While talking to a woman deeply involved in the refugee acceptance programs in St. Louis, she had a complaint against Texas.
Texas has made a good name for itself by accepting thousands and thousands of refuge's and putting them in mass shelters like the Astrodome.
Her complaint was that the politicians in Texas were working hard to discourage average citizens and NGO's from taking in the refuge's. Why? Because if they were able to coral and control most of them, they would be able to rake in most of the FEMA money in the pipeline.
While the Texas legislature is not high on my, "Trust with my life" list, and indeed barely squeeks past Chicago politicians, I don't believe this is the case.
So I am asking my Jatraquero Google Experts, or Texas Clumpers to see if they can find anything on this rumor.
If it is a rumor I want to see it crushed quickly.
If its not, I'd like to know.
PS. St. Louis and its people have done some special things. One Assisted Living organization is taking in 10 New Orleans elder residents, for life. Our school districts are promising class rooms to any refuge. It is a great place.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
The following is directed to whomever started the rumors - not DR, of course
No good deed goes unpunished. Oh yeah - Texas is accepting 100,000 refugees, guaranteeing food stamps for months for all of them, and spending all these resources just in order to soak FEMA. It's all planned, really. Texas even read the SciAm article and scooted closer to New Orleans for just this purpose.
Sheesh. People suck sometimes.
For the record, I have heard nothing like what she was saying. I don't know how to disprove a rumor - it's up to her to support. It's utter nonsense.
And the people I know from New Orleans are all staying with private citizens.
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
quote:Texas even read the SciAm article and scooted closer to New Orleans for just this purpose.
The visual imagery of this is precious.
Personally, I think we should blame the whafferflaffel on planet Xnovorox 300 gajillion light years away for flapping his narvox at the unappointed time.
Posted by foundling (Member # 6348) on :
You know, I bet you Texas even had divers down there for years undermining the levees, brick by... umm...brick. Sneaky little bastards.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
Oh good grief!!! That charge isn't even as credible as Texas scooting closer to NewOrleans. The Mayor of Houston, the Governor of Texas, and darn near every other major elected executive in Texas have been constantly on-the-air asking fellow Texans to open up their own homes to refugees.
Posted by JaimeBenlevy (Member # 6222) on :
"Oh good grief!!! The Mayor of Houston, the Governor of Texas, and darn near every other major elected executive in Texas have been constantly on-the-air asking fellow Texans to open up their own homes to refugees."
Wow. First they don't allow any of the refugees into homes so they can soak up all of FEMAs money themselves. Now, after they took all of FEMAs money, they want to get rid of the refugees into people's homes. Unbelievable. *Shakes head sadly at what the world is coming to*
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
*snorts*
Next thing you know, they'll be putting people in the zoo to make them earn their keep if they want to stay in TX! You know, like London! Posted by MandyM (Member # 8375) on :
quote:Next thing you know, they'll be putting people in the zoo to make them earn their keep if they want to stay in TX!
Heck no! Then we can't have the FEMA money!
In all seriousness, I live in central Texas and I can tell you that we are welcoming the refugees with open arms. Churches and schools in the area are banding together to donate items and money for the shelters popping up everywhere. My underpriviledged students have raised over $400 in three days that we are donating to the Red Cross. The donation sites are so full of items that they have asked Austinites to hold off on donating anything else until they can get it distributed. The response has been overwhelming. So the people knocking Texas and our lack of effort can just bite me!
Posted by Will B (Member # 7931) on :
Well, I remember Anne Rice complaining that the rest of America was so self-righteous that when N.O. was in trouble, we all called it Sin City and turned our backs on the residents. That's the sort of gratitude she gave for the unprecedented outpouring of charity from all over the country.
And then there was the unknown source of the rumor that President Bush (not the mayor of N.O.) ordered residents brought to the Super Dome...and that the purpose was so he could have them gassed to death.
People will say anything.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Wait . . . I thought we were blaming Canada?
-o-
I never heard the gassing rumor before reading it here.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Me either.
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
I was gassed by the government.
Seriously!
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
I've been aghast at the government, but never gassed by the government.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
quote:Texas even read the SciAm article and scooted closer to New Orleans for just this purpose.
I'd just like to re-emphasize how funny this is.
Rumors, however, are not funny. Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
I think Anne Rice said quite a bit more than just the comment about self-righteousness and back-turning. And at the time it was said, I am sure it felt that way to all the frightened people stuck on rooftops, in the superdome, clinging to car tops.
She also spoke quite eloquently about NO's character, history, and people - particularly black people. Probably to help inform and correct certain "impressions" based on the actions of a few -
My law school in Houston is asking students to open their apartments to Loyola law students. I'm not sure how many are doing it - I'm in no position - but there is a lot of private citizens helping out.
I could have sworn that Vegas was Sin City...but maybe that stayed in Vegas.
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