Apparently the US government doesn't want the media showing the public pictures of corpses in its Katrina coverage.
Sound familiar? King George's royal court didn't want us seeing coffins coming home from Iraq either.
Nothing like a visual to make a statement, drive an idea home, and cause outrage. A picture's worth a thousand words. That's not cliché just because people say it a lot.
A newscast filled with images of head wounds and amputee children might have definitely changed perceptions about the need for the war - oops, mission accomplished - in Iraq. And bloated bodies floating in oil-slicked flood waters might amplify cries of government neglect and inaction.
This country is taking such a HUGE step backward.
Showing posts with label Katrina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Katrina. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
You Get What You're Looking For...
"blacks loot new orleans hurricane katrina"
No, that's not the synopsis of news headlines over the last couple weeks, it's the search term somebody used to find my page.
Look at it.
That's all that really needs to be said.
Unfortunately, some just won't get it, so more will be said.
Think there might be an extraneous term in there? The very inclusion of that one word - "blacks" - speaks volumes about not only the individual who typed it, but also about society as a whole.
It should have been left out, of course, but even worse, it could have been left out. There is no reason to type "blacks" because it's understood that that's exactly who the perpetrators are anyway.
But this person still typed it. This demonstrates precisely what was being looked for. Due to an environment of institutionalized and aversive racism, coupled with (and resulting in) a corporate media structure that is fed off of advertising revenue - which is a psychological game played with a target audience based on previously established belief structures - and used to sway, if not outright form, public opinion in a sound-bite society, we have a concrete example of conditioning (and arguably, social engineering).
It's not simply that this person thought the inclusion of the term would provide specificity enough to sufficiently narrow the results to exactly what s/he wanted to find. Besides, in the most likely scenario, our searcher didn't sit and formulate a search strategy, carefully considering the best approach before taking the appropriate course of action - s/he just pulled up the search engine and typed what came to mind.
It's merely a reflection of what this person is seeing on the television, internet, and in print media, hearing from others, and programmed to think on an almost instinctive level.
Even more alarming to me is that this person actually expected "blacks" to be a feasibly productive term. To this person, it's so obvious that black folk do all the looting and rioting that it should only be expected that a journalist would just come out and say so in a report. More frightening is the fact that such obvious stereotyping would be looked down upon, and therefore other methods have been developed and employed, with perhaps even more success (and the whole mind state that goes with this).
Was this person searching for ways to assist those afflicted? What about "help hurricane katrina victims"?
Or how about "prevent hurricane katrina disaster"? I'd assume it's more effective to discover and prevent the cause of a disease (even if it is social) than fight the symptoms. I mean, do we want to eradicate herpes or just stop the itch? Cure cancer or merely stop hair from falling out during chemotherapy?
Even a purely intellectual inquiry such as "hurricane cause" would show some hope for human nature.
But greed, xenophobia, and bloodlust once again defeat altruism, sympathy, and compassion.
I'm not even going to assume this person has a confederate flag hat covering his mullet or some lightning bolts tattooed on his neck. Realistically, this isn't some crazed, sociopathic, bigot. Or even a Republican. He doesn't necessarily have to be male, uneducated, or even white (but we can safely - though not absolutely - assume s/he isn't black). This very well could be some liberal-minded, college educated Generation Xer who listens to Hip Hop and cried over visions of starving African children.
But this person IS racist (which one does not have to consciously or intentionally be). And it would probably be safe to say American and Christian. All three of these say a whole lot about the place we live in: something that is verifiably demonstrated in the phrase "blacks loot new orleans hurricane katrina."
No, that's not the synopsis of news headlines over the last couple weeks, it's the search term somebody used to find my page.
Look at it.
That's all that really needs to be said.
Unfortunately, some just won't get it, so more will be said.
Think there might be an extraneous term in there? The very inclusion of that one word - "blacks" - speaks volumes about not only the individual who typed it, but also about society as a whole.
