitals around the country right now. They may be completely unaffected by the hurricane devastation, does that make them any less needy of our love and financial support?
I don’t want to hear one more person spout off about us sending “our young men and women” to fight someone else’s war in another country when they could be here aiding with the rescue operations. I don’t want to hear about racism. It is not just the black Americans coming to the aid of the hurricane victims. It is not just black Americans giving blood and sending $200 million dollars to the Red Cross, and opening up their homes to strangers. It is not Republicans or Democrats choosing who gets the immediate help and who is further back in the line. This is an opportunity for EVERYONE to chip in and help. This is an opportunity to UNITE for the common good of all victims. This will last for months – plan ahead. Why does there have to be someone to blame?
PLEASE JUST DO YOUR PART AND DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON TV!!!
AMEN! I agree with every word you typed. I watched SOME of that show last night and turned it off when John Stossel said, “And coming up next, is it because of race that these people are still stranded?” In his words, Give Me A Break! Thats just rediculous! Thanks for your “angry” post!
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Thanks for the post Niki – it has been interesting to see how the different media outlets are protraying this disaster. It’s sad, and not suprisingly – that this has turned into a race issue.
All I know is that I know several of my white friends who have opened their homes to black refugees. I even know someone in Dallas, who recently moved into an apartment – has now moved into her sister’s house and let a refugee family move into her apartment.
I think in the end while there will be some sour racial tastes in many mouths, the overwhelming love and support of what is and will be shown will overshadow any negativity.
Brett
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Very good post Niki.
Yes, the Bush haters are certainly having a hay-day with this. I wonder if Kerry had won the presidential election, if we Bush supporters would have accused him as Bush is now being accused. I pray not.
I certainly agree the media, as usual, is way out of line. They show and tell their own slanted views which much of the time have absolutely nothing to do with actual truth.
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I wholeheartedly agree with you. The accusations against our government, and specifically President Bush, and the cries of racism — they make me sick and are completely unfounded. Instead of playing the blame game, people should be out there doing their part to help the hundreds of thousands of people who are in need.
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I am visiting from Sandy’s site and just wanted to say that you have echoed my thoughts exactly! I even wrote about something that the FBI agents there did to help out that the media definitely won’t cover… it would show the governments compassion when the media hopes we’ll all blame Big Brother and the President! I’m so happy to read someone else who has the same thoughts that I do. Thank you for taking the time to write out your feelings!
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I’m so glad to hear that I’m not the only one so disgusted with the media and the rediculous finger-pointing! Kelly and I were watching something about it on TV tonight and were so saddened by it all. The media is more biased than we will ever know. Thank God this world is not our home! Thank God that this kind of stuff bothers us-if it didn’t, I’d be worried! Thank God we can pray for and support those people in the midst of thier loss and chaos. Their loss really puts everything in perspective for me. I’m ashamed that I complain about anything in my life-I have no right.
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Preach on sister! I was beginning to think that I was the ONLY one feeling that same way. Thanks for putting my thoughts into words.
Danita
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