New Orleans - St Bernard Parish: Social Genocide - do you agree?

Question

I just came back from New Orleans working with HfH, and was shocked at the devastation still there, especially in St Bernard Parish, one of the poorest and hardest hit parts of New Orleans. These people are still in TRAILERS a year and a half later, and they strongly believe that they are not getting the help because the Bush government (and big oil and gas industries) want to buy up the land around St B P to develop industries, which will pay much higher taxes than the people who were living there. They are coining it Social Genocide because these families have been torn apart and separated, and the government doesn't want them back.

By the way, the St B P residents are so grateful for the RCMP rescue teams who came down right after Katrina before the governments had even started to help - EVERY one of the people I met said they would never forget the Canadians. Most of the Habitat for Humanity volunteers who still continue to come and help out are Canadians - myself included.

Answer 1

I don't think people have a clue about St. Bernard Parish or the people who lived there. St. Bernard Parish was an economically diverse community, was largely working class, and did not reflect the population of the city. The people of St. Bernard are some of the hardest working and self-reliant people you will ever meet. Do they need some help right now? Sure. Do you think they are the type to beg for government handouts? Except in the most dire situations, St. Bernard Parish is the last place you'd expect it from.

The Murphy Oil Company is buying up land around its plant as part of its settlement for its oil spill. If you don't mind living in the middle of a former environmental clean-up site, then buy one for yourself. But don't turn it into some conspiracy theory garbage.

The bottom line is that there are some very wealthy areas of the city which are equally in ruin at this point. The factor most relevant to whether an area is being rebuilt is how close it is to areas that did not flood. No one wants to rebuild a house if it is surrounded by two miles of ruined houses and three miles from a grocery store. St. Bernard is a completely destroyed and isolated community and is recovering at the same rate as similarly-situated communities in the city, regardless of socio-economic factors.

As far as Canadians and "RCMP teams", people are grateful to whoever has helped. I'm happy someone is giving attention to the people of St. Bernard Parish. After the hurricane, people in "the Parish" were sitting on rooftops while every media member only seemed to care about people on dry land at the convention center. The turmoil they caused in the city, without doubt, cost lives as rescue efforts of those truly in need in the flooded areas, including St. Bernard Parish, was delayed. Civic duty obviously was not taught to those who decided to loot every mall in downtown New Orleans, including setting fire to the Canal Place and Oakwood Malls, while others were needing emergency assistance. Want a real conspiracy, try the media's subsequent cover-up of those events.

Answer 2

Social Genocide?! Katrina took care of that or rather the storm surge did. Nothing should be rebuilt or built until a safe levy system is in place. Every community needs change and new beginning's. Wouldn't new industry put people to work so they could better themselves? Still in trailers - at least they have a place. Are all those trailers still in Kentucky not being used?
Granted the govt is at fault especially the city and state since they could not get it together!! Are these people just sitting waiting for another hand out. What happened to the others-out getting it together- in other states and communities? Most have said they do not want to go back. Keep your families together in a better environment. By the way - how about all the other states that have had major detestation's. I do not hear them crying.

Answer 3

Truthful yet inhumane status quo is that the people of St Bernard Parish (mostly poor) are a low priority to the reconstruction effort federally and locally.

I was there for the Cru Hurricane Relief effort and was station at a church/subway called Light City.

Altho this isnt just a Bush failure. Sending more troops to Iraq rather than dealing with a homeland issue, like a "little" crisis in the gulf entitled Hurricane Katrina, is very altruistic.

Answer 4

Sorry, there is only so much baloney one can take from anyone about anything. The time has come for the folks of New Orleans to get off their butts and start caring for their needs.

How long do they expect to be cared for by the rest of the country?

Most should contact "Mr. Wednesday" ( Jesse Jackson who, like Wednesday which is in the middle of the week, is always found in the middle of things). He always seems to find fault for things. Give him a chance to help.

Answer 5

You do realize Katrina wiped out an area hundreds of miles wide and went into land hundreds of miles. There was devestation in a lot more areas than just St Benards Parish, there are some small towns in fact that no longer exist. Those are a lot of homes and a lot of communities that need rebuilding. It takes time for that to happen, rebuilding the coast is not going to happen anytime soon.

Your help is greatly appreciated. But there is no social genocide, just a massive clean up that is still going on.

Answer 6

The people did not deserve Katrina but why oh why is GWB blamed for all the problems? It seems to me that the Govenor and Mayor are much more to blame. They did not folow the rules and still haven't. Then the people reeeeeeee-elected Maor Nagin after he swore he'd return it to a chocolate city. It is over a year later and they still haven't asked for the $$$ that has been made available to them.

Answer 7

Get a grip can these people not help themselves a little or even a lot? Have you been to South or middle Florida hit by FOUR very bad hurricanes in about six weeks they need help too.
While it would be nice if we could just pay for everyone's
disaster but we can't. In many areas neighbors help neighbors.

Answer 8

Gulfport, Biloxi,Pass Christian, MS all still have alot of people in trailers too. Things are going to take time. Big companies there are trying to buy up the land too. It has nothing to do with Social Genicide-it has to do with greed by big companies against those who don't have money to fight back.

Answer 9

I see people calling VICTIMS lazy because they aren't able to rebuild their homes. I guess you don't realize that when you are a poor home owner who got shafted by an insurance company you don't have the economic means to rebuild on your own. There are still a lot of unemployed people in New Orleans.

Answer 10

It's not the government's job to take care of people for life. What about other areas where disater has hit? Social genocide? Bullplop. Tin-foil hat conspiracy theory.