A short while ago, hip-hop artist Kanye West shocked those watching the Hurricane Relief Concert when he said in part, “I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family it says they are looting if you see a white family it says they are looking for food. And you know that it’s been 5 days because most of the people are black … George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”
Many have quickly come out to say this statement was inappropriate and inaccurate and serves only to help divide the nation. While it may have introduced a topic that needs to be discussed or may have been inappropriate, the fact is that this country is already divided. It has long been divided. And continues to become even more divided by a chasm created by the privileged, ignorant boy-king who cares not about the American people, but only about what can make him and his friends rich. (Did I mention that Halliburton has been hired to help clean up New Orleans?) This division grows wider every day, not based on race or ethnicity-though these divisions do remain-but more so on class.
And the horrifically ignorant, tax-cut creating Bush Administration serves only to create an even larger division when its response to the tragedy in New Orleans, a city with a 40% poverty rate, comes five days late, yet the president was able to make it to Florida one day after its hurricane. Maybe he’s not dividing the country, but I can see why one might think otherwise.
Consider the fact that when he arrived, Bush said “Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott’s house — he’s lost his entire house — there’s going to be a fantastic house. And I’m looking forward to sitting on the porch.” This ridiculous statement was followed by laughter that signaled an inability to understand the sheer terror and pain that thousands of people, many below the poverty line, have had to face in the five days that the president spent apparently sitting in a classroom reading “My Pet Goat.” Maybe he’s not dividing the country, but I can see why one might think otherwise.
This morning, Senate Finance Committee members were informed that Sen. Bill Frist will move forward with a vote to permanently repeal the estate tax next week. According to ThinkProgress, “Permanently repealing the estate tax would be a major blow to the nation’s charities … since the estate tax encourages wealthy individuals to donate considerably more to charity” because estate tax liability is reduced through donations made during life and at death. This comes from the president’s party in the midst of a tragedy that requires the nation pull together by donating funds to charity. Maybe he’s not dividing the country, but I can see why one might think otherwise.
