[xmca] Re: Katrina and Tsunami and Iraq

From: David Daniel Preiss Contreras (davidpreiss@puc.cl)
Date: Sun Sep 04 2005 - 12:14:39 PDT


Well. I have also heard voices in the media calling for Oil explotation in
Alaska!

david

Shirley Franklin writes:

> This public outrage and expose seems to be one of the very few positive
> outcomes of this man-made disaster.
> So many more Americans must have become politicised than after 9.11?
> Shirley
> On 3 Sep 2005, at 21:45, Mike Cole wrote:
>
>> The Iraq/Katrina connections are in wide currency in local media
>> coverage as well, Shirley. Many unvoiceable thoughts by unhearable
>> people have exploded all over the US media, along with predictable
>> moves to restore ideological as well as physical order.
>>
>> On 9/3/05, Shirley Franklin <s.franklin@dsl.pipex.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Our impression here in the UK is that people are very much relating
>>> the disgusting neglect by the Bush Government of those hit by the
>>> hurricane to the war and occupation of Iraq.
>>> The Daily Mirror, a tabloid daily newspaper, published this today:
>>> (Shirley Franklin)
>>>
>>> 3 September 2005
>>> MICHAEL MOORE: DEAR MR BUSH
>>> Dear Mr Bush,
>>> Any idea where all our helicopters are? It's Day 5 of Hurricane Katrina
>>> and thousands remain stranded in New Orleans and need to be airlifted.
>>> Where on earth could you have misplaced all our military choppers? Do
>>> you need help finding them? I once lost my car in a Sears parking lot.
>>> Man, was that a drag.
>>> Also, any idea where all our National Guard soldiers are? We could
>>> really use them right now for the type of thing they signed up to do
>>> like helping with national disasters. How come they weren't there to
>>> begin with?
>>> Last Thursday I was in south Florida and sat outside while the eye of
>>> Hurricane Katrina passed over my head. It was only a Category 1 then
>>> but it was pretty nasty. Eleven people died and, as of today, there
>>> were still homes without power. That night the weatherman said this
>>> storm was on its way to New Orleans. That was Thursday! Did anybody
>>> tell you? I know you didn't want to interrupt your vacation and I know
>>> how you don't like to get bad news. Plus, you had fundraisers to go to
>>> and mothers of dead soldiers to ignore and smear. You sure showed her!
>>> I especially like how, the day after the hurricane, instead of flying
>>> to Louisiana, you flew to San Diego to party with your business peeps.
>>> Don't let people criticize you for this - after all, the hurricane was
>>> over and what the heck could you do, put your finger in the dike?
>>> And don't listen to those who, in the coming days, will reveal how you
>>> specifically reduced the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for New
>>> Orleans this summer for the third year in a row. You just tell them
>>> that even if you hadn't cut the money to fix those levees, there
>>> weren't going to be any Army engineers to fix them anyway because you
>>> had a much more important construction job for them - BUILDING
>>> DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ!
>>> Advertisement
>>> On Day 3, when you finally left your vacation home, I have to say I was
>>> moved by how you had your Air Force One pilot descend from the clouds
>>> as you flew over New Orleans so you could catch a quick look of the
>>> disaster. Hey, I know you couldn't stop and grab a bullhorn and stand
>>> on some rubble and act like a commander in chief. Been there done that.
>>> There will be those who will try to politicize this tragedy and try to
>>> use it against you. Just have your people keep pointing that out.
>>> Respond to nothing. Even those pesky scientists who predicted this
>>> would happen because the water in the Gulf of Mexico is getting hotter
>>> and hotter making a storm like this inevitable. Ignore them and all
>>> their global warming Chicken Littles. There is nothing unusual about a
>>> hurricane that was so wide it would be like having one F-4 tornado that
>>> stretched from New York to Cleveland.
>>> No, Mr Bush, you just stay the course. It's not your fault that 30 per
>>> cent of New Orleans lives in poverty or that tens of thousands had no
>>> transportation to get out of town. C'mon, they're black! I mean, it's
>>> not like this happened to Kennebunkport. Can you imagine leaving white
>>> people on their roofs for five days? Don't make me laugh! Race has
>>> nothing - NOTHING - to do with this!
>>> You hang in there, Mr Bush. Just try to find a few of our Army
>>> helicopters and send them there. Pretend the people of New Orleans and
>>> the Gulf Coast are near Tikrit.
>>> Yours, Michael Moore MMFlint@aol.com;
>>> www.MichaelMoore.com<http://www.MichaelMoore.com>
>>> P.S. That annoying mother, Cindy Sheehan, is no longer at your ranch.
>>> She and dozens of other relatives of the Iraqi War dead are now driving
>>> across the country, stopping in many cities along the way. Maybe you
>>> can catch up with them before they get to DC on September 21st.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 3 Sep 2005, at 17:59, David Daniel Preiss Contreras wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Indeed, my humble impression, is that what Madame Katrina made more
>>>> evident is the issue of the lack of social justice. But, from
>>>> compasion to a real endorsement of new policies there is a huge step
>>>> and, my pessimistic prediction, is that, when voting, people will care
>>>> more about taxation and oil prices than social security, education and
>>>> environment. And, who knows, maybe nobody will remember that there is
