RRC Archives

Just curious, what is the MEDIA saying in other parts of the world about the tragedie that Katrina has brought into this country?

I was just reading a French newspaper (www.parismatch.fr) and they were really quick at pointing out:
1. Katrina has taken the USA like a drunken sailer...
2. Powerless during a disaster, the USA has abandonned the poor.

Has someone heard or seen news coverage from other country regarding Katrina / USA ?

Friends just got back from Central America, and they said that the coverage there points out the racism and general incompotence that turned a bad natural disaster in to a really tragic human disaster. The Mexican news was highlighting that the US was so screwed up that they've had to call in the Mexican military! (and, yes, the Mexican who told me about that finds it funny/appaling too!)

For years now, we have been able to get away with the "It's not America, it's Bush" concept in global public opinion, but, shit, we re-elected the fool and now we have both Iraq and this to show for it, not to mention gas prices. How long until the world stops passively resisting the US and starts actively disconnecting from and supressing the US?

"Who cares what them stinkin' feriners think, anyhoo?" Well, like it or not, we live in a global economy now, and a lot of our economy depends on "the American brand" in global public opinion. Would you rather be a stock holder in a sucessful Coca-Cola, or would you like the job of sticking tape on the box for a Korean brand piece of consmer electronics? Oh, wait, the tape-sticking job isn't available - some kid in Viet Nam is willing to do it for a lot less. Wether you love or hate the rest of the world, we are deeply effected by their choices. Vic's question is critical because their choices are based on their opinion of us.

America may be regarded by others with criticism - and this is in fact important to us because America may no longer be able to carry World dominance - NOT with at least 3 places "fighting" for the title: Europe, India, and China.

Financially, mentaly, morally, and even physically - can't say we are in the greatest shape, but HOW are we regarded by others?

Headlines in the Philippines read, "America's own Third World"

"...a population of poor and disadvantaged Americans, the great majority of them African-American, who had been left behind and seemingly forgotten even as their wealthier neighbors abandoned the areas under threat...Katrina’s victims simply were not like most other Americans."

I wonder how we're viewed now after Barbara Bush's comments:

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you
know, were underprivileged anyway, so this--this (she
chuckles slightly) is working very well for them."

I would think the world will disconnect and passively resist the U.S. when the money is cut off, alot of aid we donate with good intentions ends up in the coffers of those in position to oppress and abuse, when you cut the money from them and subsequently their media more negativity about the US will result. Katrina's victims owe many factors for their fate, one of them includes forty years of federal govt subsidizied housing that concentrated the communities into the pockets of poverty that lead to illegitmate children, failed schools and crime that the hopelessness of that type planning produces. The poor people in the affected areas are victims of the welfare states failure to be inclusive, blaming Bush for that situation is naive.

Who can name a time period of more than five years since WW2 that the U.S. on a whole has not had a negative image? As for the Hole Mexican help thing, I don't
know what's funnier, the fact that the Mexican media is claiming that we asked for they're help, or anyone believing it. I do however thank them for it either way.
Gunslnga

I would still like to hear more and educate myself further by knowing what the rest of the world thinks of us at the moment... so if you have some "quote" please share. Thanks.

"I think the French are gay!"

they are