Question for the Americans here (off topic).

[cartagena]

I know this is very off topic but I do not know too many Americans so I hope someone can answer this.

I saw today on the news that there is flooding in Iowa. As far as I can tell the people are all out helping one another.

I thought when a natural disaster struck the United States is was a tradition to run down to the local Wal-mart and start looting. Where are all the people shooting at the emergency personal? I have not seen even one obese unemployed person blaming Bush.

Is Iowa still part of the Union?

[rick3000]

Iowa is still part of the Union, and there are still good people willing to help each other in the US.
Shooting, looting, and blaming Bush is only required after a natural disaster when people are starving to death.

[cartagena]

Most of the people I saw looting in Louisiana were in excess of 300 pounds and steeling beer. It would seem Iowa is somehow different?


Iowa is still part of the Union, and there are still good people willing to help each other in the US.
Shooting, looting, and blaming Bush is only required after a natural disaster when people are starving to death.

[Jaxonalden]

Well I think I can answer that question for you.

It is true that in the worst of times in our country that certain groups take advantage of the situation and loot, burn, kill, and destroy the very neighborhoods they live in. Then blame the government for their plight because it's easy to point fingers and say "I would do this if I wasn't oppressed". In our country, anyone can do, say and be anything they want as long they set their hearts and minds to. It's those individuals that are weak minded that complain that the government isn't providing enough for them.

In Iowa you'll see strong Americans, Americans that help one another, that work hard to keep their communities a great place to live. Americans that appreciate the work the government does to improve the quality of life for all Americans. There was an article written by Jay Leno (a talk show host here in the U.S.) that I read that will open your eyes as to what Americans enjoy in our country, it should open yours;

Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....


'As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.' The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?


The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''

A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?


Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world
has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.


I know, I know.



What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent
approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?


Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?


Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain O R is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it.

The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable' ' discharge after a few days in the brig.


So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?


Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!


Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornado's, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'


Jay Leno

[husker boxster]

We have what are called "Midwest values" - a strong work ethic and the desire to roll up our sleeves and help each other when there's a disaster. The floods in Iowa are truly a disaster.

[cartagena]

I did read the whole response and it was a nice post. I am surprised it comes from Leno.

My original post was a joke. I was born in Canada. I lived most of my life an hour away from the US border so I have heard about this free speech thing you all practice down there although it is not as common in my former country.


In our country, anyone can do, say and be anything they want as long they set their hearts and minds to.

[LoveBunny]

Most of the people I saw looting in Louisiana were in excess of 300 pounds and steeling beer. It would seem Iowa is somehow different?


Well, you know us New Orleanians do have our priorities! I do believe we are about the only place that has drive-thru Daiquiri shops.

[Jump]

Jay Leno:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp

[skip_168]

I know this is very off topic but I do not know too many Americans so I hope someone can answer this.

I saw today on the news that there is flooding in Iowa. As far as I can tell the people are all out helping one another.

I thought when a natural disaster struck the United States is was a tradition to run down to the local Wal-mart and start looting. Where are all the people shooting at the emergency personal? I have not seen even one obese unemployed person blaming Bush.

Is Iowa still part of the Union?


Hahahahaha.....

[2000SoCalBoxsterS]

Jaxonalden, Great response. Thanks for you reply and the Jay Leno post. America has become a nation of spoiled brats. That's in addition to the certain groups that think the country owes them something. I see the spoiled brats almost everyday in the very affluent town I live in. And I'm talking about the adults.

Quick example, it's about 5:30 PM and traffic in my town is heavy as everyone is heading home from work. I'm driving down a oneway street only about one and a half cars wide. There is a big municipal parking lot one block away on both sides of the street. Yet there is this selfish, lazy A'hole who decides to double park in the street in front of a pizza place and blocking traffic. Rather than park in the lot and walk a block this selfish F' feels that his pizza is more important than the rest of us and we can just sit in traffic until he come out with his pizza. Apparently his pizza wasn't even close to ready because he blocked traffic for about 10 minutes. When he finally came out to all these honking horns and pissed off people he just hopped in his car like nothing ever happend. The hell with everybody else trying to get home from work he needed his pizza and he didn't want to walk more than 6 feet to get it. I see this kind of stuff everyday.

