This article originally appears in The American Thinker
It certainly didn’t take long for the race baiters, class warriors, and economic determinists to heave themselves up from the flood waters that have inundated New Orleans to inform us all of the real tragedy being played out in that tortured city. Most of us think it bad enough that tens of thousands of human beings are suffering untold hardships and indignities as a result of being stranded in the nightmare of barbarism and perditious mayhem to which a once beautiful city has descended.
But for the professional victimhood groups, opportunity has come knocking. Why let an unimaginable tragedy like Katrina spoil a chance to link the tried and true canards of race and class with both the evocation of white guilt and a little Bush bashing for good measure?
This quote from the Reverend Jesse Jackson manages the trifecta – race, class, and Bush bashing – quite nicely:
“Many black people feel that their race, their property conditions and their voting patterns have been a factor in the response,” Mr. Jackson said, after meeting with Louisiana officials yesterday. “I’m not saying that myself, but what’s self-evident is that you have many poor people without a way out.”
If he’s not saying that himself, why say it in the first place except to plant the seeds of distrust and racism in the minds of his constituency?
Representative Charles Rangel tried to add a little humor to his critique. He also gets an “A+” for combining race, class, and anti-war digs at the President in the space of one sentence:
That disparity has been criticized as a “disgrace” by Charles B. Rangel, the senior Democratic congressman from New York City, who said it was made all the worse by the failure of government officials to have planned.“I assume the president’s going to say he got bad intelligence, Mr. Rangel said, adding that the danger to the levees was clear.
“I think that wherever you see poverty, whether it’s in the white rural community or the black urban community, you see that the resources have been sucked up into the war and tax cuts for the rich,” he said.
Rangel and Jackson are by no means alone in piggybacking criticism of rich white people on their overheated critique of the Bush Administration. The tragedy in New Orleans is unlike any other disaster in American history in that not only have we witnessed the almost complete and utter destruction of a major industrialized city but also political attacks on the party in power carried out with a ferocity perhaps unprecedented in its speed and bitterness following a major cataclysm.
This tactic is largely being given a free pass by the press and the American people because by invoking the race and class cards in a situation where the race and class of the people suffering the worst of the disaster is obvious, it becomes easier to posit the notion of an “essential truth” being divined from the tragedy. In short, since poor black people are suffering, ergo they must be “targeted” by white people because of their color and, given the economic determinists worldview, by the very fact that they are poor as well.
It does no good to point out that the Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, is black himself. Not does it help to dispel this impression by saying that the city has a black Police Superintendent Edwin Compass III. And I imagine numerous questions will be put to both the Mayor and Police Superintendent at an appropriate time about their initial responses to the hurricane and its aftermath.
But the real questions are does it make any difference that those who are experiencing the worst of the devastation are poor and black and is their ordeal the result of the indifference and outright racisim of white people and, by extension, conservative white people in the Bush Administration?
To even ask the questions presupposes a monstrous evil at large in America. Do white people not care if black people live or die? Anyone who suggests that the overwhelming majority of white people – conservative or not – would have such a pernicious attitude toward human life is being disengenuous. They are not being serious. Similarly, to say that the overwhelming majority of Americans could give a fig that poor people are fighting for their lives as I write this is demonstrably false based on the fact that more than $100,000 million has been raised in a little more than 72 hours for the relief of these same poor black people in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast.
Then why this over the top rhetoric? Why the wild claims by African American leaders and the anti-poverty industry that the race and class of the victims of Katrina has a direct bearing on the level of suffering being experienced by those who through no fault of their own, were forced to stay behind in the doomed city?
Race, and to a lesser extent class, has been called the elephant in the living room in American politics and for good reason; the only people who can speak about it and not get skewered in a political sense are the self-appointed black leaders who, for better or for worse, have become the inheritors of Martin Luther King’s legacy. Over the years, the Jesse Jackson’s and Charlie Rangels have developed an entirely new vocabulary replete with apocalyptic rhetoric and dark, conspiratorial imagery that feeds the frustration and anger that many blacks experience by living and working in America. What makes their critiques resonate with the black community is that there is usually just enough truth about the real and palpable racism that blacks see and experience in their everyday lives to make the more outrageous claims regarding white mischeif seem plausible.
The attacks by the anit-poverty crusaders take a similar tack when it comes to blaming “society” for the meager circumstances of the poor. These economic determinsts have learned to temper their language since the 1960’s so that they don’t quite sound like the Marxists they really are:
“We tend to think of natural disasters as somehow even-handed, as somehow random,” said MartÃn Espada, an English professor at the University of Massachusetts and poet of a decidedly leftist political bent who is Puerto Rican. “Yet it has always been thus: poor people are in danger. That is what it means to be poor. It’s dangerous to be poor. It’s dangerous to be black. It’s dangerous to be Latino.”
