blog entry SO I VOLUNTEERED.......... Current mood: disappointed I thought I might inform the few friends I have on my recent traumatic experience. I am going to tell it straight, blunt, raw, and I don’t give a damn. Long read, I know but please do read!!! I went to volunteer on Saturday at the George R. Brown convention for two reasons. A: I wanted to help people to get a warm fuzzy. B: Curiosity. I’ve been watching the news lately and have seen scenes that have made me want to vomit. And no it wasn’t dead bodies, the city under water, or the sludge everywhere. It was PEOPLE”S BEHAVIOR. The people on T.V. (99% being Black) where DEMANDING help. They were not asking nicely but demanding as if society owed these people something. Well the honest truth is WE DON’T. Help should be asked for in a kind manner and then appreciated. This is not what the press (FOX in particular) was showing, what I was seeing was a group of people who are yelling, demanding, looting, killing, raping, and SHOOTING back at the demanded help!!!!! So I’m thinking this can’t possibly be true can it???? So I decide to submit to the DEMAND for help out of SHOCK. I couldn’t believe this to be true of the majority of the people who are the weakest of society. So I went to volunteer and help folks out and see the truth. So I will tell the following story and you decide: I arrived at the astrodome only to find out that there are too many volunteers and that volunteers where needed at the George R. Brown Convention Center. As I was walking up to the Convention Center I noticed a line of cars that wrapped around blocks filled with donations. These where ordinary Houstonians coming with truckloads and trunks full of water, diapers, clothes, blankets, food, all types of good stuff. And lots of it was NEW. I felt that warm fuzzy while helping unload these vehicles of these wonderful human beings. I then went inside the building and noticed approximately 100,000 sq. ft. of clothes, shoes, jackets, toys and all types of goodies all organized and ready for the people in need. I signed up, received a name badge and was on my merry way excited to be useful. I toured the place to get familiar with my surrounding; the entire place is probably around 2 million sq. ft. I noticed rows as far as the eye can see of mattresses, not cots, BLOW UP MATTRESSES!!! All of which had nice pillows and plenty of blankets. 2 to 3 bottles of water lay on every bed. These full size to queen size beds by the way where comfortable, I laid in one to see for myself. I went to look at the medical area. I couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing!!! A makeshift hospital created in 24 hours!!! It was unbelievable, they even had a pharmacy. I also noticed that they created showers, which would also have hot water. I went upstairs to the third floor to find a HUGE cafeteria created in under 24 hours! Rows of tables, chairs and food everywhere – enough to feed an army! I’m not talking about crap food either. They had jason’s deli food, apples, oranges, coke, diet coke, lemonade, orange juice, cookies, all types of chips and sandwiches. All the beverages by the way was put on ice and chilled!!!! In a matter of about 24 hours or less an entire mini-city was erected by volunteers for the poor evacuees. This was not your rundown crap shelter, it was BUM HEAVEN. So that was the layout: great food, comfy beds, clean showers, free medical help, by the way there was a library, and a theatre room I forgot to mention. Great stuff right???? Well here is what happened on my journey – I started by handing out COLD water bottles to evacuees as they got off the bus. Many would take them and only 20% or less said thank you. Lots of them would shake their heads and ask for sodas! So this went on for about 20-30 minutes until I was sick of being an unappreciated servant. I figured certainly these folks would appreciate some food!!! So I went upstairs to serve these beloved evacuees some GOOD food that I wish I could have at the moment! ***The following statements are graphic, truthful, and discuss UNRATIONAL behavior*** Evacuees come slowly to receive this mountain of food that is worth serving to a king! I tell them that we have 2 types of great deli sandwiches to choose from – ham and turkey. Many look at the food in disgust and DEMAND burgers, pizza, and even McDonalds!!!! Jason’s deli is better than McDonalds!!!! Only 1 out of ten people who took something would say “thank you” the rest took items as if it was their God give right to be served without a shred of appreciation!!! They would ask for Beer and liquor. They complained that we didn’t have good enough food. They refused food and laughed at us. They treated us volunteers as if we where SLAVES. No not all of them of course…but 70% did!!!!!! 20% where appreciative, 10% took the food without any comment and the other 70% had some disgusting comment to say. Some had the nerve to laugh at us. And when I snapped back at them