Devastation in America

[ManDownUnder]

Sarge - that was a pretty heavy handed reply to Lou's comment. You link points to another event, not the one Lou is commenting on.

One thing that upset me was the comment on the news today that in the states there have been comments comparing this current natural disaster to the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan. Ok, so there will be some disease around during the clean up period in America, however, can you really compare this to the fallout effects of a nuclear bomb? In particular one that the nation making the comparison itself dropped onto non-military targets?

I terms of physical effects I see their point... but you're right - it is more than just a tad "dramatic" - maybe the motivation is to sell papaer.. and advertising space?

The the bombing of Japan - I don't know enough about the rationale for dropping the 2nd bomb, but don't be fooled about the "non military nature" of the target.

The Japanese had a very good idea in respect of hiding their factories making supplies for the war. They didn't have any. (where practicable) it was common practice to distribute the manufacturing out to private homes where peopel would do the work piecemeal.

It meant there was no "single point" of weakness - if 100 houses got bombed out, they only lose 2% of production (as opposed to taking out a single ammo factory lets say - and losing that same 2%). It lead to some pretty savage bombings in Japan well before the Nagasaki and Hiroshima blasts.

The general approach was to go in and reduce everything to rubble with percussive bombs, then light it with incendiaries creating massive firestorms and wiping out 1,000's of homes (and people of course).

I'm not saying it was right - I'm just saying Hiroshima and Nagasaki weren't the only big bombing carried out during the war.

Of course you could also inspect what happened to London, Dresden, and any number of other theaters of war around the globe at the time.

... just my 5c

[WRT]

Quite agree MDU, but the fact of the matter remains that the desired effect of dropping those two bombs was to terrorise (and yes, I use that word deliberately) Japan into surrendering. I realise that in doing so they managed to prematurely end a war that would otherwise have cost countless further lives, but still, it was at a terrible human cost, and not one that I feel should be taken lightly.

However, not wanting to detract from what is currently happening in America, and my thoughts are with the people affected by this disaster.

[MikeL]

yea Lou.. its a war zone .. they should think about moving..instead of food and medical supplies.. the Mighty UN should supply Moving Vans

And where do you suggest that they move to? Texas, perhaps?

Stupid towelheads, sticking around when bombs are going off all over the place, just because it's their home...

And just remind me, why is their country a war zone?

[eliot-ness]

[QUOTE=WRT]

One thing that upset me was the comment on the news today that in the states there have been comments comparing this current natural disaster to the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan.}QUOTE

The comment made was that the scene looked like the aftermath of the Nagasaki bomb, which, from his veiwpoint in a helicopter, it did. At no time did the reporter liken it to effects of the bomb on the human population.
The reports we've recieved of casualties are way behind the estimates made at the scene. The final results could be over a thousand deaths. Everything possible was done to avert the tragedy, but, as in all natural disasters, there were large numbers who either couldn't or wouldn't heed the warnings. Now the authorities are faced with evacuating 100,000 people from a city which is virtually cut off by rising flood waters. I doubt that any other country in the world could handle it better than the USA, regardless of the final death toll.

[ManDownUnder]

Now the authorities are faced with evacuating 100,000 people from a city which is virtually cut off by rising flood waters. I doubt that any other country in the world could handle it better than the USA, regardless of the final death toll.

Yeah - they'd be one of the better prapred ones... but they could still need help - and if they do I believe that's what the UN is for!

[WRT]

The comment made was that the scene looked like the aftermath of the Nagasaki bomb, which, from his veiwpoint in a helicopter, it did. At no time did the reporter liken it to effects of the bomb on the human population.

Saw the footage from the air where the city had just been flattened, and it did look like a bomb had been set off. But the report I was watching said that there were comparisons to Hiroshima made (not by the reporter, but others caught up in the disaster), and the way it was worded made it came across as a bit insensitive.

All that aside tho, hopefully there wont be too many casualties, and the evacuations all go according to plan.

[Lias]

I'm a nationalist, I think everyone should stick to themselves.

No-one should help the yanks out this time, and nor should they help anyone else out.

[Lou Girardin]

I won't even comment on the fact that, if Georgy Boy sought treatment for his Oedipal complex, rather than bombing the crap out of innocent Iraqis so as to prove to Mummy that he loved her more than Dad did, then Iraq, London, Madrid and the next city to be hit would be much safer places.
No, I won't comment on that.
But I'm damn sure that I'd rather be in New Orleans or Biloxi now than Hiroshima or Nagasaki 60 years ago.

[Biff]

I like to think that I'm A-political when it comes to dishing out sympathy. I couldn't give a shite where someone lives or what their political/religious views are. An innocent death is just that, and my heart goes out to anyone who loses a loved one.

