J.J. and the hurricane

[Dr. Vollin]

NEW YORK (AP) - What do you call people who have been driven from their homes with only the clothes on their backs, unsure if they will ever be able to return, and forced to build a new life in a strange place?

News organizations are struggling for the right word.

Many, including The Associated Press, have used ``refugee'' to describe those displaced by the wrath of Hurricane Katrina.

But the choice has stirred anger among some readers and other critics, particularly in the black community. They have argued that ``refugee'' somehow implies that the displaced storm victims, many of whom are black, are second-class citizens - or not even Americans.

``It is racist to call American citizens refugees,'' the Rev. Jesse Jackson said, visiting the Houston Astrodome on Monday. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have expressed similar sentiments.

I've always had mixed feelings about Jesse Jackson, but this has to be one of his lowest points. In this time of tragedy, to even be arguing over how to label the survivors of Hurricane Katrina is the worst kind of nonsense.

In the first place, I think Jackson's statement is some of the stupidest bullshit I've ever encountered. (When do we get around to the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin?) But even if anyone disagrees with me there, how can anyone defend his, and others', making this an issue with so many lives lost and so many people without homes and possessions?

[tickledorange]

I thought it was funny when Jesse Jackson was blabbing/whining on CNN about how "black people are suffering" from the hurricane, and all of a sudden, a white family or 2 was walking along behind them, and they were survivors of Katrina.

[Robace252]

This might not be the "PC" thing to say but Im sick of being PC when all it does it hide the truth and facts. Just because someone is a minority is not a reason not to say something that isnt true. With that said....all I can think about when Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton start speaking is I imagine them infront of a TV on Sunday Night, watching people go into the Superdome and them asking those around them..."I wonder if they got all the poor people with no transportation out of the 9th Ward. I hope the local church leaders got their fellowships to get out. Oh Im sure they did, I dont have to call and use my influence NOW to make sure. Ill wait to see if they did."
How easy it is critize when you wait to do something until its too late.

[MrMacphisto]

Jesse Jackson is one of those people that has to find something to be politically correct about. It's like how Pat Robertson has to relate everything to God's judgment. They're both assholes, but just on different sides of the political spectrum....

[kyle]

Jesse Jackson is a con. I have a tad more respect for Al.