It should have been left out, of course, but even worse, it could have been left out. There is no reason to type "blacks" because it's understood that that's exactly who the perpetrators are anyway.
But this person still typed it. This demonstrates precisely what was being looked for. Due to an environment of institutionalized and aversive racism, coupled with (and resulting in) a corporate media structure that is fed off of advertising revenue - which is a psychological game played with a target audience based on previously established belief structures - and used to sway, if not outright form, public opinion in a sound-bite society, we have a concrete example of conditioning (and arguably, social engineering).
It's not simply that this person thought the inclusion of the term would provide specificity enough to sufficiently narrow the results to exactly what s/he wanted to find. Besides, in the most likely scenario, our searcher didn't sit and formulate a search strategy, carefully considering the best approach before taking the appropriate course of action - s/he just pulled up the search engine and typed what came to mind.
It's merely a reflection of what this person is seeing on the television, internet, and in print media, hearing from others, and programmed to think on an almost instinctive level.
Even more alarming to me is that this person actually expected "blacks" to be a feasibly productive term. To this person, it's so obvious that black folk do all the looting and rioting that it should only be expected that a journalist would just come out and say so in a report. More frightening is the fact that such obvious stereotyping would be looked down upon, and therefore other methods have been developed and employed, with perhaps even more success (and the whole mind state that goes with this).
Was this person searching for ways to assist those afflicted? What about "help hurricane katrina victims"?
Or how about "prevent hurricane katrina disaster"? I'd assume it's more effective to discover and prevent the cause of a disease (even if it is social) than fight the symptoms. I mean, do we want to eradicate herpes or just stop the itch? Cure cancer or merely stop hair from falling out during chemotherapy?
Even a purely intellectual inquiry such as "hurricane cause" would show some hope for human nature.
But greed, xenophobia, and bloodlust once again defeat altruism, sympathy, and compassion.
I'm not even going to assume this person has a confederate flag hat covering his mullet or some lightning bolts tattooed on his neck. Realistically, this isn't some crazed, sociopathic, bigot. Or even a Republican. He doesn't necessarily have to be male, uneducated, or even white (but we can safely - though not absolutely - assume s/he isn't black). This very well could be some liberal-minded, college educated Generation Xer who listens to Hip Hop and cried over visions of starving African children.
But this person IS racist (which one does not have to consciously or intentionally be). And it would probably be safe to say American and Christian. All three of these say a whole lot about the place we live in: something that is verifiably demonstrated in the phrase "blacks loot new orleans hurricane katrina."
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Just You Wait...
Just wondering how long it will be until the networks show their (inevitable) made-for-TV Katrina dramas. I'm sure there will be at least two about the Superdome alone.
I'm also waiting to see some Katrina-related ribbon magnets on the back of cars.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Playing the Blame Game...
Amid reports of roving gangs of armed thugs commandeering supply-laden rescue convoys, thwarting rescue attempts, looting, and even raping fellow citizens, coverage of the inefficiency of federal response to Katrina in general has been, metaphorically so, inundated.
FEMA Director Michael Brown has even gone so far as to partially blame the dire situation on the victims themselves.
I can and will not grant a pass to these dispicable examples of human smegma. But I will take a moment to ask, "Why?" Although nothing can justify the actions of these individuals, a look at possible motives and rationale may offer much needed perspective, as it points to a larger, more substantially paramount yet conspicuously ignored underlying cause.
These people are witness to extreme suffering and trauma. And what relief do they see in sight? In a country whose leader was swept into office on a current of vows of National Security, and privy to the creation of a Department of Homeland Defense, assured of its intrinsic abillty to respond promptly and effectively in situations of crisis, they see the manifestation of hollow promises and triviality of rhetoric.
If it appears as if anarchy is setting in, it's, well, because it's anarchy! Where is effective authority? This is as glaring an example of "political disorder and confusion" one needs to see.
