WHY IS IT THAT POVERTY ATTRACTS NATURAL DIASTERS? How come the worse the impoverishment, the worst the disaster seems to be? Why do big tornadoes go straight for poor trailer parks and earthquakes and tsunamis gravitate to poor and famished shorelines? I surely don't understand it, but do know these Haitian people are in desperate, desperate need of our prayers and largess. If Port-au-Prince is leveled, we can not turn our backs on its massive needs. Many there were already in desperate shape before this earthquake, and now are living on the edge of starvation, disease, ineffable loss, lawlessnes and death. God help and have mercy of them and us as we try to relieve some of their incredible suffering.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Face of Crushing, Desperate Poverty, Need and Death
WHY IS IT THAT POVERTY ATTRACTS NATURAL DIASTERS? How come the worse the impoverishment, the worst the disaster seems to be? Why do big tornadoes go straight for poor trailer parks and earthquakes and tsunamis gravitate to poor and famished shorelines? I surely don't understand it, but do know these Haitian people are in desperate, desperate need of our prayers and largess. If Port-au-Prince is leveled, we can not turn our backs on its massive needs. Many there were already in desperate shape before this earthquake, and now are living on the edge of starvation, disease, ineffable loss, lawlessnes and death. God help and have mercy of them and us as we try to relieve some of their incredible suffering.
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The leader of American conservatives has issued a statement on Obama's prompt response to this crisis.
On his radio show on Jan. 13, Rush Limbaugh suggested that Obama was HAPPY for the quake in Haiti, as his administration will:
"use this to burnish their, shall we say, credibility with the black community, in both the light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country. It’s made to order for them."
- Rush Limbaugh, 1/13/10
Ellen, my dear.
Rush has made a statement which I did not hear. Nevertheless, let me make myself clear:
Whether I agree with what Rush said or not, and whether I understand where he's coming from or not, he has a right to his opinion. He has a right to think whatever he thinks and express it. I defend his right to express his opinion both publically and privately.
And as such, I feel no need to explain or defend him or it any further.
Best wishes and good day.
If one reads the entire transcript of what Mr. Limbaugh said (available on his website) instead of cherry-picking a short quote, he never stated that President Obama was "HAPPY for the quake in Haiti".
Limbaugh did give his opinion that the president's quick response to the natural disaster in Haiti was in marked contrast to his taking several days to respond to the Christmas Day bombing attempt on the flight into Detroit. He further opined that the president and Rahm Emanuel would look at what happened in Haiti as a crisis that shouldn't be wasted, as Emanuel said about our country's economic crisis.
There is danger in reducing Rush's words to sound bites - his connotations and use of irony are often missed by doing so.
He has the right to voice his opinion, as do we commenters here, thanks to our gracious hostess. And simply because I am pointing this out by no means indicates that I agree with his views on this matter.
Additionally, I must reject the premise that Rush Limbaugh is the "leader of American conservatives". The self-identified political conservatives that I know would be very surprised to learn that!
Thank you, fraydna, for putting the cherries back on the trees for us and setting the record straight. All wise perceptions in my opinion.
Again, we all run the risk of gross misunderstanding when we lift words out of context, whether here with Rush's statement on Obama's response to the Haitian catastrophe or the Bible.
As adults, we are resposible for adding context to conversation and not just sophomorically reading phrases for partisan purposes.
I also happen to agree with you about Rush.
Thank you again for your invaluable help here.
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