Food for thought - While the US govt boasts that they're so fkin rich and powerful - last year an extra 1.1 million US citizens fell below the poverty threshold, taking the figure up to 13.7 million for 2004 - up almost 13% on the previous year.

Sort your shit out Bush.

Rant over.

(sorry - another bad morning for the Biffmeister)

[SARGE]

Sarge - that was a pretty heavy handed reply to Lou's comment. You link points to another event, not the one Lou is commenting on.

i do apologize if i came off a bit heavy Lou.. bad morning and i guess i just got sick of some of the Yank-Bashing i see around and Lou was a ready target for the bile on my part..

the link i posted was a story back in July where a bomber drove into a crowd of kids to kill a few Marines that were handing out lollies and toys

kinda makes you wonder where thier life-values lie dont it?

guys .. we Yanks arent bad..our leadership is fucked up right now and my people are paying for it.. we can and will sort out the storm and Iraq in time.. the yank bashing just gets up my nose sometimes and i have never been known as PC or tactful

[WRT]

..our leadership is fucked up right now and my people are paying for it..

That could apply to NZ'ers at the moment too, but even me (as anti-Helen as I am) would admit I would rather her in charge than Bush . . .

Anyways, the tragedys that happen (unfortunately pretty much everyday) like the storm or the deaths in Iraq are a part of life, and those affected by it need the help and support of those that are able. Strong helping the weak and all that . . .

That was one good thing about the tsunami's, was the way everyone teamed up and helped out those in need. A lesson for us all in there.

[Motu]

the yank bashing just gets up my nose sometimes and i have never been known as PC or tactful

I think it has got up the rest of the worlds nose that all over the internet yanks are stiring up shit saying ''what is the rest of the world going to do about our disaster'',knowing of course no one will.They don't have to help the rest of the world,but playing Godfather has a lot of benifits....other countries asking for blessing,going to weddings....then calling in the debt.....

[SARGE]

I think it has got up the rest of the worlds nose that all over the internet yanks are stiring up shit saying ''what is the rest of the world going to do about our disaster'',knowing of course no one will.They don't have to help the rest of the world,but playing Godfather has a lot of benifits....other countries asking for blessing,going to weddings....then calling in the debt.....

i dont think i ever recall the US calling in a marker to pay back disaster aid.. in fact alot of the famine relief in Africa, Tsunami relief etc comes from John Smith on Main Street USA and has little to do with the US govt.. We Yanks are a pack of Compassionate bastards sometimes ..that has been our downfall on several occations..

incidentally.. i have kin in the affected area and i am not asking for help from anyone for them.. they are a hearty group and will come out just fine

[Waylander]

i dont think i ever recall the US calling in a marker to pay back disaster aid.. in fact alot of the famine relief in Africa, Tsunami relief etc comes from John Smith on Main Street USA and has little to do with the US govt.. We Yanks are a pack of Compassionate bastards sometimes ..that has been our downfall on several occations..

incidentally.. i have kin in the affected area and i am not asking for help from anyone for them.. they are a hearty group and will come out just fine

Hehehe, Suddenly I thought of this...

Country boy can survive - Hank Williams, Jr

The preacher man says it's the end of time and the Mississippi River she's a goin' dry
The interest is up and the stock market's down
And you only get mugged if you go down town
I live back in the woods you see my woman and the kids and the dogs and me
I've got a shotgun a rifle and a four wheel drive
And a country boy can survive country folks can survive
I can plow a field all day long I can catch catfish from dusk till dawn
We make our own whiskey and our own smoke too
Ain't too many things these old boys can't do
We grow good tomatoes and homemade wine
And a country boy can survive country folks can survive
Because you can't starve us out and you can't make us run
Cause we're them ole boys raised on shotguns
We say grace and we say mamm if you ain't into that we don't give a damn

We come from West Virginia coal mines
And the Rocky Mountains and the western skies
And we can skin a buck we can run a trot line
And a country boy can survive country folks can survive
I had a good friend in New York City he never called me by my name just hillbilly
My grandpa taught me how to live off the land and his taught him to be a business man
He used to send me pictures of the broadway nights I'd send him some homemade wine
But he was killed by a man with a switchblade knife
For forty three dollars my friend lost his life
I'd like to spit some beechnut in that dude's eyes and shoot him with my old 45
Cause a can scountry boy urvive country folks can survive
Because you can't starve us out...

We're North California and South Alabama and little towns all around this land
And we can skin a buck and run a trot line
And a country boy can survive country folks can survive
A country boy can survive country folks can survive

[SARGE]

[QUOTE=Waylander]Hehehe, Suddenly I thought of this...

yea man... just THINK of the FISHING right now..huge fucking Tuna in the rivers.. Sunfish in the pond..

damn... now i need a bottle of whiskey and a few Charlie Danials and Hank Jr. CD's