It’s also dangerous to make assumptions based on broad generalities. Of course the storm didn’t deliberately target the poor. Therefore, the gentelman Marxist must be saying that relief efforts are inadequate not because of the overwhelming nature of the catastrophe but because of indifference by “the ruling class.” Again, what a horrible wickedness that must be abroad in America if government actually bases relief decisions on what someone’s socio-economic status is.
The bottom line of all of this nonsense is Bush bashing. For the past 72 hours, liberal websites have been filled with with the most vile, partisan attacks on the President to date, many of them making the same claims as Mssrs. Jackson and Rangel. The left has sensed an opening and is firing broadsides at the Administration before the bodies floating in the flood waters have been buried. At a time when it is vitally important that Americans pull together to face up to this unprecedented disaster, the left has chosen open partisan warfare.
Bringing race and class into the national conversation about the aftermath of the hurricane is a sham. It’s real purpose is to open another avenue of attack on the President using the tried and true grounds of racism to advance a political agenda. All done at the expense of the very people the professional racialists claim to be speaking for.
9:59 am
Mr. Moran,
I wondered how long it would take the “Blind Bush Boosters” to come to George W’s rescue. I am no fan of George W, not before Katrina and certainly not now. For you to say that race and class has nothing to do with the tragedy now taking place on the Gulf Coast, is well, either criminal or your own leanings are so far to the right that most of humanity has fallen from your sight.
Do you for one minute believe that if this same disaster was playing out on Hilton Head or in Palm Beach our country’s response would be the same. There would be troops, and government assistance swarming those areas like army ants pulling out the rich and privileged by hand one at a time to make sure they suffered as little as possible.
It’s a shame that someone who obviously has so little concern for his fellow man, like you, has a platform to spew the same old rhetoric that we’ve all been hearing forever. Here’s a thought for your narrow mind, go stand in the people of New Orleans’s shoes, go hungry, go without, watch your sister, brother, mother, wife and children die because no one cares about them. Then you can come back to your comfortable home and tell us all that this country did everything it could to help you and your family. Until you’ve done that, do me a favor, shut up!
Gene Cheek
Author of The Color of Love, A Mothers Choice in the Jim Crow South.
10:56 am
I have tried 3 times to reply to Gene’s comments….I can’t do it. I am speechless.
That is its own kind thinking that just makes me shake my head is disbelief.
The government (local, state or federal) does not have an “easy button” that it can push and make it all better right now. It’s that simple. It is not God, it is not all powerful. The sooner people realise that the better off we all will be.
And if Hilton Head or Palm Beach washed into the ocean along with the roads, airports and bridges, I would bet that the response would be pretty much the same, because it’s logistics, not race.
Gene:
You said
“...tell us all that this country did everything it could to help…” Well Gene, the “country” is us. You, me, Rick…. you know, US.
Take a look around at the volunteers who are going down to help, the charities, the people who are giving money, donating needed goods. We ARE doing everything we can to help whether you appreciate it or not.
11:04 am
Do you for one minute believe that if this same disaster was playing out on Hilton Head or in Palm Beach our country’s response would be the same.
Short answer, yes.
Do you believe that white people want black people to die?
Obviously yes. Which puts you as far away from reality as any leftist idiot.
And please remove yourself from your perch of nauseating self-righteousness long enough to see how ridiculous you look with everyone laughing at you?
To actually believe that “people don’t care” you would have to be deaf, dumb, and blind. The outpouring of support for people in New Orleans has been complete, total, and without precedent. Because your ignorance has blinded you to the fact that there is no comparison between this natural disaster and any other disaster in the history of industrialized civilization, your small mindedness cannot grasp the enormity of the problems faced by both THE DEMOCRATIC city government and national government headed up by the President – someone who has come in for stinging criticism on a wide variety of issues time and again on this site.
What I can’t stomach is people like you who play the race card and automatically expect people to pay attention to what you say. I’m afraid you miscalculated this time.I could give a damn about how much you care about the people in New Orleans. And I will not get into some sick game with you about trying to prove who “cares” more. Suffice it to say that I’ve given a substantial amount to hurricane relief.
What have you done? Given any of the proceeds from that book that absolutely no one cares about and no one has read?
12:12 pm
How interesting that the liberal Mr. Cheek thinks that only people who share his viewpoint should have a “platform” from which to spew their venom and that everyone else should just “shut up.”
12:44 pm
Like you Marv, I am just paralyzed with anger and loathing for such statements from Mr. Cheek!