If you need a nexus, imagine surviving a disaster, barely existing for hours and days in a complete state of desolation and destruction, with the concept of abandonment slowly presenting itself all around. Now add in a dash of death , disease, and dehydration. Stir this into the contaminated sludge you're wading through, and - voilà! - civil unrest!
This is why people are looting:
They have no fucking shoes! They have no shelter, no water, no food. The basic essentials for human survival are gone, everything they've ever possessed has been erased, and the usual means of obtaining replacements are no longer available. Although some of this civil disobedience is, well, no longer civil, I believe the bulk of it was prompted out of necessity, and escalated (according to human nature) from there.
Yet, news would rather report these evil swarms of renegades than acknowledge the national disgrace that is the government's response. And a society that cheers on underhandedness as entertainment on Survivor, Big Brother, et al. as a show of REALITY is in shock and awe (pun intended).
Where is our humanity? For god's sake (hope the evil atheists don't expel from their coven for that) the mayor of NOLA called off search and rescue efforts to focus police actions on thievery! Once again we're reminded that material possessions are of more signifigance than human life. Does it not bewilder anybody that people avoided evacuation and actually barracaded themselves inside to prevent theft?
Add in the unavoidable fact that a large chunk of the "perpetrators" (and afflicted) are poor and minority, coupled with usual media bias, and it really shouldn't be all that suprising.
On that note, religious groups have already convicted homosexuals as the impetus of destruction. If we can obtain [read: forge] "intelligence" connecting al Qaeda, I will seriously not be suprised. (Un)fortunately, we already have scapegoats. Especially when they don't match the reflection we see on that TV screen - often unnoticed, but constantly present - floating just on the surface of the disinformation, outright lies, and propaganda.
*NOTE* It was later discovered, after the chaos settled, that the reports of evildoers, child rape and murder in the Superdome, attacks on police and rescue officials, and general violence in the aftermath of Katrina were all hyperbolic panic and false. This, of course, received far less press than the specious reports.
FEMA Director Michael Brown has even gone so far as to partially blame the dire situation on the victims themselves.
I can and will not grant a pass to these dispicable examples of human smegma. But I will take a moment to ask, "Why?" Although nothing can justify the actions of these individuals, a look at possible motives and rationale may offer much needed perspective, as it points to a larger, more substantially paramount yet conspicuously ignored underlying cause.
These people are witness to extreme suffering and trauma. And what relief do they see in sight? In a country whose leader was swept into office on a current of vows of National Security, and privy to the creation of a Department of Homeland Defense, assured of its intrinsic abillty to respond promptly and effectively in situations of crisis, they see the manifestation of hollow promises and triviality of rhetoric.
If it appears as if anarchy is setting in, it's, well, because it's anarchy! Where is effective authority? This is as glaring an example of "political disorder and confusion" one needs to see.
If you need a nexus, imagine surviving a disaster, barely existing for hours and days in a complete state of desolation and destruction, with the concept of abandonment slowly presenting itself all around. Now add in a dash of death , disease, and dehydration. Stir this into the contaminated sludge you're wading through, and - voilà! - civil unrest!
This is why people are looting:
They have no fucking shoes! They have no shelter, no water, no food. The basic essentials for human survival are gone, everything they've ever possessed has been erased, and the usual means of obtaining replacements are no longer available. Although some of this civil disobedience is, well, no longer civil, I believe the bulk of it was prompted out of necessity, and escalated (according to human nature) from there.
Yet, news would rather report these evil swarms of renegades than acknowledge the national disgrace that is the government's response. And a society that cheers on underhandedness as entertainment on Survivor, Big Brother, et al. as a show of REALITY is in shock and awe (pun intended).
Where is our humanity? For god's sake (hope the evil atheists don't expel from their coven for that) the mayor of NOLA called off search and rescue efforts to focus police actions on thievery! Once again we're reminded that material possessions are of more signifigance than human life. Does it not bewilder anybody that people avoided evacuation and actually barracaded themselves inside to prevent theft?
