Stoking the racial fires

Randall Robinson is a supposedly serious journalist who is known for his book on white reparations titled, "The Debt - What America Owes Blacks". He has posted a strange accusation that has led to some spirited debate, to no one's surprise, I am sure.

Mr. Robinson leads his post with "It is reported that black hurricane victims in New Orleans have begun eating corpses to survive. " Nowhere does he offer any source. Nowhere does he offer any backing evidence. Nowhere else have you heard of this since it appeared over 24 hours ago.

Predictably, the responses have come down on both sides of this accusation. Try to think of an issue where you won't get someone to take a position contrary to all common sense and logic. You could utter the most assinine idea and you will get someone to agree.

Years ago, when I was living in California, there was a story out of San Francisco that the city council was allowing NAMBLA, the North American Man Boy Love Association, to use city property (specifically libraries) to hold their meetings. Think about that. A group whose stated goal is abolishing any age of consent, a group whose sole purpose in life is to make it acceptable for grown men to have sex with children, babies, even infants, anytime, any place...this group was being supported by tax dollars by the city of San Francisco. There were people who were elected City Councilman by voters who approved of this. Today, years later, it still boggles my mind almost beyond the point of comprehension.

My response to Mr. Robinson is as follows:

1. You have now joined the rank of race warlord, alongside Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. You go public with unsubstantiated (dare we say lies?) "rumors" (Tawana Brawley, cannibalism). You hurl racial insults under the guise of pointing out racial problems (Hymietown, America is a "monstrous fraud" because whites are letting blacks become cannibals). You inject race into any situation where it might benefit you.

2. You say, "no one has come to help them." You may want to turn on a TV or radio there, Randall. Or pick up a newspaper. Or go online. Or open your eyes.

3. You refer to the hurricane aftermath as "This defining watershed moment in America’s racial history" and "the lowest moment in my country’s story." You may want to open a dictionary to the page with the listing for hyperbole.

4. You say, "But what can I do but write about how I feel." While this has been answered many times sufficiently in the responses, allow me to reiterate the general feelings -- you can donate money, goods or time to any one of a myriad of organizations beginning with the Red Cross or the Salvation Army. That, and quit posting irresponsible accusations.

I also want to address one of the responses Mr. Robinson received. Someone who signed themself as "Cornelius" posted the following:

"It is objective truth that white America does not care about diverse African Americans. It is not enough that there be affirmative action. We, as African Americans, are being portrayed as looters. Just because one steals a TV after a hurricane does not mean anything when you are eating corpses after four days without food. White america needs to pay up for past wrongs, and past hurricanes. How dare America segregate African Americans and force them to live below sea level. Why is it when white people take food, it is called "searching for food." But when African Americans take a TV from Walmart it is called "looting." Racism, that's why.

In order for America to prove that it is not racist, it must rebuild New Orleans above sea level."

My response -

1. One man's "objective truth" is another's outrageous slander.

2. It's okay to steal a TV as long as you've eaten a corpse??

3. White America needs to pay for past hurricanes?? Just which hurricanes did White America cause, Cornelius? Did we do that before or after we invented the AIDS virus to wipe out blacks? Whites have to pay for past hurricanes??? Good grief, does your entitlement EVER end?

4. Find ONE SINGLE black who was segregated and "forced" to live in New Orleans....Just one....go ahead, we'll wait...

5. As to why taking food is called "searching for food" and taking TV's is called "looting", perhaps it's because munching on a Zenith won't do much for your digestive tract. Do you REALLY want to compare those who took food and medicine to those who were shown rolling carts full of Air Jordans and those who stole every cadillac from the dealership?

6. Rebuilding NO above sea level would prove America is not racist? How about we just make everyone an instant millionaire? Or bring MLK back from the dead? Why something simple like rebuilding a huge metropolitan city and raising it serveral feet in the air? That's wayyyy too simple

Overall, I am heartened that the majority of the responses are logical, taking Mr. Robinson to task for pushing his agenda with unfounded and unsubstantiated "reports". There has always been a fringe contingent, as I previously noted. By the way, the fringe exists on both sides. Democrats could run a glass of toxic waste for office, and Republicans could run an amoeba, and they would both receive 25% of the vote. That being said, the leftie fringe tends to be more self-righteous, much louder, more ridiculous in their stands, and much more obnoxious. But it does make it so much fun to respond to their crazy wackiness.