Has Katrina actually helped unite North and South and put issues of poor

[Mr_Spock]

and minorities (and Republican elitism) into the spotlight?

It seems to me that there is a something bigger happening here that we are having trouble seeing right now (understandably), but I just realized that it is quite palpable. I know others have alluded to this in other posts, I just thought I'd write a post specifically to explore this subject.

What are the "accidental" benefits to our country?

If DUers and other liberals have a more favorable view of the south now due to our shared experience due to this disaster, isn't this something to be feared by the Republicans who thrive on dividing us along racial/socioeconomic/Mason-Dixon lines?

What do people think - will there be any long-term easing of tensions between at least Northern and Southern liberals (& maybe even some conservatives seeing the light)?

[niallmac]

1. Don't know. I have heard some pretty hate filled

talking point diatribes against the victims coming from the religious right no less. Maybe I need a better class of acquaintances. I share your hope though!

[Mr_Spock]

2. Well, even their hate may drive more of the "old school" Repukes from Bush

Ya know what I mean? We just had a Free Republic convert post for the first time today in fact. They were disgusted at the censorship of the media and likely had enough of the blatant bigotry to boot. I think there may be cause for a bit of optimism here...

[niallmac]

4. Whoa! I am impressed! n/t

[melody]

3. that is something a friend of mine who is helping at a shelter pointed out

One of the black ladies there commented that she had never been treated so kindly for so long by so many people of every ethnicity and background, simply because she doesn't see many of them where she lives. She said it was really eye-opening to her that so many people actually give a damn about all life, not just real or potential white Republican wealthy life. It really shook my friend up and gave her an insight to life from a black perspective.

[Erika]

7. Yeah, democrats are there to help

rather than assume Blacks are fraudulent as the leaders of the GOP do. We've all been painted with that vitriolic brush of the right wingers.

[DanCa]

5. I hope it does that for the environmental issues

we'll see the next time the rethugs trot out abortion and gay marriage.

[Mr_Spock]

8. Oh yeah!!! I almost forgot all the implications for environmental action!

Thanks for reminding me!

Let's hope this is a small silver lining to this AWFUL tragedy.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

6. I saw someone post on some forum "I'm sorry I voted Bush" re: Katrina.

They posted it on a British forum and people jumped on him for having been that stupid.

[preciousdove]

9. Babs Quote outraged middle America but scared the H out of the survivors.

Her quote the publicity on the relocation camps AND the deaths, and the people being sent without regard to family groups or locations two days ago. Was that the plan B? They have been disappearing from shelters all over the south and not showing up at any in the North all day. Fema and the RC are not moving anyone it is all private initiatives at this moment.

[Erika]

10. Yes, thousands upon thousands have not been heard from

[Mr_Spock]

11. Babs, Oh Babs, what the HECK was she thinking? Damned elitism

just flowing off of her tongue. This is why the talking points are always so simpleton - these people quickly get off message when they try to "wing" it! That is, the truth comes out when they forget they are supposed to lie - constantly...

[DanCa]

13. Do you think Babs giving birth to chimpy screwed up her moral compass?

Seriously she must have been on something to raise America's version of Uday and Kussay.

[txindy]

12. A bit, although I've found many here to be disappointing

There are stereotypes about Southerners here that get posted regularly. So, if members of DU, of all places, can't get past an image in their minds and find the real people behind it, I don't know that there's much hope for anyone else, either. Maybe some of those remarks are flamebait. Maybe not. They've certainly helped bring some of the Southern posters closer together, I can say that. Even many of those from the North who were transplanted down here at some time find the sterotyping of Southerners offensive. Yet it goes on like clockwork.

So, right now, no, I don't think there will be any long-term easing of anything until the neocons are long gone. Perhaps not even then. They aren't the ones doing the perpetuating here, after all.

[Mr_Spock]

14. Well, my personal view of the South has been changed - forever

I've been one of those guilty of repeating the stereotypes about Southerners - I may still hit the right-wing fundies hard, but I'm going to do my best to leave the North vs. South embellishments on the sideline. There are times where discussing stereotypes is important though...

[txindy]

19. True, discussing is good and there have been viewpoints changed

Although trying to discuss certain things with some people makes them go ballistic, yet they'll turn right around and do the exact same thing to someone else while demanding, "What are you so sensitive about?!" :eyes:

In my previous post, my thoughts were of Cindy in Crawford when she had troubles with the neighbor and then the fundie who ran over the crosses. This board lit up with posts saying "Well, what do you expect? He's a Texan, etc., etc." Meanwhile, Cindy is surrounded and cared for at Camp Casey by Texans! Even the local police became very protective of her. I swear people who post just don't think sometimes. Yet they come back again and again with the same thing. It gets old.

The fundies, though, are on their own. Don't hold back! ;) Nobody needs an American Taliban ruling through religion.

[Mr_Spock]

21. I think part of the problem is where the majority of the most offensive

fundies live. The "church on every corner" posts that also get into the shunning involved for people who don't fit into that culture. Do people go overboard? Yes. Is part of the going overboard an attempt to "ball together" entire areas to make a point? Yes, it's not a nice thing to do, but many of the people who do it don't intend to be offensive - heck, I've been one of those people at times. It's the rabid hatred of the fundie bigots that gets misapplied to ALL southerners that is unfortunate - but know that nobody means to offend - we are very much influenced by southern politics in this country and a lot of us in the north really hate this "gotta find a southern candidate to win" crap. Imagine how we feel...

[kerry-is-my-prez]

15. It helped with about 5% of the population. It has sent me over the edge.

I hate this country now - before I only disliked it.

[Mr_Spock]

17. 5% in favor of Dems would give us our country back

I hope we can see an effect measured in percent - especially if it is +Democrat.

[Lorien]

16. I don't know. I read Oprah's message boards last night and was

horrified by the hate and propaganda filled RW rants posted by Bible thumping bigots (who accused Oprah or racism). I don't think any more will come from this than came from Abu Graib, the DSM, Traitorgate or any other inhuman form of treason committed by these thugs. America is lost and the fascists have won. :-(

[Mr_Spock]

18. I'm not so sure. There is a drip, drip drip effect happening now

(analogy to flooding unintentional).

The fact that they are going out of their way to spew this hate is indicative of their fear. They ARE scared now - and I think for good reason as well...

Please pray that I am right!


Edit - uggh, spelling :(

[Lorien]

23. I DO pray that you are right

and that I'm wrong; about this, about global warming, about the coming elections...all of it.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

20. Hopefully, maybe the media will keep on fighting.....

I know, I know - when pigs fly.

[Mr_Spock]

22. This may have legs that force the media to stick with it

This isn't a "scandal" of anything like that - this is a real story about humanity and how we treat ALL of WE THE PEOPLE. This is shaping up as a battle for America.