Add in the unavoidable fact that a large chunk of the "perpetrators" (and afflicted) are poor and minority, coupled with usual media bias, and it really shouldn't be all that suprising.
On that note, religious groups have already convicted homosexuals as the impetus of destruction. If we can obtain [read: forge] "intelligence" connecting al Qaeda, I will seriously not be suprised. (Un)fortunately, we already have scapegoats. Especially when they don't match the reflection we see on that TV screen - often unnoticed, but constantly present - floating just on the surface of the disinformation, outright lies, and propaganda.
*NOTE* It was later discovered, after the chaos settled, that the reports of evildoers, child rape and murder in the Superdome, attacks on police and rescue officials, and general violence in the aftermath of Katrina were all hyperbolic panic and false. This, of course, received far less press than the specious reports.
Breaks Over, Get to Work...
Another brilliant post from EA. He quotes Louisiana Governor Blanco:
"I have declared August 31, 2005, a Day of Prayer in the State of Louisiana.EA then injects some insulin of sanity in the face of this diabetic coma of inanity:
[...]
"I know, by praying together on Wednesday, that we can pull together and draw strength we need; strength, that only God can give us."
Well, I have this to say:Shut the fuck up. Where is your god, Governor? Where is your benevolent, omnipotent being? Is he busy being thanked by the starving survivors who sit on their rooftops as the odor of their rotting neighbors wafts over them? Is he busy being thanked by the critical-care patients who avoided the bullets of the snipers that tried to kill them as they were being evacuated today? Is he busy being thanked by the evacuees who have returned to southern Mississippi to pick through the piles of matchsticks and memories that cover the ground their homes used to occupy? He must be busy, because he’s nowhere to be found. It’s not god providing the cots and MREs for 45,000 refugees, it’s the city of Houston. It’s not god picking people off rooftops, it’s the Coast Guard. It’s not god stopping the floodwaters from Lake Pontchartrain, it’s the Army Corps of Engineers
Wisdom and should-be common sense then continue to surge forth. I wholeheartedly suggest - plead that - people read what he has to say.
Now for my thoughts.
Ouch.
Everybody pray for me. I fear that I am slipping out of consciousness from repetitively bludgeoning the desk with my head after reading this post.
This line of thought, combined with the continued reports of malevolent, inhumane actions from people in the face of mounting hopelessness, is not conducive to repelling a perpetual mental siege by an overwhelming sense of misanthropy. My already slippery grip on the idea (pipe dream?) of the mere humanity of humans is weakening.
When cornered, or merely given an opportunity, we lunge for each other’s throats, blinded by self preservation and/or greed. Can’t we see one another in the mirror and in that recognition gain some semblance of compassion?
But, then again, why bother?
If we refuse to believe in our own strength, and shell out credit to invisible forces outside of and separate from us when given concrete examples of both the existence of our own, and complete absence of any supernatural benevolence, then where is a need for responsibility?
Why bother helping another human if it’s ultimately not of your own accord, will, and ability? In the face of their own cowardice, ineptitude, and lethargy, people will readily give credit to a god instead of a fellow human who possessed enough intestinal fortitude to overcome those same dilemmas. The viable choice is to continue in self-denial and delusion, choosing an omnipotent god, rather than admit one’s own shortcomings.
As for those who actually do care enough to help, yet still heap recognition in god’s lap? I suppose they do so on two accounts:
- fear of damnation/hope for eternal reward
- they’d prefer to believe their own strength and conviction was bestowed upon them from the unknown rather than acknowledge the complacent negligence of fellow humans
The prevailing thought seems to be that all the ills of humanity string from within, and any graces of humanity are granted to us. Furthermore, tragedies that fall upon us spring forth from those very self conceived ills, and any fortune is a merely a blessing, usually gained from shunning those who ill.