>>>> a war going on up there in iraq.
>>>> David
>>>> Mike Cole writes:
>>>>> I believe you may be underestimating the situation here, Phil. We all
>>>>> are underestimating..
>>>>> What is needed is a truly many sided account derived from people in
>>>>> many positions. Of which your post and the others on XMCA and other
>>>>> such dicussion groups are some.
>>>>> I have never witnessed American journalists so deeply in sympathy
>>>>> the people they
>>>>> are reporting on. The class and race issues are benig far more widely
>>>>> discussed in a way that the rising price of gasoline has not. Deep
>>>>> questioning of the Bush government
>>>>> has surfaced in very mainstreat media-- The NY Times, this morning,
>>>>> pointed to the tax
>>>>> system and said it is essential to start to think about increasing
>>>>> taxes to pay for governance,
>>>>> broadly speaking. The voices of the poor have, in a very rare
>>>>> moment, been loudly and clearly heard. The middle
>>>>> and upper classes have not been on TV except in the guise of
>>>>> politicians... they got away and
>>>>> while inconvenienced severely, have not undergone the terror and
>>>>> fatigue.
>>>>> You are, of course, entirely correct that such a situation has gone
>>>>> unresolved in the Tsunami zone
>>>>> but that the drama in the US creates forgetting of the
>>>>> still-vicimized survivors of the last great,
>>>>> "natural" disaster. And we can predict the same for the Gulf Coast.
>>>>> Unless there are some fundamental changes in US policies, its
>>>>> governmental general world view, the poor will have again
>>>>> begun to go "of the radar screen" of "society," so that again the
>>>>> head of FEMA will be hear and seen
>>>>> to say that he was not aware that such people existed.
>>>>> Its hard to learn from history when one has a short memory.
>>>>> mike On 9/3/05, Phil Chappell <philchappell@mac.com> wrote:
>>>>>> I in no way wish to detract from the immediate and immense problems
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> the gulf, but I have just spent a couple of days in Phuket, Thailand
>>>>>> (on an educational kind of visit) where thousands died 8 months ago
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> another natural disaster. 8 months on there are dispossessed and
>>>>>> traumatised children who lost all family members, street vendors who
>>>>>> cooked and sold bbq chicken and salad to put their kids through
>>>>>> school
>>>>>> whose carts were destroyed and who are still working out how to
>>>>>> return
>>>>>> to their villages over a 1000 km away, homeless adults wandering
>>>>>> around
>>>>>> with ragbags (a very unusual sight in this international playground
>>>>>> where everyone prospered), and endless, endless, endless restaurants,
>>>>>> bars, and other entertainment joints empty except for the few staff
>>>>>> who
>>>>>> are dozing on tables. The "west" has shunned its former playground.
>>>>>> An
>>>>>> island that once owed its existence to the various fishing
>>>>>> communities,
>>>>>> many nomadic, that plied its waters; a playground that now owes its
>>>>>> existence to western "fly and flop" tourism, and James Bond. The 4
>>>>>> and 5-star hotels remain unaffected, apart from having no guests.
>>>>>> Several people complained of the government's slowness in providing
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> reconstruction support that they felt was due months ago. And the
>>>>>> government complains that the millions pledged by other countries are
>>>>>> still to be received. I don't have international TV at home, but I
>>>>>> watched it in my hotel in
>>>>>> Phuket. I saw Americans echoing the words of Thais, albeit 8 months
>>>>>> too
>>>>>> early. And I read in a local English rag the complaints that "the
>>>>>> Bush
>>>>>> government is spending all its money on the war in Iraq and doesn't
>>>>>> have enough to support this latest disaster". (I didn't bring the
>>>>>> article back with me and it's not available electronically). My hope
>>>>>> is that the spin can stop for long enough to help those who
>>>>>> need - in the latest gulf area, in Thailand, in Sri Lanka, in Banda
>>>>>> Ache, on the bridge in Iraq............ One poignant moment for me
>>>>>> was the entertainment place (half bar/half
>>>>>> restaurant) that we passed by. A cable tv (cnn) was showing looters
>>>>>> up
>>>>>> to their necks in water. The viewers were slumped on tables asleep -
>>>>>> the wait-staff for the evening, waiting. This is not a terribly
>>>>>> eloquent post, but one I wanted to write as I
>>>>>> ponder humanity's latest issues with nature and itself. And from
>>>>>> another list: "In such a terrible situation as the one that
>>>>>> thousands of people are
>>>>>> experiencing now in the USA, I believe it is not time for refined
>>>>>> exercises of discourse analysis (at least, I would be unable to do
>>>>>> them) that, for the sake of academic "rigor" and self-complacency
>>>>>> (which too often are one and the same issue) would obscure the
>>>>>> fundamental issues at stake in this crisis. The simple issue is that
>>>>>> the bodies and minds of poor people always DIE in greater quantities
>>>>>> and SUFFER more than other economic classes under critical
>>>>>> circumstances. If you have an opportunity, do search for and listen
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> these speeches, for example. I doubt that CNN will make them
>>>>>> available
>>>>>> on line. And to the international academic community (particularly
>>>>>> the US
>>>>>> scholars) I can only suggest, with all due respect and humbleness, to
