Black Commentator: "I don't know this God"

[chomskysright]

http://www.blackcommentator.com/149/149_think_wise_new_orleans.html

"....But I'm not wrong, am I Chip? I know you. I see people like you all the time, in airports, in business suits, on their lunch breaks. People who will take advantage of any opportunity to ratify and reify their pre-existing prejudices towards the poor, towards black folks. You see the same three video loops of the same dozen or so looters on Fox News and you conclude that poor black people are crazy, immoral, criminal.

You, or others quite a bit like you, are the ones posting messages on chat room boards, calling looters sub-human "vermin," "scum," or "cockroaches." I heard you use the word "animals" three times today: you and that woman across from you – what was her name? Skyler?

What was it you said as you scooped the last bite of black beans and rice into your eager mouth? Like zoo animals? Yes, I think that was it.

Well Chuck, it's a free country, and so you certainly have the right I suppose to continue lecturing the poor, in between checking your Blackberry and dropping the kids off at soccer practice. If you want to believe that the poor of New Orleans are immoral and greedy, and unworthy of support at a time like this – or somehow more in need of your scolding than whatever donation you might make to a relief fund – so be it.

But let's leave God out of it, shall we? All of it.

Your God is one with whom I am not familiar, and I'd prefer to keep it that way.

Tim Wise is the author of White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son (2005: Soft Skull Press). He lived in New Orleans from 1986-1996. He can be reached at [e-mail].

[bumblebee1]

1. Wow!!!

Just read the whole editorial. It was right to the point and a great read. I recommend everyone at DU give this one a read.

[NVMojo]

2. fecking right on!!!!

[Contrary1]

3. Amen.

[NVMojo]

4. Amen and kick!!!

[bobbieinok]

5. wow is right.....'imagine what you would do in their place'

Can you even imagine what you would do in their place?

Can you imagine what would happen if it were well-off white folks stranded without buses to get them out, without nourishment, without hope?

Putting aside the absurdity of the imagery--after all, such folks always have the means to seek safety, or the money to rebuild, or the political significance to ensure a much speedier response for their concerns – can you just imagine?

Can you imagine what would happen if the pampered, overfed corporate class, which complains about taxes taking a third of their bloated incomes, had to sit in the hot sun for four, going on five days? Without a Margarita or hotel swimming pool to comfort them I mean?

[NVMojo]

6. I can't imagine because it just wouldn't be allowed to go on for as

long as it has for the poor from LA...

[Island Blue]

7. That was righteous!

Thanks so much for posting. I'll be passing that one along to others!

[Bluesplayer]

8. but then again

Black or white, we're all Bush's niggers now.

[izzie]

9. Why do they think God will for ever forgive them for their endless sins?

You ask forgiveness and DO NOT do it another time. These people seem to be clueless just like the Bush's. Just what are they reading from the Bible? It is like they really missed what JC was getting at.

[Paradise]

10. Religion, at its f i n e s t !

:sarcasm:

[hippywife]

11. His other article on this disaster is great, too!

Of Disasters, Natural or Otherwise
http://www.lipmagazine.org/~timwise/Katrina1.html

His website:

www.timwise.org

I just reserved his book, White Like Me, Reflections on Race From A Priviledged Son" at the library. Wish he was coming to lecture in this area. He is phenominal!

[mzteris]

12. YES!!!

This perfectly captures the anger I feel at the b@st@rds who keep going on and on about "those people." Especially the ones that have created "God" in their own "lily-white" image and claim "God" as their own private property.