SwiftVets.com

[GenrXr]

Reading the newspapers one cannot help but notice the racial and socio-economic statistics of those affected by Katrina in the gulf coast region. We are being told again and again how the chaos is a result of poverty and the people being abandoned by their government. We should be hearing how the chaos is a result of these peoples lack of character. They are a product of decades of government interference within the social framework of the nuclear family. Progressive policies have created the devalued worth of a man within the family unit, an attitude women and blacks are always victimized and the government knows best how to raise children. This has left us with a society where it is acceptable to abort over 30 million babies in the last 40 years, raise children as single parents and divorce at a 50 percent rate.

Unfortunately, just today Representative John Sweeney (R-N.Y.) suggested Giuliani, former secretary of state Colin Powell or retired Gen. Tommy Franks to take charge of the relief efforts. Should any of these three lead the relief efforts or this is just a sophist remark typical of politicians today? Colin Powell is definitely ‘affable’ as so well put by Wyatt Earp in describing Bat Masterson in the movie Wyatt Earp, but this is the very problem with a man like Powell. Powell is a politician and we need a leader being decisive in dealing with the iniquitous element which has taken over in New Orleans. Giuliani is looked upon as a decisive leader due to his competent handling of the September 11 crisis, yet he lacks chivalry and my trust. He is a man who cheated on his wife and later married his mistress. Hardly the principles we should look for in a person to lead something of this magnitude. Hell, I wouldn’t even trust the guy as a friend, let alone to care for the lives of countless people and the purse strings to 500 billion dollars in relief money. We should demand more then just performance from our leaders. We should demand exemplary character as well as performance excellence. I view them as one in the same, but it is a sign of our times that they must be addressed as mutually exclusive. General Franks is a man of character and showed his competence in executing the Afghanistan campaign, yet this is a man who has been retired for several years now. Was he consulted prior to Mr. Sweeney throwing his name into the circle? Doubt it. Besides, why should we always throw known names to the public in times of crisis? We would be best served if our politicians actually asked the NCO’s and Lower ranked officers who was up to the task and got that guy in there and quick. Sorry ladies no time for tantrums or tears over the next six months.

Already we have witnessed both the Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor break down into tears and throw tantrums. This is after only one week. For those of you who think I am being insensitive lets look at an individual who kept his composure for 685 days while leading 27 stranded men off Antarctica to safety. His men man-hauled two twenty foot boats from the Endurance over ice then sailed them through the treacherous Weddell Sea waters till they reached Elephant Island. At this camp site Ernest Shakleton decided to take 5 of his men and travel through the dangerous waters 800 miles to the whaling station on South Georgia. A month long voyage in a 20 foot open boat through waters which humble boats ten times her size. After reaching South Georgia they discovered the whaling station was on the other side of the mountainous island. They then had to mountaineer 17 miles by dead reckoning over mountains never climbed to the whaling station. After Shakleton finally made it to the whaling station it took him 3 attempts before finally reaching his stranded crew on Elephant Island. In the end all 27 of Shakleton’s crew survived the 685 day ordeal. How does a man lead a failed expedition to safety with such success? How does he handle a near mutiny without killing the mutineer? He was able to achieve the impossible through strength of character. Although he was uncommon even during his day, people of great character were not and even today I would argue there are many Shakletons alive and in our midst. These are the people we should be anxious to lead the New Orleans disaster. Both Republicans and Democrats are to blame for a very poor handling of the effort so far, but it is the Democrats who have created our nanny state which has resulted in far fewer Shakletons being alive today and we accept people of poor character in positions of power. We should demand more of not only our elected leaders, but their policies as well. We should demand even more from our fellow citizens. Shakleton kept his men alive for 685 days and within 1 day we have people in New Orleans giving up on life if their nanny isn’t there to carry them out. Is there genuine need by many? Of course there is, but we can also ask ourselves if we as a society are fulfilling our obligations to our country. We can become better people and exhibit greater character. We can throw away our cradle to grave care mentality and require more self-reliance. It is our duty as citizens to view the people causing further misery upon the weak in New Orleans not through the myopic lens of poor or black, but weak or strong character. It is necessary for us to shame all who would prey on those too weak to survive and demand Shakleton strength of character out of all who can help themselves. We may not get Shakleton, but at least we won’t end up with a Giuliani or Powell leading the relief effort and we will shame those animals for the animals they are and not treat them as poor or black.
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"An activist is the person who cleans up the water, not the one claiming its dirty."
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing." Edmund Burke (1729-1797), Founder of Conservative Philosophy

[Ohio Voter]

Given that New Orleans population is 65% black it is not surprising that the bulk of those being rescued are black. But where are the white, affluent residents? One man made his way to a reporter mic and camera to say that some are playing the race card but that St. Bernard is mostly white and no one is rescuing those people. Makes me wonder if it is not politically correct to save white wealthy folks?

[Uisguex Jack]

Genx that is a very fine bit of writing, you say allot of what I feel but am too livid to get down to actual words.

Lets just look at education. So many of America's youth, poor youth, black and white, shun capitializing on a free 12 year education.

The democrats keep lowering the bar on academic standards.

What the hell is the 'ebonic' expression for force five huricane.

When the tsunami hit last year a small school child pointed out to his elders that a instantly retreating tide such as they had just wittnessed was the fore runner of a tidal wave. He started screaming to run and the results were a few dozen tourists saving them selves by way of heeding the childs advice.

When the weather man says there is a force five huricane coming that is all one needs to hear to know to get the hell out of there.

The violence I keep seeing on the street is the fruit of years of this diluting of vallues and the iconising of a gangster lifestyle found in much of rap music and videos.

People need to get educated.

[wwIIvetsdaughter]

Please keep in mind I am a resident of the next to the poorest county (Hidalgo, TX) in the United States as I say this: Consider, would not any man (regardless of race, creed, etc., etc.) if forced to flee from his home due to a natural disaster stay with his wife and children to protect them? Welfare, imho, has replaced the role/function of fathers. I see it here. Women head houselholds composed of children, the elderly and the infirm. Would we of seen the same level of lawlessness at the Superdome and Civic Center if every fleeing family had a man to guide and protect it?

[GenrXr]