This entry (permalink) was posted on Wednesday, August 31st, 2005 at 9:13 PM by Mortaine and categorized in LiveJournal.
Comments (16) left to “*whispers* I see racism….”
plblark wrote:
Two different writers at two different companies with two completely different policies caption two different photographs taken at two different times in two different locations under two sets of circumstances … hmmm, sounds like a complete racist conspiracy to me.
Not that it doesn’t happen, but this isn’t the sterling example you were looking for.
I believe the pictures of people looting non-essentials like electronics and jewelry differ from people scrounging for food.
Have to agree with the previous comment. It’s a huge leap to say this is racism. I agree that there are definitely people who think blacks are criminals to the core and white people are innocent darlings, but I don’t think this is a case of that.
For what it’s worth, CNN had white people on that they were clearly calling “looters.” They actually interviewed one women swiping stuff from a Wal-Mart.
Note: both groups of people are carrying food items. The black person has a case of soda under his arm. The white people have bread and are described in the caption as also carrying soda.
Particularly interesting is that the white couple has a backpack, and therefore may have pre-planned their “finding.”
I don’t think either case should be considered looting. I think “stealing” groceries from a closed store in the midst of a major disaster is probably at the very lowest of moral offenses possible. Stealing groceries from a family who had them, for example, well, that’s much higher. Opportunity looting (DVD players, for instance) is regrettable, utterly expected, and actually kind of amusing, since nobody really expects New Orleans to have electricity for a few weeks.
Of particular interest, though, is that you automatically assumed that I’m looking for an example, or that I think it’s a conspiracy. Read further in the same thread, and you’ll find a better explanation for what I see than I can really articulate. The fact that they’re different writers, photos, etc. just goes to show that it’s a culture-wide problem, not that individuals need to be singled out as being racist. Too many people seem to assume that when I perceive racism, it means I’m saying “YOU are racist,” when in fact, I suppose it really means that we *all* are.
i think its interestign that these pictures have stirred up so much drama (lj and off) over what seems to me to be a fairly widespread issue with lots better examples.
Oh, I wasn’t referring to those pictures! I was responding to this generalized line:
I believe the pictures of people looting non-essentials like electronics and jewelry differ from people scrounging for food.
Let’s rephrase: If I see someone carrying a television and someone carrying a loaf of bread, the person with the television is the one I consider the “looter.”
On the same note, CNN said earlier that something like 350 Wal-Marts have been destroyed or nearly destroyed. It was one of those weird “Yay!…wait, no…not yay!…but…yay!…kinda” moments. *hides in corner*
Well, yeah. Unless the person carrying the TV is carrying their *own* TV. I have seen this happen in floods. They save the precious television and leave behind the family photo albums. *facepalm*
What feeds racism in our society are the attenpts to explain it away. I’m not saying that this particular event proves anything, but it certainly doesn’t absolve anyone, and warrants our concern. Let’s face it, in the face of such a tragedy, would any of you choose to call the people in either picture “looters”? I’d choose “survivor”.
Let’s just hope that the color of a person’s skin doesn’t dictate where the health and reconstruction monies go.
I believe I was not clear enough. I was trying to convey two concepts, my suspicion re: the sources of the two photos and the automatic race trump card was one subject. I believe that there is a ton of racism in our country, and it flows both ways. I just don’t think the posted example is an automatic pass and slam-dunk example.
The looting vs. scrounging should have been more clearly labeled as a seperate thought. As such, neither picture really shows looting. IIRC (the pictures are now marked private) Because the “white” couple are captioned as to their “found” stuff, It’s easier for me to categorize it as scrounging. The caption of the black “looting” is not as clear.
When I see someone coming out the window of a store with a TV, I do not automatically assume it’s their TV that the store was repairing and they are just retreiving (though I suppose it’s possible, what use would a TV be with no electricity?)
The worst looting I’ve seen was on the news at a Wal Mart showing two police women pulling a cart through the shoe aisle of a Wal Mart. I could not see what was in the cart but tit sure looked like shoes… hmmm…
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plblark wrote:
Two different writers at two different companies with two completely different policies caption two different photographs taken at two different times in two different locations under two sets of circumstances … hmmm, sounds like a complete racist conspiracy to me.
Not that it doesn’t happen, but this isn’t the sterling example you were looking for.
I believe the pictures of people looting non-essentials like electronics and jewelry differ from people scrounging for food.
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 2:30 pm | Permalink
beginning wrote:
Have to agree with the previous comment. It’s a huge leap to say this is racism. I agree that there are definitely people who think blacks are criminals to the core and white people are innocent darlings, but I don’t think this is a case of that.
For what it’s worth, CNN had white people on that they were clearly calling “looters.” They actually interviewed one women swiping stuff from a Wal-Mart.