[cartagena]

In this situation you need a big truck, perhaps a Hummer, and just push his vehicle out of the way. :cheers:


Yet there is this selfish, lazy A'hole who decides to double park in the street in front of a pizza place and blocking traffic. Rather than park in the lot and walk a block this selfish F' feels that his pizza is more important than the rest of us and we can just sit in traffic until he come out with his pizza.

[2000SoCalBoxsterS]

In this situation you need a big truck, perhaps a Hummer, and just push his vehicle out of the way. :cheers:

Exactly what I was thinking. I need an old beat-up truck. This guy was driving a very nice expensive car. It would have been fun to squeeze an old pickup past him while putting a huge crease down the side of his car. I just say "Oh sorry about that I was sure I could get past you, guess not. No offense but next time don't block traffic A'hole!" That pizza would cost him big time then. This guy was just the last straw for me. I'll probably get arrested for assault real soon. I wonder if they will give me computer access to 986forum in jail?

[Allen K. Littlefield]

Well, you know us New Orleanians do have our priorities! I do believe we are about the only place that has drive-thru Daiquiri shops.


LoveBunny, maybe you could give us a first hand rundown on all the actions that the City of Nawlens and the State of LA took to handle the problem during Katrina? Since the press has never much mentioned it I was just curious. Did Katrina even hit the neighboring state of Mississippi?

AKL

[porscheracer01]

North America rules!

[porscheracer01]

dude, forget Walmart, I run to the nearest Porsche dealership and get a new ride..

:dance:

[Brucelee]

This thread has certainly garnered some enthusiasm.

It is difficult to generalize about something like America. Fact is, there are over 300 million American citizens here and perhaps another 25 million who are not citizens and not legally residing here.

That said, it is very hard to summarize or typecast this nation. 50 states, all with their own personality and geography. Tons of religions, political parties etc.

Sadly, the media loves to cover the lower end of the food chain and to lead the whinning about how life here isn't perfect.

Hey, I have been to France and it isn't perfect there either. Wow, who would have guessed?

As for me, I want the government to leave me alone and send me my SS check when my time comes. Other than that, i will take care of myself, thanks.

:D

[cartagena]

They are not smart enough to think like that. They just go get them there Nikes and Malt Liquor. After they go sit on their roof shooting at the emergency rescuers so they can later complain that no one saved them and blame it all on Bush.

dude, forget Walmart, I run to the nearest Porsche dealership and get a new ride..

:dance:

[Quickurt]

cartagena, thanks for the help on the pics thread the other day.
What you witnessed in Nawlins, after Katrina, was the net result of decades of liberal welfare statism. The people you refer to were so trained that someone else was always responsible for them, they were no longer capable of even taking action to save their very lives.
Alot of it was also a very sad case of the blatant racism of those same, "good liberals." The stories of shooting at rescuers and the majority of the stories of rape, murder and pillage in the Super Dome and other rescue shelters were super-inflated rumors. There was not a single actual report of shooting at rescuers and there was, I believe, only one actual death at the Super-Dome.
However, because the majority of the people involved were black, the media, or their supposed liberal democrat saviours, never even questioned the exagerated reports. So, who were the real racists in this whole, seemy episode?
Bush's almost entire problem has been his neglect of communicating with the public and allowing the media to always have the upper hand at pointing the finger of blame that most usually should be pointed back at themselves.
We have too many weak minded people in America. They can't seem to remember what happened last week, or whose fault it was. They sure as hell haven't noticed the lack of terror attacks since 2001, so they'll probably elect that moron from Chicago and when he pulls our troops out of the war on terror and invites the cazies in to attack us here, I bet they won't even remember we told them so.
And they'll probably never figure out the media is America's number one enemy.