>>>>>> consider anew or review the role that the material bases of society,
>>>>>> and particularly objects such as "class", "class relations",
>>>>>> "poverty",
>>>>>> or the like, play in the models (?) that inform (?) their respective
>>>>>> forms of discourse analyses." Phil On 03/09/2005, at 2:01 AM, Vera
>>>>>> Steiner wrote: > Hi,
>>>>>>> The only small step that I am aware of is that the U. of New
>>>>>> Mexico is
>>>>>>> letting undergraduates enroll with no
>>>>>>> records and providing them with tuition, etc. But no steps thus
>>>>>> far at
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> graduate level or assistance to researchers,
>>>>>>> Vera
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>> From: "Peg Griffin" <Peg.Griffin@worldnet.att.net>
>>>>>>> To: "'eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity'" <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 10:46 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: RE: [xmca] Hurricane Katrina-LSU Student Relief Fund
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks for the info, David.
>>>>>>>> Do you know if any of the colleges and universities to the south
>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> east
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>> Baton Rouge have any temporary web homes?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Does anyone know of anyone keeping track of ways to work with
>>>>>>>> students,
>>>>>>>> teachers, researchers who have been displaced from the gulf?
>>>>>>>> Is anyone getting a database about displaced doctoral candidates
>>>>>> who
>>>>>>>> need
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> replace months of data collection, students who need certain
>>>>>>>> requirements
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> graduate, junior faculty who have to rewrite their almost finished
>>>>>>>> manuscripts and so on?
>>>>>>>> Is anyone trying to get them together with university people who
>>>>>> can
>>>>>>>> help
>>>>>>>> them work out reasonable next steps?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> So far the evidence from Yale and UC seems to say that those
>>>>>>>> institutions
>>>>>>>> haven't yet recognized they might be the someones with the
>>>>>> expertise
>>>>>>>> to do
>>>>>>>> these sorts of things...
>>>>>>>> PG
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>> From: xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu
>>>>>>>> [mailto:xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu] On
>>>>>>>> Behalf Of David Daniel Preiss Contreras
>>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 11:12 PM
>>>>>>>> To: 'xmca@weber.ucsd.edu'
>>>>>>>> Subject: [xmca] Hurricane Katrina-LSU Student Relief Fund
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> A secular way to help, from the site of
>>>>>> www.lsu.edu <http://www.lsu.edu><http://www.lsu.edu>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> David
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hurricane Katrina-LSU Student Relief Fund
>>>>>>>> Hurricane Katrina has had a terrible effect on our state and
>>>>>> there are
>>>>>>> many
>>>>>>>> LSU students from South Louisiana who could use your help in this
>>>>>>>> time of
>>>>>>>> need. The LSU Foundation's Hurricane Katrina - LSU Student Relief
>>>>>>>> Fund
>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>>> created in response to the far-reaching damage caused by Hurricane
>>>>>>> Katrina,
>>>>>>>> and all donations to this fund will directly assist students whose
>>>>>>>> lives
>>>>>>>> have been greatly affected by the storm.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> To give to the relief fund by credit card, simply fill out the
>>>>>>>> information
>>>>>>>> here. If you would like to donate by check, please make the check
>>>>>>>> payable
>>>>>>>> to the LSU Foundation and indicate on the check that it is
>>>>>> intended
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> LSU Student Relief Fund. You can mail your check to:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hurricane Katrina-LSU Student Relief Fund
>>>>>>>> c/o LSU Foundation
>>>>>>>> 3838 W. Lakeshore Dr.
>>>>>>>> Baton Rouge , LA 70808
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thank you for giving to the LSU Student Relief Fund, and, as
>>>>>> always,
>>>>>>>> thank
>>>>>>>> you for all you do for LSU.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> David D. Preiss
>>>>>>>> home page: http://pantheon.yale.edu/~ddp6/
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
>>>>>>>> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>> David D. Preiss
>>>> home page: http://pantheon.yale.edu/~ddp6/
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> xmca mailing list
>>>> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
>>>> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Shirley Franklin
>>> St Martin's College,
>>> Tower Hamlets PDC,
>>> English Street,
>>> London
>>> E3 4TA
>>> Tel: 0207 364 6334
>>> Mob: 07958 745802
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> xmca mailing list
>>> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
>>> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
> Shirley Franklin
> St Martin's College,
> Tower Hamlets PDC,
> English Street,
> London
> E3 4TA
> Tel: 0207 364 6334
> Mob: 07958 745802
>
> _______________________________________________
> xmca mailing list
> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca
 

David D. Preiss
home page: http://pantheon.yale.edu/~ddp6/
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