General Chat

I have been watching CNN all morning, the reporter was on the phone to someone actually in New Orleans and the chap in New Orleans said that what is happening is Genocide live on tv. At last someone has spoken the real truth.

Husband spitting feathers - CNN - some man and his family have been turned away from centre in Houston as he has a few dollars and has been told to find a hotel. Charity??????????????

I added this on Grampa thread..It's disgraceful!!! Jacquie xxxx

Husband watching BBC news and has exploded - Matt Fry a british reporter who reported on Tsunami - basically is saying these people are the poorest of the poor and without going into a lot of detail looks like genocide. Black woman - ill and distressed went to police car begging for help and was told - get away from the car - get away from the car. Husband says he cannot believe he is seeing what he is seeing in his life time in a so-called civilized country. Ann

Genocide!! sorry I think this a little over the top, what is happening is terrible but to say its being done as an act of 'Genocide' is terrible, the fact is they were totaly unprepared for anything this big, there are poor whites as well!!

Roxanne - agreed.

One would hope that, when this is all over, those responsible right up to 'The Buck Stops Here' Bush, will face charges of Manslaughter by Criminal Negligence.

I believe that unfortunately the poorest of the poor live in these areas irrespective of colour but am told from friend in Alabama that colour prejudice still runs high there - but in the circumstances - colour/creed/finances are irrespective - if in dire need then help should be given. I believe that Linda was only repeating what had been stated on media and certainly my husband was furious at what he had seen and was reported by a BBC reporter. Ann

Roxanne the colour of the skin wasn't mentioned.... I will put another thought into the pot though... Why were they not evacuated before....I know some didn't have vehicles etc.....but a plan should have been in place to make sure they did evacuate... In Cuba - Castro himself goes round ensuring ALL his people are put into shelters!!! They had the time....they are below sea level....they should have known what would happen!!! Jacquie xxxx

Jaqui, so what do they mean by 'Genocide'? 'The South'!! I thought the south was part of the U.S.A, and colour was mentioned in regard to it on another thread!! Roxanne x

Genocide....the deliberate killing of a people or nation...they are all American!! They are all one people!!! On the newscast no mention was made of colour!! I can only conclude that they meant the area they were talking about!! Jacquie xxxx

I don't care what colour their skin is those AMERICAN CITIZENS have been badly let down by those they voted for. How quickly did they get help to San Francisco when they had the earthquake?

Genocide???.Well over the top.This was nature at its worst,and the Lack of preparation for what happened,even though they knew it would and the area is known for such things Albiet not as bad. Remember the 'Police 'and other people have also lost their homes and possibly families. while trying to cope with the 'Looting'Etc which is going on there.People seem to be too Quick to Shout 'Racism' when in fact everyone there is in the same boat,Including some English Students and Tourists. What it needs is for the Government out there to get its act together at this very sad time for these people. Hal.

Its like a horror movie happening in front of us. Its incomprehensible that this could happen in the richest nation in the world, isnt it. And how horrifying that people can degenerate into wild animals so quickly in these circumstances. I saw a man on tv last night with big painted 'Keep out or die' on his house because he said people have been trying to take his food supplies. And a woman was saying 'They are raping babies, they are raping and killing'. What the hell is that about? Remember recently the thread on 'The Last Days'?

Yes the hurricane was nature at its worst but what Bush is now doing is genocide you cannot tell me that he could not have troops in there by now for goodnes sake Wake up and smell the roses!!!!! Listen to the Mayor of New Orleans interview on CNN then you just might agree with me.

On teletext bbc. Tony Blair has said that the UK is ready and willing to assist, but the Foreign Office states that the USA has refused the offer.

Surely this has to be the end of goerge bush, because of the way this has all been handled.Gill

Some comments from around the world. 'I am absolutely disgusted. After the tsunami our people, even the ones who lost everything, wanted to help the others who were suffering,' Sajeewa Chinthaka, Sri Lanka. 'Not a single tourist caught in the tsunami was mugged. Now with all this happening in the U.S. we can easily see where the civilised part of the world's population is.' David Fordham, London, said he had spent time in America and was not surprised the country had struggled to cope. 'Maybe they just thought they could sit it out and everything would be okay,' he said. 'It's unbelievable though -- the TV images -- and your heart goes out to them.' British students caught up in the horror of Hurricane Katrina have spoken of their four days of 'hell' at the New Orleans Superdome shelter. They described how their place of refuge descended into a scene of terror as people ran amok with knives and guns, used crack cocaine and hurled racial abuse. Jamie Trout, an economics student from Sunderland who had been coaching football to disabled children as part of the Camp America scheme, 'It was like something out of Lord of the Flies - one minute everything is calm and civil, the next it descends into chaos.'

Genocide As in Oxford English Dictionary.'Extermination of Race/Nation Etc' Bush is not doing that.Neglect ,Incompetence, Yes . Hal.

I think we will probably find that the news reporter - was he american - was using the wrong word!