[turbo23dog]

The rest of the world apparently sees us as having the attention span of a puppy. You have to think longer than 2 NY seconds and you can only conclude they are right.

[csu15919]

dude, forget Walmart, I run to the nearest Porsche dealership and get a new ride..

:dance:


good luck with that...remember...it's a flood.

[jeffsquire]

___________________
As eloquent as it this is, I seriously doubt Jay Leno wrote it.

[gmboxster]

Excellent post JAX ! Thanks so much. As far as the sickening liberal media in this country :barf: As Dennis Miller so often says "I don't want to go on a rant here but....." I'll leave it at that.

Americans are the most spoiled, lazy,ungrateful wimps in the world. It has not always been like that but affluence and prosperity breeds such individuals. Many people think they are entiled to handouts without working hard for it (thank you liberals). As for me, if I work for it I feel better and for those that don't work for it and just complain they dont have it, shut up and stop whining !!

[csu15919]

The more I follow this thread, the funnier it gets. I think the best comments made thus far, are those that relate to the negative images given out by the media. Think about it...we've got this guy from Canada, who creates a thread with intentions on making a joke about how Americans handle a disaster situation (mind you, his facts come from our oh so great media), and we really can't do anything but laugh at ourselves with him.

Is it just me, or does that seem ridiculous (I'm not attacking the OP either)? Rich said it the best, that there's such a huge diversity here in America, that one can only expect wild stuff to happen...but it's the media that exploits that diversity. When the Katrina thing happened...1 levee breaks, a major city is underwater, people fleeing for their lives with the clothes on their backs, old and young people are dying, and for that moment...their lives seemed as if they were ruined. What's the media do? Have news reports classifying these AMERICANS as refugees, and zone in on the handful of people who aren't doing the right thing. You watch the news now, about the Iowa flooding, these people are in SERIOUS danger. There's like 20 or so levees in danger of breaking, 1 of which has already broke. God forbid they all break...the news might just demote these people to refugees also.

I could spend all day on this topic, but I think you guys get the point. Sometimes we're just as bad as the media when we hop on the bandwagon and help spread "their" negative ideas and basically thoughts of hatred for our own people. Jay Leno writes this letter downing people who are frustrated with the government...but look at his position. This man is filthy rich, and is employed by the media! Never once did he give any sort of statistics in his letter like how terrible unemployment rates are, and how sad the housing market has been, and the drastic rises in oil prices, and new increases in food prices. And to get mad at the people who complain about the war isn't fair also. Think about anyone you know in the military and why they're there. There's a large group of individuals who joined just because that seemed like the best financial decision at the time. Some of those individuals have lost their lives....they basically died, just trying to survive. I'll stop now...i'll just add some links

http://duggmirror.com/politics/What_8_Years_of_Bush_and_Cheney_Have_Done_to_the_U_S_Economy/

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/11/beck.foreclosures/index.html

[Brucelee]

It is difficult to generalize about something like "Americans." It is much less difficult to generalize on the way the media tries to portray "reality" for us.

I try not to watch any TV news as it simply is totally biased and generally negative.

These guys don't report, they create.

Might as well be fiction half the time.

[Quickurt]

Might as well be fiction half the time.

You are being far too generous! :eek:

[IowaS]

Didnt read the whole thread but the flooding sucks, and those of us that were in Iowa in 1993 didnt think we would ever see this type of flooding again. Not only was the flooding bad but we have had a couple of severe storms that have leveled towns (Parkersburg) and killed people including 4 boy scouts at a camp in western Iowa.

It is times like this when a RMS leak or a blown engine certainly are put into the proper perspective......

I think in general most of the US is filled with people willing to help a stranger in need. I think some of the images of Americans are biased and stereotypical, similar to what other nations face.

