Dean: "They are not refugees, they are Americans".

[shance]

Dean: Race played a role in Katrina death toll

By DENISE KALETTE
Associated Press Writer
MIAMI

Race was a factor in the rising death toll from Hurricane Katrina, Howard Dean told members of the National Baptist Convention of America on Wednesday at the group's annual meeting.

Dean, Democratic party chairman, made the comments to the Baptists' Political and Social Justice Commission. The Baptist Convention has an estimated 3.5 million members representing 3,000 churches and is one of the largest black religious groups in the country.

"We must ... come to terms with the ugly truth that skin color, age and economics played a deadly role in who survived and who did not," Dean said.

Dean said Americans have a moral responsibility to not ignore the devastating effects of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina when it struck the Gulf Coast.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

more at

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050907/APN/509071189

[HEyHEY]

1. Yeah, cause Americans are too good to have refugees.

By not acknowledging the fact they are refugess, you are doing them a disservice.
You have to call them what they are because it's the only way to bring attention to why this happened and that these people NEED help.

[uppityperson]

2. I agree totally. They are refugees. That is bad.

Use the term with pride, or rather in disgust over the fact that they are refugees. They are refugees of the war on money, displaced from their homes, nowhere to go, looking for help and receiving little. Call them refugees, otherwise you minimize what they are going through. Of course they are Americans. But they are American refugees.

[shance]

3. What is your issue with someone being called an American?

That is what they are, just like you and me, arent they?

I bet you would relish being labeled a refugee.

[HEyHEY]

4. What I'm saying is

this whole "They are Americans, not refugees" thing seems bit snotty

[shance]

5. We see it differently, I see it as a label which attempts to isolate a

group of people, and separate them from the 'herd' so to speak.


Being that this Administration is adept at "separating and dividing", and "blamegaming", I would say the use of labels is top on their talking points memo.

My take.

[HEyHEY]

6. See, but I think

That when you call them Americans who downplay the horror that has befallen them. And when you do that you downplay the reason said horror came about.
When you call them refugees you are saying "Look, look at what happened! We have American refugees now."
And I say that with the intention that any this needs to be an important issue in terms of simple public safety...nit because Bush is an asshole.

BTW, thank you for having a civil discussion about this

[shance]

7. Okay, I get that.

I understand that and think thats a very good point.

Likewise, HH****

I enjoy your posts.

[newyawker99]

8. shance

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