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Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 3:19pm.
'We called it Hurricane FEMA'
The rest of the article can be found here.
What stood out for me was the neighbors' reactions to the FEMA camps. These weren't your "standard" homeless camps, they were people displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Not people whose drug and alcohol lifestyle took over their lives, not people too lazy to get a job. Not registered sex offenders unable to find a place to live.
They were normal people made homeless by a natural disaster, an Act of God if you well, and communities did not want this "blight" in their backyard.
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I'm not going to get into a
Submitted by Rob Richards on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 8:32am.I also want to state, again, if Merwyn Haskett were saying these kinds of things about blacks, or mexicans, or gays, he would be asked to stop by more than just me. Instead, it's allowed to continue, maybe because houseless people aren't considered "normal".
“One man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable stars; and the world was better for this.
WHOA! EASY! What the Hell's
Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 8:52am.Did you even bother to read? What the f- did I say that was so wrong? Does your hatred for me not thinking 100% like you cloud your vision?
I linked to an article.
I pointed out that there are people who don't want anyone homeless placed near them for any reason. If I didn't express my disgust for those NIMBYs clearly enough I apologize. I was in complete support of the people being displaced again.
You and I both know what the stereotypes are. In the case of the displaced victims of Katrina it's obvious that those stereotypes don't apply, yet Average Homeowners are still fearful of "vagrants" stealing from them, being a danger to the children, and "worst of all" lowering the property values.
Note my usage of quotes to show that I'm not expressing my personal belief.
This post was supposed to be made in outrage against Lucky Complacent Americans who crap all over people less fortunate then them. It shows that even if all those stereotypes are eliminated you'll still have elitists.
In the article it said that Homeowners were taken care of with emergency loans but not renters. There's classism for you. I'm a former homeowner now just barely renting. I guess I'll have to quit my job, give up the bennies and retirement that I just now became qualified for, and be homeless in order to not be your definition of Classist.
Your words:
Submitted by Rob Richards on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 8:58am."not people too lazy to get a job"
"They were normal people "
When I see or hear comments like this what am I supposed to think? If you were being sarcastic, it doesn't show through.
And no, I don't hate you for thinking differently than me, that would be stupid.
“One man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable stars; and the world was better for this.
"These weren't your
Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 9:18am.They're not. Remember, I don't have a problem with homeless camps per se. I was in complete support of Tent City, and still am outside of one or two points. FEMA camps are set up for people who have all lost their homes at once due to disaster. There should be no reason to fear the make-up of those camps. Granted there shouldn't be reason to fear the make-up of any camp but I'm going based on average perceptions.
"They were normal people "
They were. What's wrong with that. Again, it goes back to the idea that people will believe what they want. It's already wrong to make assumptions that a homeless person is lazy, drunk, high, perverted, etc. What the NIMBY reaction to Katrina's victims prove is that if a person's home gets washed away in a flood many people will automatically believe that they are suddenly lazy, drunk, high, perverted, etc.
"not people too lazy to get a job"
Back to that one eh? You never did give me an answer on why someone who wasn't a junkie, wasn't a felon and wasn't disabled, doesn't need to even try to find a job, and doesn't need to accept anything to get their foot in the door.
If you can give me some valid reasons then I'm there.
If you were being sarcastic, it doesn't show through.
I was being sarcastic in places, mainly by expressing what the NIMBY's are thinking. Most people know where I stand on homelessness. I want programs that will help those who can't help themselves, and assist those who can until they're on their feet. I don't automatically fear them, I'd feel perfectly fine if my home was next door to Quixote. People say the homeless are represented by junkies, offenders and thieves. I say that while it's unfortunately true that some represent that the same can be said for people with homes. Not counting our disagreements concerning Quixote's proposed future the only thing we seem not to see eye to eye on is the obligation of the able-bodied to at least try.
Honestly, the normal person
Submitted by Rob Richards on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 10:04am.“One man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable stars; and the world was better for this.
If you'll check out my reply
Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 6:07pm.I wasn't trying to imply that I personally think of homeless people as abnormal. I understand how you might have thought so, not realizing I was parroting thoughts of others, and for that I apologize.
Merwyn, above all I strive
Submitted by Rob Richards on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 10:50am.“One man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable stars; and the world was better for this.
Rob -It's not like I've
Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 11:58am.It's not like I've never gone off on people, or exaggerated their faults when I was upset. No worries.
One of these days I'll be in town and can buy you a PRB. Josh Carbomb was surprised that I hadn't met you already.
Josh Bomb
Submitted by Rob Richards on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 6:57pm.Weird
Submitted by Norm on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 5:20pm.Olyblog ate my post.
I'm going to give Merwyn the benefit of the doubt here. I'm thinking that he used the terms above without realizing the harm that it might do.
Merwyn, I would suggest that if you want people to read this and not be offended that maybe you should throw out some of the terms you are using. Some of the things you said (Rob's quotes above) were a little inflammatory, and although you may not have meant them this way, they are being read this way. Just a suggestion.
Norm..
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 5:26pm.The unemployed should be given the benefit of the doubt too..
Its no joke..