[Quickurt]

IowaS
If there's anything you need, we'll see if we can get it through to you.
I got a mold casting out of Portage, WI Monday, but it wasn't easy, according to my buddy there. He didn't know, on Monday morning, if or when FedEx Freight could get to their plant .
When I went to Portage the first time, we went for a tour on the amphibious "Ducks" at Wisconsin Dells. Last I heard, they were using the ducks for rescue in the flooded areas.
We have hurricanes, here in Florida, but they blow through and are gone. Floods seem to hang around forever.
Good luck buddy.

[IowaS]

IowaS
If there's anything you need, we'll see if we can get it through to you.
I got a mold casting out of Portage, WI Monday, but it wasn't easy, according to my buddy there. He didn't know, on Monday morning, if or when FedEx Freight could get to their plant .
When I went to Portage the first time, we went for a tour on the amphibious "Ducks" at Wisconsin Dells. Last I heard, they were using the ducks for rescue in the flooded areas.
We have hurricanes, here in Florida, but they blow through and are gone. Floods seem to hang around forever.
Good luck buddy.


Thank you sir, all is fine here. Central Iowa has been very lucky compared to other parts of the state. I appreciate the thoughts.

[porscheracer01]

They are not smart enough to think like that. They just go get them there Nikes and Malt Liquor. After they go sit on their roof shooting at the emergency rescuers so they can later complain that no one saved them and blame it all on Bush.



damn,,,who is they?

[LoveBunny]

LoveBunny, maybe you could give us a first hand rundown on all the actions that the City of Nawlens and the State of LA took to handle the problem during Katrina? Since the press has never much mentioned it I was just curious. Did Katrina even hit the neighboring state of Mississippi?

AKL


I actually was living in FL when Katrina hit, but my family evacuated from New Orleans. Yes, it hit MS but the press didn't focus on that as much. We all were basically watching most of the most horrible stuff happen on TV just like the rest of the world was and wondering if my parents' house would have been looted by the time they got back.

[Gary in BR]

I have avoided posting on this thread just to avoid a rehash of opinions on Katrina. Also note the other New Orleans based members have not chimed in except for Love Bunny.

Katrina was bad.

People who live in South East La have known for decades that our state government was using the money for the levees on other programs.

This fact alone sums up the entire Katrina issue.
The state used the money for the levees into other social programs. The people who received the programs are the same ones who lived in the shadows of the levees.

I was in New Orleans the night before the hurricane having a great time in the French Quarter. When I woke up the next morning and saw the path of the Hurricane I GOT OUT. Most people got out. There where many many warnings about getting out of New Orleans but people stayed. The reasons they stayed ranged from protecting their dogs and cats to the horrible realization they had no way out. Some people in the city as I assume people in other large cities do not own cars. Lack of way out...all they could do is stay.

As far as the looting...the first day or so no one knew how bad it was. Most of us thought we made it through the storm pretty well until the levees broke. (some people still say the federal government broke the levees on purpose...did the feds brake the levees in Iowa also?) the looters saw an opportunity to get the new TV and Nike's. After a few days most of the stores where then looted for the food and medicine, I dont think the 1st wave of looters knew how bad it was either.

Everyone seems to have forgotten that everyone I know and I do mean EVERYONE I know in the area worked for weeks and others months in trying to help. People took their own private boats to New Orleans so rescue crews could use them, most of the boat owners never got them back. Medical workers where at shelters for 8 hrs and then at their own hospitals. College students where working in shelters babysitting kids so parents could try to reestablish themselves.

As a business owner I hired 3 people I did not need.

All of us cooked food and took it to the red cross center (a building that was donated for 6 months by a major chain store) here in my little town of Walker to feed workers.

Life changed here in Louisiana. In Baton Rouge we had fuel and food shortages.

But because of some smart moves our government made in rebuilding Louisiana we will be a better place to live in 10 years than we where 10 years ago.

New Orleans still has the scars of Katrina.

I took my family to see a Disney production a few months ago and there are still the markings on flooded out homes of how many dead bodys where found. New Orleans is rebuilding and will be great again. Those of you who read this and are close enough to come to New Orleans come here, enjoy our culture, enjoy our food. See for yourself what we have done since the hurricane.