for being mean, they would curse at me!!! Needless to say I was in utter shock. They would eat their food and leave their mess on the table… some would pick up their stuff many would leave it for the volunteers to pick up. I left that real quick to go down and help set up some more beds. I saw many young ladies carrying mattresses and I helped for a while. Then I realized something…their where hundreds of able bodied young men who could help!! I asked a group of young evacuees in their teens and early twenties to help. I got cursed at for asking them to help!!! One said “We just lost our ****ing homes and you want us to work!!” The next said “Ya Cracker, you got a home we don’t” I looked at them in disbelief. Here are women walking by carrying THEIR ****ING BEDS and they can’t lift a finger and help themselves!! WHY THE **** SHOULD I HELP PEOPLE WHO DON’T WANT TO HELP THEMESELVES!!!! I waved them off and turned away and was laughed at and more “white boy jokes” where made at me. I felt no need to waste my breath on a bunch of pitiful losers. I went to a nearby restroom where I noticed a man shaving. I used the restroom, washed my hands and saw this man throw his razor towards the trash can...he missed… he walked out leaving his disgusting razor on the floor for some other “cracker” to pick up. Even the little kids where demanding. I saw only ONE white family and only TWO Hispanic families. The rest where blacks…sorry 20% to 30% decent blacks… and 70% LOSERS!!!!! I would call them ******S, but the actual definition of a ****** is one who is ignorant, these people were not ignorant……they where ARROGANT ASSHOLES. The majority of which are thugs and lifetime lazy ass welfare recipients. We are inviting the lowest of the low to Houston. And like idiots we are serving the people who will soon steal our cars, rape, murder, and destroy our city while stealing from our pockets on a daily basis through the welfare checks they take. We will fund our own destruction. By “US” I don’t mean a specific race, I mean the people who work hard, work smart, have values and morals. Only people who want to help themselves should be helped, the others should be allowed to destroy themselves. I do not want to work hard, give the government close to half the money I earn so they can in turn give it to a bunch of losers. I don’t believe in being poor for life. My family immigrated here, we came here poor, and now thank God, and due to HARD WORK we are doing fine. If immigrants, who come here, don’t know the language can work and become successful... WHY THE **** CAN’T THE MAJORITY OF THE HOMEGROWN DO IT!!! If we continue to reward these losers then we will soon destroy our great country. I just witnessed selfish, arrogant, unappreciative behavior by the very people who need help the most. Now these same people who cursed me, refused my cities generosity, who refuse to help themselves are DEMANDING handouts on their own terms!!!!!!! They prance around as if they are owed something, and when they do receive a handout, they say it’s not good enough! Well you know what……these types of people can go to hell for all I care! -------------------------------------------------------------------- have any of you other volunteers experienced this? i think it's absolutely mindboggling if this is true. my only contribution for Katrina victims is a donation to Red Cross. but, i'd like to think the victims would be more appreciative of our help.
I heard this being read aloud on kpft a couple days ago in the afternoon. A rather infuriating read, from multiple perspectives.
i've heard reports like this from multiple sources. direct first-hand reports from people who are actually down there. help anyway.
This guy came into this for the wrong reasons. If he came looking to feel good about himself, then that's his own problem. If he expected people who've just been thought a week of hell and probably feel like their lives are completely gone to be happy and joyful, he's delusional. People are angry, upset and depressed, and they'll take it out on anyone around them. It's not personal - it's just how it is. If you want to help, you help. You don't do it looking for something in return. This guy tries to play off the "its not race" thing, but then posts things like this: <I>Even the little kids where demanding. I saw only ONE white family and only TWO Hispanic families. The rest where blacks…sorry 20% to 30% decent blacks… and 70% LOSERS!!!!! I would call them ******S, but the actual definition of a ****** is one who is ignorant, these people were not ignorant……they where ARROGANT ASSHOLES. The majority of which are thugs and lifetime lazy ass welfare recipients. We are inviting the lowest of the low to Houston. And like idiots we are serving the people who will soon steal our cars, rape, murder, and destroy our city while stealing from our pockets on a daily basis through the welfare checks they take. We will fund our own destruction. </I> Makes you wonder.
