It's all about race. It really is.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

So many people... all they have to do is see the sea of black faces. Then they know, in their heart, that they don't really have to pay close attention to what is really happening.

Unless it's some report about looting or someone shooting at a helicopter, or anything else that reinforces their worst stereotypes about those black faces. Then they can reinforce their fear, or blood lust. "We should go locked and loaded! Shoot to kill!"

Any information about a baby dying of dehydration, or old people trapped and drowning in their attic, is just filtered away...

I really despair. I'm sorry, this is just how I'm seeing it. I don't really understand otherwise how so many can just not really care that much, unless it's because they fear, hate, or just ignore the victims because of their black faces.

[mshasta]

1. is always being about the color of the skin...

take a look at Iraq, Afghanistan, the poor Palestinians ..Africa....etc

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. You are so right

But I wish you were wrong.

[BillZBubb]

3. To the Repug base, that is true.

The suffering or deaths of black Americans is not a big problem for them. In fact, to too many of them it's a good thing. They are a twisted lot.

[electricray]

4. It's about economic inequality of any stripe.

Racism is a tool used very effectively by society to divide the poor so that they don't rise up and overthrow the rich. Racism is taught. Racism is a disease. But racism is not what caused so many Americans to be left behind. Racism is the cause of these particular Americans risk exposure but selfish greed and an overall callous disregard for those who cannot provide for themselves is what this is about.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. No, I think it's much more about race than even economics here...

If half the faces were equally poor white people, my feeling is everything would be way different. Federal response much quicker. No attempt to demonize "looters" and shift to this combat, law enforcement "shoot to kill" way of thinking, for the white Republicans who I hear espousing it.

I think it would be totally different. My opinion.

[electricray]

7. I apologize

I think that we were talking about different stages of the disaster. The racism after the fact is reprehensible and I would agree it is a driving force in the methodology behind the "response" but what I was refering to was the economic structure that led up to the disaster. I think the initial lack of assistance in evacuation etc was just as disgraceful in Mississippi where the affected were of a much paler skin tone but a very similar checking account size.

I agree that the right-wing echo chamber screaming about the "gangs of thugs" and "lawless" society is doing so out of a complete lack of empathy driven by racial hatred but I think they are a vocal minority of Americans. The outrage in America should be over economic inequity in preperation and over the blatant racist response of the conservative "values-voting" neanderthals when the lack of fair planning and emergency prevention came to a disgusting head.

[AllieB]

6. You're definitely right

there would be an outcry if extreme measures were used against white looters. The fact that the police had the sanction to shoot is disgusting.