Wednesday, October 24, 2007
California Wildfires
First, let me say that I do think it is wonderful how volunteers have rushed to the aid of these people. I just watched CNN and saw that there was not only food and clothing available to evacuees, but acupuncture, yoga, AA meetings, and arts and crafts for children. There was even a booth called "FEMA Questions Answered Here". I think everyone knows what my next question is...why didn't the Katrina evacuees have this treatment? I've heard people say things like, "because the Katrina evacuees acted like animals." Others have said, "Simple. They are the forgotten." I'm actually surprised I haven't seen any news coverage of a comparison. It does seem to me that in the case of devastation like this, we should be able to provide ALL people with proper aid. My reaction to watching the sea of white faces receive its aid was tears. I can remember watching Katrina victims on television. I remember watching the animals stranded on rooftops all alone. I remember watching a mother hold her baby and scream because he wouldn't wake up. It's hard to remember that, and then watch an evacuee receive his fresh t-shirts while his child clutches her coloring book. I'm not saying that the wildfire victims should not receive aid like this, but where was it for the other victims? Any thoughts?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
As a person who secretly donates to the local shelters while the fires burn in this area with my purdy white face and all, Ill say this much.
Katrina was horrible, it was a disaster, and it was unexpected. Ok, scratch that. Katrina was expected, but the levees breaking was NOT.
Here in Southern California, we know that every October the place catches on fire. Thats why some of us prepare early, and thats why some of us have stockpiles of clothing and food ready to go once fire season starts. The Katrina evacs. didnt have that because they didnt know they'd need it.
As for your reference to white people getting better treatment, youve got another thing coming. This is the Inland Empire, and as the homes that are burning are generally mountain homes, youve got the smoke pouring over very very poor black and mexican neighborhoods in San Bernardino. Youve got parents who CAN NOT AFFORD to take time off of work to deal with the fact that their kid's school is closed. Yeah, I made light of that a little on my blog, but that was concerning the dirt here in Beaumont. You have to realize, I used to volunteer at a school out where the fires are, and it was VERY ethnic, and in such a bad area that most kids didnt have mattresses to sleep on. People have car washes in order to pay for funerals. You want to talk about folks of color not getting fair treatment in New Orleans? My friend, it is happening EVERYWHERE, it has nothing to do with white people having it better.
You really need to understand that the country learned a lot from Katrina, and as devastating as it was, we will try not to let it happen again because we should know better now.
This has nothing to do with Katrina, our mountains were catching fire YEARS before Katrina happened. Just like we all have (or should have) earthquake kits, we know to prepare for fire season. Black, white, asian, mexican, whatever, we all know that the place will burn down and so we make sure that we have the means to take care of those who DONT have the means. Sad that a fire has to bring us out to take care of each other but thats how it is.
Three years ago, or maybe four, a very poor black and mexican neighborhood called Del Rosa in San Bernardino unexpectedly burnt down because of a forest fire, and it was down in the city!
Youve pissed me off with this one, and lady, Im hard to piss off. Im hurt and offended that you think this is all just a bunch of white people trying to find shelters for our mini dogs and such while our million dollar mansions burn to the ground. You know NOTHING of this area if that's what you think. I cant speak for every person and every structure lost, but damnit I know what is what.
Katrina = tragedy but lesson
Fires = been there done that lets go donate some clothes for the kids who lost theirs.
And the people of New Orleans will never try to "ride out a storm" again, just like the people here will always have fire insurance.
Jesus Tapdancing Christ.
Again, I don't think the wildfire victims don't deserve to be cared for. I think it's great. I wish that I wore the same glasses that you do. I live in a different part of the country, and I KNOW it is very different than California. If you would like to take my PERSONAL BLOG POST as a personal attack on white people...well, I can't stop you. I'm white. I don't see equality. And, I think if Katrina happened again that it would be about the same. Those people have nothing, Jessie. They are the forgotten. Most of them didn't have cars to even evacuate. President Bush could give two shits about them, me, or you. I went as high as I could in school and got mine. People like Bush can't take that away from me, and it pisses them off. I admire your passion. Have your opinion of me and my post. I'll still fight for you and your equality too. Peace.
I don't think Alexandra was trying to slam anyone in CA, but rather decrying the poor handling of the Katrina situation by the state and federal gov't. Face facts--there are people in NO that are still homeless, that are still waiting on insurance money to rebuild, that still have nothing. That hurricane was THREE YEARS ago. I spoke to a college student who went there over the summer to help out. She said there are areas there that still look like Katrina happened last week. She's right--they are the forgotten.
Don't take what she wrote so personally. She commended the way CA is taking care of its own.
Haha--I'm a dumbass......Katrina was two years ago, not three. My bad. My sense of time is very warped lately.
There are some very apparent differences here:
The folks in California were prepared at a moment's notice.
The folks in Nawlins had 3-5 days notice and did not prepare.
The local officials in California were prepared.
The local officials in Nawlins had 3-5 days notice and did not prepare. Nor did they give a shit.
I've got way to much to say about this so instead of taking over your blog, I'll just write it on my own, but please note, I've commented you.
What upset me was that you mentioned seeing "white faces" getting better treatment.
You know, the reason that there were yoga classes at our shelters is the same reason that there was crayfish and jazz music at the shelters that the NO people got. Its a cultural thing! Yes, people in California do yoga! And people in NO like jazz music!
What pissed me off, again, was your reference to white people, when I can tell you from experience that the area its self is one where white is a minority. It has to do with preparedness, NOT with skin color.
I'm glad I've sparked some conversation! I wrote this entry after a long day with no sleep. With a fresh mind, I would have chosen my words a little differently. I stand by my post, though. That's why I haven't changed it or taken it down. I asked for thoughts, and I do enjoy the lively banter. :)
Oh dont take it down, whatever you do.
Banter banter banter.
Ok, but the fact that Katrina victims is forgotten is pretty sad. I do have Katrina evac. neighbors out here in Cali and from what I understand they are getting all kinds of grants and government assistance to buy a house. They got a 75% grant on a $250,000 house, which is awesome. They came out here jobless and I think the Red Cross hired the wife on the spot to give her a job. In fact I think she's helping out at the shelters here right now. Then again, thats just one story out of the however many millions of people?
When that Del Rosa neighborhood burnt down a few years ago, the one that I mentioned in my original comment, Ty Pennington and his crew came out and built a house on that show he does.
And you know, there are still people rebuilding their homes up where last year's Esperanza fire burned, where I used to live. These were not wealthy people. My nephew in law died in that fire trying to fight it.
I dont think that these people are being forgotten, I think that the public just moves on to new tragedies, I mean, nobody brought up NO until you did here concerning this fire, maybe because it discredits the suffering a little? You know, like "Well way more people died over there, and they went without food and all," that may be true, but if my house were on fire, would you tell me about how much more people in Louisiana suffered? Would you complain if you saw my kid on the news with a coloring book? I live on a mountain that hasnt caught fire in a while, what if it does? The possibility is more real than you think.
Post a Comment