Major, I thought the same thing. However, I can really sympathize with the guy too. I wouldn't want my help to be so ruthlessly unappreciated. It would drive me nuts to see such callous behavior towards good will. I would be hard pressed to feel sorry for people who act in this way. I think the racism is evident, but it goes both ways. If someone called me a "cracker" or a "white boy" I'd be just as angry - and probably stop helping as well. EDIT: Point is, I guess I can see the frustration from both sides.
you have to take this guys blog with a grain of salt but i wouldnt doubt the racist comments. black people get away with snide racist remarks and make them a lot more publically known because they do get away with them and there is no excuse for it.
read some of the replies in that link. there are volunteers reporting having seen and smelled pot outside their churches. i suppose it's ok since they just lost everything.
poor victims....and I mean the ones who went down to help and didn't get the fuzzy feelings they expected. But he did get what he ultimately wanted: the experience left him feeling better about himself....in comparison with others.
This dude has an agenda. Regardless, he does make some solid points. Houston should prepare for the probability that these refugess will never leave.
CRISIS [Bob Marley] They say the sun an-a shines for all, But-a yin some people world, it never shine at all. Mm-mm-mm. They say love is a stream that will find its course; I mean - some-a people think life is a dream So they making matters worse. But no matter what the crisis is; No matter what the crisis is: Doin' it, doin' it, doin' your thing! (Give Jah all the thanks and praises!) Givin' it, givin' it, givin' it, givin' it! (Give Jah all the thanks and praises!) So - so - so much have been said, so little (been done) been done They still killin' - killin' the people And they - and they havin' (havin' their fun) - havin'-a - havin'-a lots of fun - Killin' the people, oo-yoo! - (havin' fun) havin' their fun! They just want to be the leader In the 'ouse of the risin' sun. But no matter what the crisis is; Oh, no, oh, no no - no what the crisis is: Do your - live it up, live it up, live it up, live it up! (Give Jah all the thanks and praises!) Live it up, live it up, live it up, live it up! (Give Jah all the thanks and praises!) --- /Instrumental break/ --- They say the sun-un-un-un shines for all, But-a yin some people world, it never shine at all! They say love is a stream, That will find its course, and every river runs to sea; Some people still think life is a dream, So they - so they makin' - makin' it worse. No matter what the crisis is; No matter what the crisis is: Do it: live it up, live it up, live it up, live it up! (Give Jah all the thanks and praises!) Live it up, live it up, live it up, live it up! (Give Jah all the thanks and praises!) (Give Jah all the thanks and praises!) His mercies endureth for ever, yeah! (Give Jah all the thanks and praises!) Oh, children, come on, and give Jah - (Give Jah all the thanks and praises!) Children, come on, and give Jah - (Give Jah all the thanks and praises!) /fadeout/
I'd question anyone volunteering to get a warm fuzzy feeling. If only 20-30% appreciated your actions then good for them. Pray for the other 70% that your kind hearted actions may influence some of them to join the other 20-30%. If you get angry and becoming a raving lunatic spotting racial hatred because your expectations weren't met, then you aren't helping life on this planet and might as well stay at home next time.
so if you offered a bed to one of the victim and their family, and upon entering your home they say "i'm not sleeping in that bed. i want the king in the master bedroom...and what is this crap you have in the refrigerator? i can't eat that. i want some rib-eye steak. OMG! all you have is water? i need to have coke!", you'd nonchalantly go about your day justifying their actions with "they've just been through a week of hell" so it's ok? and on top of that, they expect you to clean up after them. remember, it's not personal.
Amen.... That has been my viewpoint In comparison, I hear people say they won't give money to bums because "they'll spend it on drugs or booze"--tough titty, you give freely without "requirements" or don't give at all.
If someone who possibly just lost a loved ones, has been living on the streets, starving, dehydrating, watching others die next to them, living in their own garbage, and human waste, doesn't have the best of all possible manners when I hand them a sandwhich and bottle of water, I really should call them some racial slurs. Just because they have been following the directions given to them, and told help was coming, but it didn't come when promised and people died as a result, I should still expect them to be respectful towards authority after seeing the actions and inactions of those authorities cause the deaths of many other people around me.
It is weird that he refers to them as "pitiful losers" after they call him "white boy" and "cracker", yet a couple of paragraphs later he uses racial slurs himself. What a maroon.