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By Jeff Morganin·fi·del [in-fi-dl, -del] a person who disbelieves or doubts a particular theory, belief, creed, etc.; skeptic.
Welcome to this my first blog post at Media Infidel.
The events of the past few days have been unbelievable to say the least. I say I can’t believe what has happened in New Orleans and the surrounding areas, but really I guess in a way I’m not surprised at all. What has happened is an outrage that seems to have exposed the ugly under-belly of US culture, particularly with regards to race, classism, and economic and political inequality.
We’ve all heard the voices of anger at this point and the many valid criticisms of the Bush administration. We know of the cut funds for raising the levees. Most of us are familiar with the criminal negligence of the Bush administration in their dealing with this crisis. We are aware of the cronyism that put the former head of International Arabian Horse Association – from which he was forced to resign – in charge of FEMA. By this time, we know these things and so much more. But I think we should take a different but related point of departure regarding Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. If we, if only for a moment, avoid focusing on political personalities (Bush and co.) and examine a few of the cultural and institutional causes and consequences of this event, then we will in my opinion be better situated to critique any underlying reasons for how everything has unfolded.
Sometimes blaming our already despised political opponents, while often valid and necessary, we avoid an inward gaze that might include ourselves in the criticism. Making it simply the fault of Bush and his cronies lets us off the hook. But could there be something about our culture and us within it that contributed to the horror in New Orleans? Were we all quick to respond and demand immediate action? If not, why not? Everyone no doubt has there own experience with what has happened and only they know the answer to this. But it’s difficult to ignore a core thread of racism in this country. Most people here seemed more willing to see the victims suffering in this classic southern city as being looters and gangmembers, criminals out to rape and pillage. They fit the profile we see again and again in our films and television; these were the people we’ve seen so many times on Cops. They dominate our nightly news with stories of violence and criminality. They are thugs deserving of what happens. I am shamed to admit that so many white americans I’ve talked to during the past week have essentially voiced exactly this sentiment. And it’s this automatic, ideological-based reaction that is at the root of the slow and discompassionate reaction to the horror that has befallen New Orleans.
Certainly some of white america was outraged from the beginning but I’m pointing here at the general majority, those that make up the bulk. We all have to look honestly at ourselves and dig up the racist and classist (because the two are tied in this country) ideologies that have been embedded in our psyches for countless years. We must do this if we want to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again.
fɪWelcome to this my first blog post at Media Infidel.
The events of the past few days have been unbelievable to say the least. I say I can’t believe what has happened in New Orleans and the surrounding areas, but really I guess in a way I’m not surprised at all. What has happened is an outrage that seems to have exposed the ugly under-belly of US culture, particularly with regards to race, classism, and economic and political inequality.
We’ve all heard the voices of anger at this point and the many valid criticisms of the Bush administration. We know of the cut funds for raising the levees. Most of us are familiar with the criminal negligence of the Bush administration in their dealing with this crisis. We are aware of the cronyism that put the former head of International Arabian Horse Association – from which he was forced to resign – in charge of FEMA. By this time, we know these things and so much more. But I think we should take a different but related point of departure regarding Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. If we, if only for a moment, avoid focusing on political personalities (Bush and co.) and examine a few of the cultural and institutional causes and consequences of this event, then we will in my opinion be better situated to critique any underlying reasons for how everything has unfolded.
Sometimes blaming our already despised political opponents, while often valid and necessary, we avoid an inward gaze that might include ourselves in the criticism. Making it simply the fault of Bush and his cronies lets us off the hook. But could there be something about our culture and us within it that contributed to the horror in New Orleans? Were we all quick to respond and demand immediate action? If not, why not? Everyone no doubt has there own experience with what has happened and only they know the answer to this. But it’s difficult to ignore a core thread of racism in this country. Most people here seemed more willing to see the victims suffering in this classic southern city as being looters and gangmembers, criminals out to rape and pillage. They fit the profile we see again and again in our films and television; these were the people we’ve seen so many times on Cops. They dominate our nightly news with stories of violence and criminality. They are thugs deserving of what happens. I am shamed to admit that so many white americans I’ve talked to during the past week have essentially voiced exactly this sentiment. And it’s this automatic, ideological-based reaction that is at the root of the slow and discompassionate reaction to the horror that has befallen New Orleans.
Certainly some of white america was outraged from the beginning but I’m pointing here at the general majority, those that make up the bulk. We all have to look honestly at ourselves and dig up the racist and classist (because the two are tied in this country) ideologies that have been embedded in our psyches for countless years. We must do this if we want to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again.
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