On Sun 25 Sep 2005 07:25:39p, modom wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> On 26 Sep 2005 03:08:04 +0200, Wayne Boatwright
> > wrote:
>
>>On Sun 25 Sep 2005 05:41:09p, modom wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>>
>>> On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 14:23:56 -0700, Denny Wheeler
>>> > wrote:
>>>
> [I tried to trim this right -- hope I did]

Sorry, Michael, but I didn't trim it and should have.

>>> It is my contention that any claim to validity to be conjured with
>>> regard to that screed presumes a white norm, arrogates for itself a
>>> racist pseudo objectivity that only contributes more to the social
>>> structures that lead to this debacle, this national shame. Our nation
>>> must not treat its citizens this way.
>>>>
>>>>Remember though that for the media, it's almost always about eyeballs
>>>>in front of sets, and trying to get the most of those they can. Yes,
>>>>there are occasional exceptions to that rule (just as there's
>>>>occasionally a politician whose #1 priority is something other than
>>>>re-election), but they ARE exceptions.
>>
>>What a lot of pseudo-elevated drivel.

I meant that comment for your paragraph above.

> If you are responding to the statements immediately above your
> comment, be advised that I did not write them. The graph above that
> is mine as is the graph below.

<snip>

>>Apparently not enought of those lief experiences.

Heh, my lack of proofreading and spellchecker. Sorry.

> Since my recent, very minor brush with Rita, I've had any number of
> leaf experiences. But lief experiences...hmm. I think I might have

Yes, I'm sure you've had many leaf experiences.

> once met a guy named Lief, but that might be wrong. I know I met a
> really nice fellow named Bjorn back in college, and I do own a copy of
> Pynchon's Vineland, though I never read it.
>
> As to life experiences, I've had my share. I came of age at a time
> when buses of Freedom Riders rolled through the south, when people
> were killed for voter registration efforts, when my friends -- kids I
> played catch with, kids I went fishing and picked berries with, kids I
> liked -- my friends were content to keep black folks down. I've been
> treated by doctors who had segregated waiting rooms. I've drunk from
> segregated drinking fountains, attended segregated schools. I watched
> as a public pool in a small Louisiana town was closed when the order
> came that it be integrated. I saw a New Orleans amusement park closed
> for the same reason. There's more, but these will serve for now.

My parents are native Mississippians and, while I didn't live there on a
permanent basis, I spent a great deal of time there over the course of my
life. I am now 60. I saw and experienced all of the same things you
detailed above, but perhaps not on quite as intimate a level as you, since
I was a periodic resident. I was, however, intimately aware of the
experiences of my relatives. The town where my family lives integrated
peacefully, if reluctantly. Still, there was voluntary social segregation,
which I personally don't think is a bad thing. To no small extent, it was
desired as much by the black population as well as the white population.

> It's been more than 40 years since that pool closed and I lost those
> friendships. And still this disgusting racial divide continues to
> poison our nation. This is a shame on us as a people.

Nothing closed down in that Misissippi town. I presume there is still a
social divide to some extent, but I haven't been there in a while. As long
as there is equality in rights and opportunities, I cannot fault people for
choosing not to mingle racially. It is everyone's right to have only the
friends they want. I see this in the North to almost the same extent.

>>You're as much off-base and out of line as the OP.
>
> I ask that you support that statement with reasons.

Most of the telecasts that I saw did seem to emphasize the plight of the
black population. I considered it a gross omission, but not a bias. IME,
throughout most of the South there are far more poor and/or jobless blacks
than whites. Obviously, most of those left behind of either race probably
had little opportunity to leave in advance, primarily for economic reasons.
I don't think it odd that, faced with the devastation of Katrina, people
begged to be helped and expected that help, and felt betrayed when they
were not helped. I can't even begin to imagine what spin the effect of
Katrina had on the minds of the victims. Much of the news media reports
what sells. After all, it is still a commercial endeavor.

I'm very glad to know that you and your family is safe.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
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