I mean, you just have not lived until you have witnessed an illiterate person end up homeless because they couldnt find a job..
Bub...
Submitted by Norm on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 9:33am.I don't think it's a joke. I was just trying to smoothe things out a bit.
I watched my brother struggle through school all of his life because of learning problems (reading included). He does ok now, but still can't tell time, among other things.
When I wrote the above I wasn't going on the idea that Merwyn was joking around, maybe he was, I've been wrong before.
FYI I was unemployed for a year in my 20's because I was either underqualified for the job, or overqualified for the job. Not a fun time, luckily I had very supportive family members.
If I didn't have family I'd
Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 9:38am.I haven't taken into consideration people who are illiterate. And I also, after reading the article I linked to, realize that I hadn't been taking into account homeless parents who have nowhere to take their kids.
If Rob, Bubba or Phil could have given me some of those newer examples when I was asking for them instead of ignoring me while going on about my classism and my need to get a rise out of people we would have gotten somewhere.
Fine.Perhaps I should have
Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 9:34am.Perhaps I should have said that the people were junkies, that they were lazy, that they were sex offenders. Because when I say that they aren't people's feelings get hurt.
I don't know what I'm supposed to make of that.
Im not trying to harsh here..
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 9:38am.Its just personally difficult for me to read flippant comments like those stated above..
I'm not trying to be harsh here
Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 9:46am.And it's difficult for me to play nice when reactive people accuse me of something that's not true. Again, I wasn't saying that homeless are lazy-high-dangerous etc. But that's the stereotype that communities are believing, and the article showed that even when you know the people's true reason for being in their position the stereotypes will take over anyway.
Tell me, how would you have summarized the various communities perceptions of the FEMA camps? Because when I say "The homeless are people too and should have the same rights as you or I" I'm going to find out I've offended somebody.
It's not what you say, it's
Submitted by Norm on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 9:59am.It's not what you say, it's the way you say it.
"These people were not homeless due to the usual circumstances, not that the usual circumstances change the severity of homelessness. These people were homeless due to a natural disaster."
Same message conveyed (or similar) without going into details that might offend. Anyway, just suggestions Merwyn, I'm not the Olyblog deputy, I just wanted to help out.
Fair enough, perhaps I could
Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 10:05am.That's my writing style, there's five years worth of posts on Satanosphere backing that up.
I'm used to reading literature rather than periodicals. My English teachers did their best to help me hone my literary style, not my journalistic style. Maybe next time I'll focus on Who, What, When, Where, Why, How and reserve the meat of my post for my Blogspot.
This "lazy" BS is getting old..
Submitted by bubba z (not verified) on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 9:08am.I had big trouble finding work during many times in my life (been working since I was 14) because of lack of education or credentials, a bad job market, lack of reliable transportation, having to attend to sick relatives, bad job market, etc..
None of which was included above..
I know you are just trying to get a rise out of everyone Merwynn, but its been played out..
FYI..
Oh come on, I wasn't trying
Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 5:27pm.I had big trouble finding work during many times in my life (been working since I was 14) because of lack of education or credentials, a bad job market, lack of reliable transportation, having to attend to sick relatives, bad job market, etc..
That's EXACTLY the same reason (minus sick relatives) that I couldn't find work for a long time. Those examples are the same reason the Katrina survivors aren't finding work. My old man insisted I wasn't even bothering to look and it pissed me off to no end.
If I were posting something on the broad subject of homelessness then I would or should have used your examples. But I posted specifically on Katrina's survivors and on how various communities automatically apply the same stereotypes to them as they would to other homeless camps.
Just because I didn't support Rob's idea of Quixote's future (and specifically how it would be acquired) doesn't mean I'm anti-homeless, and it doesn't mean I'm trying to get a rise out of Olybloggers.
Now that at least some of
Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 12:01pm.It's a little unfair all
Submitted by Norm on Mon, 03/12/2007 - 6:13pm.It's a little unfair all around. FEMA could have handled it better. Local citizens need to handle displaced people better. The infrastructure of the system sounds like a complete F'ing mess. People need to be relocated to a place with a decent job-market for their own well being. New Orleans needs to be locked down until the crime is under control so that some rebuilding can happen, and FEMA needs to be a little more caring and maybe, just maybe, start asking for feedback from the displaced before they make decisions like this.
*steps off his soapbox*
Narrative construction:
Submitted by Mike on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 6:38am.Makes perfect sense to me in
Submitted by Norm on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 8:03am.Makes perfect sense to me in this thread Mike, the other one not so much.
Anyway, now that we are done giving Merwyn a lashing, and he's spent his 5 minutes in the corner, maybe we should focus on the article he posted.
Good deal. I wasn't thinking
Submitted by Mike on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 8:14pm.There's a corollary to narrative construction, that says that what you pay attention to, you will get more of. Jesus put that one this way imho: for him that has, more will be given and for him that has not, even that which he has shall be taken from him. This one puzzled me for a long time until I decided that Jesus was talking about a worldview of abundance as opposed to a worldview of scarcity. As God cares for the lilies of the field and the birds in the air, why would he not also care for each one of us? Even with ownership of nothing, it is possible to have a worldview of abundance.