The weather today is great, I am going for a ride. Maybe to New Orleans for a beer. Thank goodness no RMS issues here :)

[Gary in BR]

Just so we are all on the same page nothing anyone has wriiten on the thread has offended me.

cartagena with his original question did not upset me either, I am trying to get my wife schedule under control so she can go take him up on a free night in his hotel :cheers: She is in Colombia now and will be for a few more weeks.

cartagena if she makes it by I better not catch any pictures of my Colombian next to your car!!! :cheers:

[LoveBunny]

Gary, were you living in NO or did you always live in BR?

The thing I think a lot of people don't realize is that people in New Orleans have been living through hurricane watches and hurricane warnings for years. When I lived with my parents about ten years ago we stayed in town for one of the ones that just about everyone evacuated for. My parents have an old house in an area that never floods so we figured we were safe. The city was like a ghost town though. They actually did evacuate for Katrina, but my mom had to basically force my dad to. And even then about halfway through taking a drive to Zachary which should have taken two hours but took about twelve he started saying he wanted to turn around and go back. So basically what I'm saying is a lot of NO people don't take the hurricane threats that seriously because most people hadn't seen anything really bad in their lifetime. I know I sure hadn't. Nobody expected what happend with Katrina. My famliy took a couple of days' worth of clothing and evacuated in one car with the dog thinking they'd be back soon. They were lucky and only experienced roof damage, but it was still a big ordeal to recover from. They have rental property. While it was all unflooded, there was still some damage and some tenants left and so therefore that is a huge loss of income.

I really hope that now the money will be put into making a better levee system so this won't happen again.

When I was in Tampa I heard people say they didn't understand why money would be put into rebuilding New Orleans. I was just dumbfounded. A lot of people thought that the whole city was just destroyed and that everyone might as well just pack up and leave, which was not the case. And even in the neighborhoods that were horribly damaged, people have history and love their neighborhoods and don't want to let them go that easily.

I agree with Gary that people should come visit New Orleans and see why it's so special. I believe the reason the city was able to survive is all the people who love it.

[Gary in BR]

I lived in New Orleans actually Terrytown, until I was 12 and since then Baton Rouge and Lafayette then back to BR. I am in New Orleans at least every other week and consider it my second home.

I married my wife there, and we honeymooned in New Orleans. My next office will be in the New Orleans area and I look forward to being there more often.

Ever since I made my post I have thought about other things.
The news media focused on the bad, not the people helping. People helped. People came from all over the country to help.

[Gary in BR]

I haved edited LoveBunnys post alot to make my point, please see her original post.


The thing I think a lot of people don't realize is that people in New Orleans have been living through hurricane watches and hurricane warnings for years. When I lived with my parents about ten years ago we stayed in town for one of the ones that just about everyone evacuated for. My parents have an old house in an area that never floods so we figured we were safe. The city was like a ghost town though. They actually did evacuate for Katrina, but my mom had to basically force my dad to. And even then about halfway through taking a drive to Zachary which should have taken two hours but took about twelve he started saying he wanted to turn around and go back. So basically what I'm saying is a lot of NO people don't take the hurricane threats that seriously because most people hadn't seen anything really bad in their lifetime. I know I sure hadn't. Nobody expected what happend with Katrina.


The city made it through the hurricane, it missed New Orleans. As usual the hurricane did not warrant the evacuation. The bursting, overflowing levees with the broken pumps did warrant the evacuation. If the levees would have held it would have been a non event.

[LoveBunny]

Yes, of course the media focused on the horrible things and not all of the people who just lived their lives and helped others and survived. I actually was able to get in touch with my parents' neighbor online through a message board and he was working all the whole time and going to check on our neighborhood every so often. He worked for a hospital in IT so couldn't leave. We were hearing all of the stories of looting from the media, and basically the worst thing that happened in our immediate area was that a power pole fell, but it even missed both houses and fell inbetween.