quote:Originally posted by yogionefromobie:
I agree with you, Teo, about the issues of race and poverty, and that we have to overcome the bad politics so that place can come back newer and shinier.
Why not involve the displaced underemployed people in the programs to rebuild? You can be sure they are eager to put their houses and neighborhoods back in order.
I know I'm just being over-positive, and it truly is a sad state of affairs (and a SAD STATE!) but sometimes from tragedy we can rebuild things better???
I was actually trying to OVERLOOK all the bad vibes that may be coming up to the surface with the flooding... but I have to tell you this: I was in New Orleans in maybe 1986 and met a fellow there named Genie, who drove me to his house. This guy couldn't spell! And believe it or not, he fixed electronics! Talk about a genie! Well the point I'm trying to make.. or not trying to make...
We went into the neighborhood store. The entire counter was 3 inch thick bulletproof glass, and in the middle was a rotating place to put money and receive stuff. You had to direct a person behind the glass to walk the isles and get your groceries... you get the idea. So I imagine that there was almost concentration camp existence, corruption on huge social scales, and add that to illiteracy, age-old racisms, and whala! Likely many there will never trust a "white man," helecopter, or any "official" of any kind... sad, but probably true.
I imagine it will be inexplainably difficult to "rebuild" communities that were almost battle-zones to start with! OK I've stated negatives I didn't even want to think about, so maybe thats why my mind swings to the over-positive side:
I seem to remember that some people were so helpful in the aftermath of the tsunami that some huge hotel chains said they were going to put billions into some of those areas.
Perhaps instead of building huge "projects" where 40 floors of poor people are boxed in like rats, the more positive and interactive the rebuilding process and projects are, maybe they can be 10 floors, and nice garden terraces every other floor?
[b]Maybe this eon's Phoenix, maybe the WETNIX, can grow from this swamp, and who knows, maybe Hiltons or Hyatts can come in and EMPLOY the displaced, and create an entirely new social system?
I also imagine that many of the, what was it 70,000 in Texas, well many refugees would or could relocate into totally different areas, and different lives. What will help them bridge their past war-zone crime area lifestyles with a new more solid educational and employment opportunity lifestyle?
It seems to me that in a rebuilding project like what will be necessary now - or very soon, either of these directions will be adopted: 1) "contain" the unappreciative uneducated poor that are displaced into even more drab existences, or 2) bridge this transition from their old segregated and corruption enforced living situations into new opportunities and new lives for them.
Investments like this can REALLY pay off, maybe they can truly, in the greatest sense of the phrase, "start new lives!"
OK in the immediate, I think bouncing positive visions, sharing opportunities that have happened to other survivors, keeping to the positive achievements and not hating looters or ignorant angry people, well, as we reap likely will we sow. Just my 2 cents.
Also prayers that innocent victims are fed, clothed, consoled and sheltered in this tragic time of need. Amen.
Love and light being, Teo Do (Re, Mi, Fa...)
