Reparations for Hurricane Katrina?

Question

Seeing how most of the people during Katrina were black. A lot were able to evacuate but decided not to. Leads me to think of some things, can you answer some of them.

1. A lot that were able to evacuate but didn't, did they see it as an oportunity to loot or stay and rob places figuring there wasn't gonna be many people or authority there?

2. If that is the case and a lot were black, doesn't that tell you a great deal about the black race?

3. Most feel that the Government failed them and lost family members and homes, will they use that as an excuse to seek reparations or a free handout just like they've been using the slavery thing?

4. When Kanye West said all those things during that relief telethon and mentioned that they had sent the army to shoot his people, did he not realize that they had been shooting themselves, there was violence and rape way before the relief effort began to arrive?

Thanks for answering.

Answer 1

1. I believe the ones that didn't evacuate were betting the storm would pass them and they would be okay. Many people do not evacuate during a hurricane, even the big ones.
2. The doesn't say anything about the blacks, it does say a lot about the poor people of New Orleans. Louisianna government is corrupt, so why would their citizens think any different. The local and state government created those people.
3. There will be no reparations in New Orleans. That would set a Presedence that would have negative effects for generations. We have numerous natural disasters all the time in this country.
4. Kanye West is a bigoted idiot.

Answer 2

I do believe that many people use a victim mentality and thereby keep themselves down. Blacks and others as well. I don't necessarily think they stayed with the intention to loot. There's always gonna be one or two that believes any given thing, but I doubt that was what they were really thinking. You still cannot generalize about the black race just because some decided not to leave. How many stayed during the hurricanes in Florida? People just were not expecting this. Then everyone was criticized for "dropping the ball" afterwards. Nobody comes and airlifts people out before a hurricane in Florida. Nobody comes around and asks who wants to leave but can't. But once something this tragic happens, everyone seems to think that should have automatically been on everyone's mind. I didn't know that New Orleans had a large black community, so when I heard what happened, I heard it through the ears of one who was processing what should and should not be done without any reference to a type of people at all and all I could think about at that time was that it was overwhelming and I would not have done any better a job than the people who actually worked to help them. Everyone was just shocked at the enormity of the situation. That so many, especially Mr. West, jumped on the blacks-as-second-class-citizens bandwagon made me very angry.

Answer 3

Selective criticism is fine, I can see you have a color blind eye for doubt. Some have a political blind eye for doubt. I'm Democrat, but won't sit here today and say the problems are the fault of Bush at this point. Maybe after the first week, Bush failed miserably, but so did the Mayor and Governor. We're a year out and New Orleans leadership STILL does NOT have a plan. But most of the American public still have those first few days after the hurricane engraved in their mind and point the finger at Bush. Up until last week I was doing the same thing. Bush failed, they all failed, but now it's on New Orleans leadership....they're FAILING NOW!!!

Answers.

1) Be honest, with yourself and us, you really think the "majority" of those that didn't evacuate said "hey, screw leaving, I can get a new pair of Nikes"? Percentages would probably show single digits of people thinking that way. Are you a racist?

2) Hmmmm, majority of those living in NO were black. Majority of the poor in NO are black. Majority of people without transportation in NO are black. There was massive confusion prior, during, and after the storm. Are you saying if you were there, you could easily have found where the buses were busing people out? Liar, I swear I put you there without a car or house and tell you to get out with your family you would have a hard time. Even if you're white, which I know you are.

3) Some will, but most won't. Most won't even come back. The Government did fail, and is failing. And when you put failure with opportunity you get corruption on both sides. Even the police force (some white, really) were looting. Or didn't you see those white boys stealing?

4) Yeah, maybe Kayne West should get some counseling.....but why don't you ask or post what Bill Cosby says?

Conclusion: You're a color blind racist that I would love to send to Africa for about a year.

Answer 4

1. I hope that people didn't stay in their homes with the intentions of looting and robbing places. I like to think (I'm often misled, tho) that they thought they'd ride things out and it wouldn't be so bad.

2. The majority of people did seem to be black but it really doesn't say too much about that particular race.

3. Sure, response could have been quicker but their local government needed to get the wheels turning. It became a blame game and no one will accept the responsibility. If people had nothing before the hurricane, the expect that they should get a mansion to "replace" what they lost. This, I think, is 100% b.s.