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 2:45 pm | Permalink
beginning wrote:
I agree. Most people, myself included, would have a hard time linking someone out to find food with someone stealing a television set.
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 2:47 pm | Permalink
mortaine wrote:
Note: both groups of people are carrying food items. The black person has a case of soda under his arm. The white people have bread and are described in the caption as also carrying soda.
Particularly interesting is that the white couple has a backpack, and therefore may have pre-planned their “finding.”
I don’t think either case should be considered looting. I think “stealing” groceries from a closed store in the midst of a major disaster is probably at the very lowest of moral offenses possible. Stealing groceries from a family who had them, for example, well, that’s much higher. Opportunity looting (DVD players, for instance) is regrettable, utterly expected, and actually kind of amusing, since nobody really expects New Orleans to have electricity for a few weeks.
Of particular interest, though, is that you automatically assumed that I’m looking for an example, or that I think it’s a conspiracy. Read further in the same thread, and you’ll find a better explanation for what I see than I can really articulate. The fact that they’re different writers, photos, etc. just goes to show that it’s a culture-wide problem, not that individuals need to be singled out as being racist. Too many people seem to assume that when I perceive racism, it means I’m saying “YOU are racist,” when in fact, I suppose it really means that we *all* are.
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 2:51 pm | Permalink
mortaine wrote:
I am strenuously opposed to lawbreaking and such, but whenever I see people looting Wal-Mart, I just want to cheer.
Down with Wal-Mart.
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 2:52 pm | Permalink
mortaine wrote:
The black “looter” in that photo is carrying soda. Why do you both assume he’s taking electronics and jewelry?
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 2:53 pm | Permalink
mnsfibers wrote:
i think its interestign that these pictures have stirred up so much drama (lj and off) over what seems to me to be a fairly widespread issue with lots better examples.
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 2:54 pm | Permalink
beginning wrote:
Oh, I wasn’t referring to those pictures! I was responding to this generalized line:
I believe the pictures of people looting non-essentials like electronics and jewelry differ from people scrounging for food.
Let’s rephrase: If I see someone carrying a television and someone carrying a loaf of bread, the person with the television is the one I consider the “looter.”
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 2:56 pm | Permalink
beginning wrote:
On the same note, CNN said earlier that something like 350 Wal-Marts have been destroyed or nearly destroyed. It was one of those weird “Yay!…wait, no…not yay!…but…yay!…kinda” moments. *hides in corner*
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 2:58 pm | Permalink
mortaine wrote:
Yeah. Me too. I think the right response is “Yay-as-long-as-everyone-got-out-in-time!”
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 3:09 pm | Permalink
mortaine wrote:
Well, yeah. Unless the person carrying the TV is carrying their *own* TV. I have seen this happen in floods. They save the precious television and leave behind the family photo albums. *facepalm*
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 3:10 pm | Permalink
chaoticgoodnik wrote:
*nods* The subtle (or not so subtle) racism and classism concerning the people who couldn’t afford to leave is much more interesting to me.
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 3:42 pm | Permalink
feralboy2 wrote:
What feeds racism in our society are the attenpts to explain it away. I’m not saying that this particular event proves anything, but it certainly doesn’t absolve anyone, and warrants our concern. Let’s face it, in the face of such a tragedy, would any of you choose to call the people in either picture “looters”? I’d choose “survivor”.
Let’s just hope that the color of a person’s skin doesn’t dictate where the health and reconstruction monies go.
I’m not being naieve, am I?
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 3:47 pm | Permalink
beckerbuns wrote:
According to this guy, the police loot too…
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 6:49 pm | Permalink
wibbble wrote:
Don’t have permission to view the page…
Posted on 31-Aug-05 at 11:53 pm | Permalink
plblark wrote:
I believe I was not clear enough. I was trying to convey two concepts, my suspicion re: the sources of the two photos and the automatic race trump card was one subject. I believe that there is a ton of racism in our country, and it flows both ways. I just don’t think the posted example is an automatic pass and slam-dunk example.
The looting vs. scrounging should have been more clearly labeled as a seperate thought. As such, neither picture really shows looting. IIRC (the pictures are now marked private) Because the “white” couple are captioned as to their “found” stuff, It’s easier for me to categorize it as scrounging. The caption of the black “looting” is not as clear.
When I see someone coming out the window of a store with a TV, I do not automatically assume it’s their TV that the store was repairing and they are just retreiving (though I suppose it’s possible, what use would a TV be with no electricity?)
The worst looting I’ve seen was on the news at a Wal Mart showing two police women pulling a cart through the shoe aisle of a Wal Mart. I could not see what was in the cart but tit sure looked like shoes… hmmm…
Posted on 01-Sep-05 at 6:17 am | Permalink