It shouldn’t be so damned difficult (and rarely tangibly rewarding) to just simply do right for right’s sake.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Apparently He Spilled the Bucket...
"Wednesday began with TV and radio coverage of live prayers by the governor and a collection of holy men."
Maybe they should've been praying BEFORE the storm hit. Oh, yeah – they were. You’d think they’d have learned something from that.
He’d seen hell where a kind of heaven should be.
He’d heard references to Sodom and Gomorrah.
“Maybe God’s going to cleanse us.”
Damn, I guess God DOES work in mysterious ways. If this is a cleansing, I’d hate to see how he gets his hands dirty.
Oh, boy - here come the Sodom & Gomorrah references. I KNEW the homos had something to do with it!!
But they weren’t ALL sodomites. As demonstrated every year during Mardi gras, NOLA is a steamy, inebriated hotbed of beaded debauchery. But it’s also the proud land of good ol’ plantation owners.
What could they be being punished for? Hmmm…I already hypothesized the whole shellfish thing…but, what could they have done that is so horrible, so deplorable, to warrant disaster on such an, uh – BIBLICAL - scale?
Ah, I got it! Aren’t Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama RED states?
Yeah…they are, aren’t they.
[Source]
Times Picayune - Wednesday, August 31, 2005
"Radio captures the horror, exhaustion"
By Dave Walker
Monday, August 29, 2005
Eradicating Poverty...
Chi-Town MC Vakill tells us that women are "like tornadoes - they scream when they come and take everything when they leave."
Granted, she's not a tornado, but apparently Hurricane Katrina a bad-ass bitch. She screams and floods in waves when she comes. Unfortunately, she's gonna take the most from those who have the least.
Ned Sublette reported that the poorest one-fifth of New Orleans wasn't evacuated. He draws the valid analogy:
Amazingly, the oil platform workers had no trouble being evacuated. The Sun rose in the east today too.
I can't help but speculate if a storm of "swarthy" men in turbans were having a flag-burning rally, the Gov't wouldn't have too much difficulty promptly amassing resources comparable to what would be appropriate to keeps these Americans out of harm's way.
I'm gonna have to check in with Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as to what's been done to incur god's wrath. Maybe the poor are just crawling with marriage license seeking homosexuals and drowning in murdered fetuses. They do eat a LOT of shellfish down there. They must be wallowing in some form of sin, because god's about to put the smackdown on the unrighteous again, just like he did with the tsunami. Maybe he's just trying to shift focus away from his loyal messenger, what with the blatant media lies about calls for assassination and all.
Granted, she's not a tornado, but apparently Hurricane Katrina a bad-ass bitch. She screams and floods in waves when she comes. Unfortunately, she's gonna take the most from those who have the least.
Ned Sublette reported that the poorest one-fifth of New Orleans wasn't evacuated. He draws the valid analogy:
It's as if you had advance notice that Mohammed Atta's crew was coming to the World Trade center and evacuated all but the poor from it.134,000 people are just too poor to merit rescue. In a city that is 67% black (and I'm sure that number's even higher in the representation of this particular group), more than half of them have even less chance of being rescued.
Amazingly, the oil platform workers had no trouble being evacuated. The Sun rose in the east today too.
I can't help but speculate if a storm of "swarthy" men in turbans were having a flag-burning rally, the Gov't wouldn't have too much difficulty promptly amassing resources comparable to what would be appropriate to keeps these Americans out of harm's way.
I'm gonna have to check in with Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as to what's been done to incur god's wrath. Maybe the poor are just crawling with marriage license seeking homosexuals and drowning in murdered fetuses. They do eat a LOT of shellfish down there. They must be wallowing in some form of sin, because god's about to put the smackdown on the unrighteous again, just like he did with the tsunami. Maybe he's just trying to shift focus away from his loyal messenger, what with the blatant media lies about calls for assassination and all.
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