Tuesday, September 27, 2005

 

RIGHTS...

Everybody has them...many of which they are unaware...

Many people think they have certain ones...that they don't...

Some people have rights that other people violate...

Back to New Orleans:

Some of the most pathetic video of the Katrina disaster were of members of the welfare culture shrieking, "We have rights! Why isn't anybody coming to help us?"...

The right of citizens to be bailed out? While it is nice to expect, I don't read that as a "right" in the US Constitution...

Some of the most frightening video of the same scene were of armed jackboots demanding of homeowners who were defending themselves from the rapists, murderers and looters who were roaming their neighborhoods at night, "We have the right to take your weapons!"...

The right of representatives of the government to disarm law-abiding US citizens? I DO read about that in the Consitution--it is forbidden!

So, in New Orleans you had one group of people demanding rights that do not exist: "Give me my handout!", and you had another group of people violating the rights of others: "Give us your weapons".

Meanwhile the people who, by their act of self-defense of their lives and property, were in effect saying, "I know my rights--get the hell out of my way while I exercise them!".

Out of those three groups, who were the were the victims? Who were having their rights violated? Who have the right "to petition the government for a redress of grievances"?

Of those three scenarios, I find only one constitutional reference that applies:

"...the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed"

posted by huggy 7:05 PM

Friday, September 02, 2005

 

I am brokenhearted for the city of New Orleans. The video from the disaster is truly devastating. The initial destruction was catastrophic, and daily the situation worsens as refugees starve, die of disease, and at the hands of the lawless. I fear that the loss of life will surpass that of 9/11 when the full accounting is known. And, of course, the loss of lifestyle and of personal property is already far beyond that of the 2001 terrorist attacks. I fear that the city of New Orleans is no more, and that is heartbreaking.

However…

Do you remember the news coverage and comments during the hours and days following the 9/11 attacks? The major story was how the “cold, hardened, impersonal” people of New York pulled together and helped each other out and became family, and how they, “pampered city folks”, became “survivors”. Members of the NYPD and FDNY became, and are to this day, national heroes! The nation was inspired by the actions of the people of New York.

It is hard to be inspired by many of the people of New Orleans. I’m not talking about the looters and gangsters—that sort of crap happens all the time—I’m talking about the vast hundreds of people sitting around yelling at the TV cameras, “nobody is coming to help us!” Instead of seeking shelter, loved ones, food & relief they are yelling that the government isn’t sending busses to pick them up, feed them, and wipe their bottoms. Meanwhile, in contrast to the heroes of the NYPD, there are reports of New Orleans Police turning in their badges and joining the masses of the “helpless”.

And while the cold, callous Big Apple turned into an inspiring city on a hill; the cool, laid-back Big Easy is rapidly descending into a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Perhaps New Yorkers were already conditioned for survival by running down taxis and buses.

Perhaps New Orleanos were softened to helplessness by too much party and gumbo.

Perhaps the difference is merely the fact that after the 9/11 attacks much the city’s infrastructure was still intact.

But more troubling: Perhaps New Orleans’ actions are a picture of the eventual outcome of the welfare state—where people are so conditioned to being cared for that they lose the ability to care for themselves.

That picture is truly heartbreaking…

posted by huggy 5:20 PM