Like Al Sharpton, and Jesse, and the rest of the pimps, Mr. Cheeks has shown his true color, by using the old overused race card crap! I find it interesting that he can find fault with the “white” people who aren’t working fast enough for his taste, and yet not a word of the “blacks” who can only loot and terrorize their own. Then let us look at the Black Mayor, and all the city officials, who do the same. It’s no wonder the city was so ill prepared… all talk and no action! Plus you’ll always have the democratic party to tell you it’s not your fault. Sorry pal it is, and my “white” ass is getting tired of bailing these idiots out!
2:10 pm
THE BIGGER PICTURE
For anyone with the ability to have our attention, i.e., political leaders, celebrities, and the MSM, to be playing the “blame game”
2:38 pm
Has anyone noticed that Mayor Ray Nagin left New Orleans two days ago with some of his staff and is living the comfortable life in New Orleans. He stated this morning, from Baton Rouge, “I am not giving another goddam news conference.”
2:39 pm
Labor Day Weekend
Today’s dose of NIF - News, Interesting & Funny … Labor Day Weekend, and continued prayers for the victims of Katrina
2:52 pm
On Saturday, Sept 24th of this year,
RightMarch, Protest Warrior, Move America Forward,Free Republic will be Counter Protesting the left in our Nations Capitol. Answer Internatioal and ACLU lawyers will be at the event.
We would love for youre group to join, as we a send a message to the left..
That they no longer own the street
The media is already reporting about it
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/01/AR2005090101528.html
http://www.defendthewhitehouse.org/
3:05 pm
The thing that will annoy them them most will be a bigger turnout for the 9/11 Freedom Walk.
3:15 pm
Thomas Sowell has writen a great book. Everyone in this country should read the first 66 pages of his book “Black Rednecks and White Liberals”. What we are seeing is black redneck culture run amock and it is not a pretty sight. The mayor of NO is redneck #1. Why expect the rest of the people to be any different?
7:52 pm
Gene Cheek above seems to avoid the fact that if Palm Beach were in the same situation as NO, one would not expect the stranded people to be shooting at the rescue workers.
The fact is that much of the same skills and attributes that it takes to be economically successful, but as an individual and a community, are much the same as are required for recovering from a disaster. Self restraint, group cohesion, altruism, teamwork, general intelligence, skill at planning and organizing tasks, etc. Likewise, it is simply two sides of the same coin that people and communities that lack these attributes tend to be poor, and do poorly when the system falls apart and external help and order is removed.
9:09 pm
I stumble into your writing and it is scary; for you to disregard that race is a factor in responding to this dissaster by the federal government, is an insult to the core elements of our national heritage. It appears to me that you have a lack of knowledge in race relation in this society.Therefore, I will leave you with this tought to ponder upon ” What is happening in NO is INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AT ITS BEST”.
10:09 pm
And I suppose institutional racism as to blame for the rapes, assaults & the looting of non-food items.
2:20 am
“Institutional racism” sounds great…but WTF does it mean?
Does it mean FEMA deliberately failed to do its job because the people who are at risk in NO are black?
The problem with trying to sound intelligent and self important is that when you strip away the rhetoric, you’re left with meaning. And the meaning you are trying to impart is quite simply that white people don’t care if black people die.
I reject that utterly and completely. And the unprecedented response to this tragedy by private citizens of all colors proves my point and gives the lie to yours.
2:46 am
Media pushes “white guilt†angle
The more I thought about the questions I’ve asked about the media’s primary focus on New Orleans, the more I kept coming back to one thing: white guilt.
6:37 am
Back in ‘93 and ‘98 when it flooded in the Mid-West, within 48 hours the Federal government was airlifting HOGS and CATTLE to safety.
This Administrations response has been sorely lacking.
The victims in Mississippi and Louisana have been treated like they are less than animals. This reflects the flipant attitude of Bush and his cronies to the plight of the common man.
Bush is incapable of empathy. He has to actually be standing in sh!t to see and understand “Yep, this is sh
“. He’s too musch like his mother.
6:43 am
Melanie:
Again, what’s wrong with you people? WHY DON”T YOU COME RIGHT OUT AND SAY IT? ARE YOU SCARED?
SAY IT! GEORGE BUSH WANTS BLACK PEOPLE TO DIE!
What is so difficult about saying that?
I’ll tell you what’s difficult; you know its a crock. And the only way your childish and ignorant critique of why the government was slow to respond works is if you only HINT that Bush wants black people to die (or poor people for that matter). If you come out and say it, people will laugh rather than nod their heads sagely in agreement.
This is real life. Get real or get out of the way.
