Author Topic: Gretna: Tragedy meets callousness (Read 2066 times)

Chairboy · « **Reply #15 on:** September 12, 2005, 12:15:41 PM »

They were keeping all pedestrians out. The people who reported this were a small group of white tourists accompanied by a couple hundred black people who, after they were warned off with gunfire, established an encampment in a dry spot a mile away that was subsequently disbanded by a police officer who confiscated their food and water.

Simaril · « **Reply #16 on:** September 12, 2005, 12:21:13 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chairboy
They were keeping all pedestrians out. The people who reported this were a small group of white tourists accompanied by a couple hundred black people who, after they were warned off with gunfire, established an encampment in a dry spot a mile away that was subsequently disbanded by a police officer who confiscated their food and water.

That really sums up where the "defenders" were coming from, doesnt it -- If they really took food and water from victims of tragedy, jsut so the victims would leave "their" neighborhood, I cant imagine a legitimate justification...

Eagler · « **Reply #17 on:** September 12, 2005, 01:32:36 PM »

most would be leery about letting inner city folks "invade" their neighborhood

don't know about you, but I do not live in an evacuation center...\\

Mickey1992 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 12, 2005, 01:59:56 PM »

I was watching Fox last week and Shep was reporting live from a bridge and was saying that armed officers were keeping people from crossing the bridge out of NO.

He really seemed to be losing it. The people in the studio would ask him a 30 second question and he would reply "I don't know", or "yes/no". He really seemed at wit's end.

Gunslinger · « **Reply #19 on:** September 12, 2005, 02:25:41 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mickey1992
I was watching Fox last week and Shep was reporting live from a bridge and was saying that armed officers were keeping people from crossing the bridge out of NO.

He really seemed to be losing it. The people in the studio would ask him a 30 second question and he would reply "I don't know", or "yes/no". He really seemed at wit's end.

let's get one thing clear this bridge dose not lead OUTSIDE the city, it heads south towards the coast.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=gretna,+LA&spn=0.165381,0.275602&hl=en

Chairboy · « **Reply #20 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:03:48 PM »

It leads AWAY from death by dehydration too.

An article on the subject that criticizes the mayor and governor: http://www.qando.net/details.aspx?Entry=2551

Gunslinger · « **Reply #21 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:16:26 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chairboy
It leads AWAY from death by dehydration too.

An article on the subject that criticizes the mayor and governor: http://www.qando.net/details.aspx?Entry=2551

after looking at the google Katrina sattilite images I'd have to agree with him. There doesn't look like any other passible way out of the city.

Also re-enforces why federal aid took so long to get there (superdome).

Simaril · « **Reply #22 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:33:12 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Eagler
most would be leery about letting inner city folks "invade" their neighborhood

don't know about you, but I do not live in an evacuation center...\\

Who does?

This is much more than being careful; being sensible and careful is entirely reasonable. Why couldnt they explain that they wouldnt allow weapons, so evacuees had to consent to searches? Why couldnt they accept a limited number of evacuees?

"Inner City" people are just people. Some are hoodlums, but most are simply poor, without the social/educational/economic resources to escape their neighborhoods. (No, I'm not a liberal -- I've just been around the people of neighborhoods like these enough to see.)

Human beings were suffering. You dont have to help everyone who needs it, because you cant -- but you CAN start helping somebody. These folks were there, and they were repulsed by demonstration of force.

Civilization starts when humans work together to help each other. This event is just as selfish, just as uncivilised, as looting and rampaging in NO.

Gunthr · « **Reply #23 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:53:03 PM »

Gretna Fear Meets Callousness

not so sure it was callousness, if indeed the report is correct. fear is a simpler explanation. and we know that when society breaks down, our evolutionary assets kick in. It will happen everytime you see this situation, so we shouldn't be heartbroken about it. Maybe we should plan for it.

Mickey1992 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 12, 2005, 05:20:46 PM »

If NO had been successfully evacuated and emptied, do you think that the authorities would have allowed people from Gretna to come to New Orleans and loot it for food and water?

parker00 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 12, 2005, 05:30:40 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Eagler
most would be leery about letting inner city folks "invade" their neighborhood

don't know about you, but I do not live in an evacuation center...\\

Are you being serious?

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #26 on:** September 12, 2005, 05:31:25 PM »

Simaril, not everyone is 100% republican or democrat.

It is however, a liberal idea that one cannot escape the classes that are set upon you at birth.

Simaril · « **Reply #27 on:** September 12, 2005, 06:04:34 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by lasersailor184
Simaril, not everyone is 100% republican or democrat.

It is however, a liberal idea that one cannot escape the classes that are set upon you at birth.

It's absolutely possible to have social mobility out of poverty, and its also true that many who have failed to take responsibilty for their lives end up blaming society.

However, its also unarguable that some are truly disadvantaged in the most literal sense of the word. I learned responsibility and hard work from my family; I had resources and support for my education; and my "subculture" reinforced socially effective life strategies. Would I be where I am if my only choice was an inner city "warehouse 'em" school, if studying hard was viewed as rejecting my people, and if I had to work as a teen for family sustenence rather than spending money?

I dont know.

I do know that the urban culture people I know through my work are often good folk, short on polish but fundamentally just solid folk. I've seen people who could have done better make stupid choices, I've seen teens screw up their lives in effort to fit in with their peers. But, I've also seen poor people who've worked hard all their lives just to keep body and soul together.

Poor doesnt always mean irresponsible.

BTW · « **Reply #28 on:** September 12, 2005, 07:03:40 PM »

Your story is BS. First of all the bridge (Crescent City Connection)exits in Orleans parish, not Gretna. Gretna police have no authority there. Orleans Parish police (NOPD) stopped people from crossing the bridge, and 80% of NOPD is black.

And you want to know something else? They stopped me three times (three days) from entering the West Bank of New Orleans, and I'm white.

Just another example of creatively writing the news.

Edit just a note - there were an extraordinary amount of rumors spread during and after the hurricane. Most of the rumors were started by the news media.

Here's a few..

Harry Lee (Jefferson parish sheriff) was killed
Eddie Compass (NOPD chief) was killed
A coast Guard Helicopter was shot down
Oakwood Mall burned to the ground
Explosions were heard before the levee breech

ALL BS, all reported by the media.

And even after weeks and weeks of reporting on the storm and New Orleans, the news media seems incapable of realizing there are two destinct parts of New Orleans - the east bank and the west bank. Thats because as room full of reporters couldn't scrape up a double digit IQ.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #29 on:** September 12, 2005, 07:09:52 PM »

You say that there are those who don't succeed, so they end up blaming society. But then you go and blame society for those who don't succeed. You say that there is nothing that they can do.