4. I think that Kanye West needs to further educate himself and not jump on the band wagon. "His people" should stop complaining about how they get treated so unfairly and think how other people get treated as well. I have no use for this person at all.

Answer 5

I found it strange that the news kept showing the same 30 second clip over and over again of the 2 guys with boxes of shoes and the woman with the shopping cart that had a TV in it as to suggest that everyone was stealing electronics and non-essential items. Obviously there was a few people doing that but that was not everyone. WHen we saw all of the people sitting around the superdome and other places around the city suffering and begging for help, none of them had a TV, stereo, or a new pair of shoes.


The interesting thing about it is that when Hurricane Andrew hit Florida, the same thing happened, however those people were said to be "surviving" when they broke into the stores and looted them. But as soon as it happened in New Orleans they were said to be "looting" even though they were surviving as a result of no relief efforts.

Every other disaster in america has resulted in a strong presence of government sponsored releif. Even when 9-11 happened, there were almost 5 relief workers for every victim. When Katrina happened, nobody came to evacuate them or bring them so much as drinking water. Maybe some of the people could have evacuated but many of those people had no where to go. There were no shelters set up ahead of time for anyone to go to. Those who went to the superdome weren't any better off either.

As for reparations, I think that EVERYONE who was affected is due some sort of compensation because they KNEW that the levy was not strong enough YEARS before Katrina and they chose to do nothing about it.

Answer 6

1. First of all..alot of people that stayed had no means of leaving. Alot that stayed thought they could ride it out. Alot that stayed wanted to protect their property. I seriously doubt that they were writing out "wish lists" for their trip to Walmart!!

2. Nope..This doesn't tell you a damn thing about the black race. Did you happen to notice that when a black person was shown coming out of a store with something it was referred to as "looting", but when you saw anybody else with something it was considered "surviving"?

3. When you say "Most feel that the Government failed them and lost family members and homes, will they use that as an excuse to seek reparations or a free handout just like they've been using the slavery thing?", I assume you were also talking about the white people who were complaining about the goverment failing them.

4. Kanye has a right to express his feeling and beliefs just like you and I.

People of all races were affected by Katrina. God bless all that were affected and lost their loved ones..

You welcome..

Answer 7

A few points:
The vast majority of those who stayed behind were poor and had no means of escape and no place to go if they escaped- a failure of local and state government

The Army Corp of Engineers are responsible for the levees. In 2004 the Federal Government cut funding for the Lake Pontchartrain levees by 80% due to the excessive cost of the Iraq war. In early 2001, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a report stating that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S., including a terrorist attack on New York City (The 3rd is a major earthquake in San Francisco). The vast majority of deaths and destruction were caused by the breach of the levees- a failure of the federal government.

The vast majority of those left to die in New Orleans were poor. The poor tend to use violence as a way out of their station in life due to lack of hope. The less hope they have, the more violence they use. I'm sure the absolute lack of hope that people experienced after Katrina contributed substantially to the situation. Lack of hope - a failure of all levels of government.

So, yes, the government failed them.

addendum:
On the day the levees burst in New Orleans, Bush delivered a speech in Colorado comparing the Iraq war to World War II and himself to Franklin D. Roosevelt: Ironic, because the WPA, which was started by FDR, built and paid for the origonal levees in New Orleans during World War II. Bush cut funding for those same levees during his war. No comparison.

Answer 8

You hit it right on, they will come out of this better than they ever had it. who'[s kidding who here . sure it was bad but they just sit back and do nothing and expect everyone to help when they need to help themselves first, and blame the president because the Gov wasn't at there front door the next day. God helps those that help themselves . THIS IS A RACIAL THING DON'T YOU KNOW.... the storm hit there because there mostly black and PRES BUSH WAS RESPONSIBLE....... IT MAKES ME SICK .The State Louisiana should of been responsible for the Levey's that had been ignored for decades and then some.

Answer 9

yes, many people were staying behind preparing to loot.

Answer 10

They got what they deserved. The city cleaned up and gutted the hood! Screw them