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Showing Original Post only (View all)My college town is in shambles, people I love are hurting, and some on DU only care about politics [View all]
I've spent the whole day trying to get in touch with loved ones and close friends at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. I've seen my beautiful university ripped to pieces. A great friend was trapped inside a building at USM when the roof caved in as the tornado hit earlier. People are trapped in their homes. Lots of friends have lost homes. One friend's home has turned into a refuge for neighbors because his house is almost the only one in the neighborhood that wasn't completely destroyed.
And then I come on DU... And I see a lot of people politicizing it, saying we don't deserve it because we are in the South and we elect Republicans, and our Congressman didn't vote for Sandy Aid (he actually did, despite the fact that he's an asshole). And I'm just so disgusted at some of the comments here-- "Payback's a bitch" and "You deserve nothing."
Hattiesburg is one of the most progressive, diverse, accepting, and wonderful places in Mississippi. It's an oasis in a sea of ignorance, poverty, and depression.
And regardless of who we elect to Congress, regardless of the ignorance, the people here are good, loving, and just like after Katrina, I've seen it in action today. People running outside before the storm was even over to help neighbors and take care of one another. People who really do believe in "love thy neighbor."
And the disconnect I witness from certain liberals here outside of my state is astounding. How can a person who calls himself or herself a liberal be so wrapped up in finding a political point in everything that you have no sense of decency, compassion, etc., that you categorize the worth and pain of people based on how they vote, and that your immediate reaction isn't compassion, but hateful political attacks?
It's just disgusting. And saddening. And hurtful. I have worked so hard along with many of my progressive friends to make this a better place, and I am so tired of progressives and liberals from outside of here looking down on us and attacking us every chance you get. It's no wonder people down here don't give liberals a chance. Because a lot of you spend all your time looking down on us with upturned noses. And your initial reaction to tragedy is hateful, political attacks?
I've been heartbroken multiple times today. I was heartbroken again when I came on here and read some of the callous comments people were making about the wonderful people of Hattiesburg in their time of need.
Video of Hardy Street as the tornado hit my university, hitting a building I had friends taking shelter in:
EDIT TO ADD: The response from the people on this thread has been really, really heartening. I'm so pleased to see that most of the people here really don't think like that at all. I guess what I ran into earlier were a few bad apples... Apples that are too ashamed to come defend themselves here. Thanks for all your comments, guys. <3