9:56 am
Melanie, Melanie, Melanie,
This disaster covered 93,000 square miles. Back in 93 and 98, after all the people were made safe by moving just a few miles away from the flood plain, they saved the animals… big Fu#$king deal! This is not the same thing. If the government of LA and NO had done their respective jobs right, and used the almost 1,000 transit/school buses doing nothing, most would have been spared this mess. But leave it to you liberal whiners to find fault with everyone but the people who are really to blame. Add to this that not until late Monday night did the levees break, taking what most considered up until then, a serious disaster to the tragic one we have. This blame game is getting so old.
As Rick so rightly points out… get real!
10:32 am
I have absolutely no doubt that you care deeply about the people in New Orleans.
In a civil society, you would grant me the same courtesy. Instead, by saying that the government “doesn’t care” you are saying they want to kill black people because by not caring, people will die.
It’s an idiotic critique – shallow, vapid, and without a speck of rationality.
But Hey! It sounds good on TV!
10:44 am
Define for me then the consequences of “not caring?” What is the inescapable conclusion one can draw if the government deliberately acted slowly because , after all, they’re only poor black people? What’s the rush?
Are you saying the government didn’t know that people would die because of their lack of concern?
Are you saying that politicians are so stupid that they don’t know that even the appearance of a lack of care will cost them dearly at the polls?
Explain this to me. Don’t just say “the government doesn’t care.”
11:00 am
Rick, I am in awe of how well you get right to the heart of things. Bravo, again.
2:26 pm
Exactly.
RIGHT to the heart of things.
But I think we would all better off if we got directly into the heart of things.
8:01 am
Racism Charges Abound
This just makes me feel all warm and cozy inside, and so proud to be a Marylander. The Washington Times reports thus: Black Democrats in Congress and civil rights leaders yesterday accused the Bush administration of incompetence and a lack of compassi…
1:03 pm
Institutional Racism
We have heard plenty about institutional racism over the last couple of weeks and within this article I will show that it does exist and is well ingrained into our society.
12:00 pm
As a black man who lived through the Jim Crow era, and served in the armed forces in the 60’s and 70’s, I have observed the gradual sellout of the black community to the shallow promises of the democratic party. It seems to me that Katrina brings to light the result of those promises. Granted, most blacks are hard working and productive citizens, who love their country; but many of these people have been misled by so-called “black leaders”(ie, Jesse Jackson, A. Sharpton), who’s main (but not only) agenda, is for personal gain. The predominate municipal authorities in New Orleans are black and therefore; responsibility for proper initial preparation, warning, and evacuation belongs to them; beginning with Mayor Nagin. As an elected official and resident of New Orleans he should know not just what his resources are but the status of his people and their capabilities. The fact that so many New Orleaneans are poor or homeless was KNOWN more to him than to President Bush. The fact of race is irrelevant. As Mayor he could have commandeered public buses, school buses,and city vehicles to assist in an evacuation. If done early enough(1-3 days),more than one trip per vehicle could have been achieved. I speak from experience, as a commander in the military I made a decision to remove my men from harms way even though my superiors were against it. Nothing happened and I was reprimanded for my actions, but as a leader I made timely decision and accepted the consequences. By the way 90 percent of my troops were white. Finally, let me say that President Bush has his faults but, the constitution guarantees(10th amendment) that each state(in this case Louisiana)is sovereign, (within limits), and therefore the Mayor of N.O. and Governor of Louisiana must act first with their resources in a state crisis
6:03 pm
MINE EYES HAVE SEEN NO GLORY
Mine eyes have seen no glory in the flood of New Orleans;
Where the weak and poor among us lost their lives and dignity;
My heart cries out in anguish at the misery I’ve seen;
Whose truth is marching on?
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Whose truth is marching on?
I have watched them wade deaths waters stunned in disbelief;
I have seen them lose their faith and hope and labeled refugees;
I have asked myself this question is this the land of liberty;
Whose truth is marching on?
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Whose truth is marching on?
I have read the fiery gospel writ by God’s own hand I’m told;
Do unto the least of these as you’d do unto your own;
What will we tell our children when they ask us what went wrong;
Whose truth is marching on?
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Whose truth is marching on?
We stand on gilded boxes and scream out to the world;
We are the righteous people and this God’s golden shore;
But our actions speak out louder than our shouted words;
Whose truth is marching on?
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Whose truth is marching on?
In times of tribulations our people always lend a hand;
With a glory in the giving that transfigures every man;
But what happened to our leaders whose hands our fates are in;
Whose truth is marching on?
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Whose truth is marching on?
Words by Gene Cheek with deepest apologies to Julia W Howe (1861)
2:22 am
Download free ringtones….
Free ringtones. Verizon wireless ringtones. Ringtones….