QUESTION: If the majority of those going into Superdome had been WHITE....

[growlypants]

Would the POLICE still have searched them AND their belongings for drugs and weapons???? If the parking lot was full of Mercedes, BMW's and SUV's, would the RICH have been subjected to such indignity as a drug and weapons search???? I doubt it.

[Justyce]

1. White poor people.... yes,

probably still searched -- rich people, no. In my opinion, things seem to revolve around rich vs poor rather than race these days...

[theboss]

2. If I was stuck in there, I'd want everyone searched

New Orleans is a very high crime area.

[northzax]

3. but there is always a drug and weapons search

to enter a stadium these days. I've gotten it going to a luxury box at MCI Center, can't get whiter that that.

[Captain Hilts]

4. They probably do the same thing for a ball game. (nt)

[tx_dem41]

5. Sheesh.....New Orleans is smack dab in the middle of a struggle...and you.

want to play racial politics. :eyes:

[Lochloosa]

6. Agreed...not a subject to bring up when peoples lives are at stake...

[growlypants]

7. I'm sinply saying that if they hadnt spent like 12 hours SEARCHING

evry damn person who was looking for shelter, maybe they could have used that excess MANPOWER to reinforce the damn place and shored up the sandbags.

[tx_dem41]

13. Not sure what they could have done with the two small chunks of foam...

that are in the roof. Don't think the police could have helped that.

12 hours? Seems they got everybody in there by about 6 PM last night. Don't think it took that long.

Oh, and by the way, African-Americans in New Orleans have a fairly unique situation. They are the power structure.

[AngryOldDem]

32. That points to a lack of personnel ...

...such as the National Guard, which is defending our lives and property in IRAQ right now, rather than helping to prepare a major metropolitan area for a possible catastrophe. Your criticism lies not with the security measures at the Dome, but rather with the total misuse (and lack of) qualified manpower.

If anything, this disaster points out the TRUE purpose of the National Guard, both state and federal...they are here to do the exact advance work that you're saying was not done because people were too busy searching pockets.

The Guard is needed HERE to help its fellow CITIZENS...not play nation-builder halfway around the frickin' world.

Security had to be made a priority at the Superdome.

[johnnie]

16. I am with you on this

This isn't the time for these kinds of threads.

[Texasgal]

17. I was thinking the same thing...

Good God... let's not try to politicize EVERYTHING. :eyes:

[Algorem]

8. they'd have to check on their mayonnaise supply

[growlypants]

10. hahaha

[Catherine Vincent]

9. In all honesty, I think they would have.

All classes of people carry weapons.

[Bridget Burke]

11. News Flash: The Poor are treated worse than the Rich.

And racial inequities still exist. Do you live in a perfect city?

Those with fancy cars--or even reliable ones--got out of town.

[growlypants]

14. thank you.

[Captain Hilts]

26. True. But searches are SOP when entering most public buildings now -

I was searched before going into a Nats game last week.

[Roland99]

12. Oh, FFS!

:eyes:

[tx_dem41]

18. Okay, I can guess what one of the "F's" stands for....

and probably the "S".... ;)

[Roland99]

19. For F*ck's Sake

[tx_dem41]

21. Thanks Roland...

I've enjoyed your posts the last 24 hours. Keep it up! :)

[Roland99]

23. heh heh...no problem.

;)

[dogday]

15. Poor white people, you bet your ass

it ain't about black or white, it is about green. Who has the money and who does not.

[Lori Price CLG]

20. Exactamundo! n/t

[msongs]

22. sometimes a cigar is just a cigar...and not your racial agenda nt

[growlypants]

24. i dont have a damn "racial agenda." I was just wondering what you guys

thought and gave MY opinion.

[Algorem]

25. It would pale in comparison.

+ they'd give the white people free pails in case they have to bail the place out,they'd lend the black people a pail,and a mop,and a broom...

[Joe the Revelator]

27. I'm willing to bet that in this situation..

everyone would be serached, regardless of economic background. If you have a situation, like what was expected in the superdome, with a loss of power and the chance of being stuck in that building for weeks, you don't want anyone getting testy and making a power grab with a gun.

[Obamarama]

28. YES. What a stupid question, and the inferences that go with it....

The searching of people @ the SD has nothing to do with race. If the majority of people were white, yes they would be searching. And socio-economics has nothing to do with it.

The officials running things at the SD are responsible for keeping this facility SAFE for everyone. While reports seem to indicate the situatuion inside the SD is smooth and uneventful, people who are there are under great duress and stress.

They don't need people getting high, or getting into stress-induced altercations and shooting/knifing someone - very possible scenarios that are not defined by race, socioeconomics, etc...

They need to guarantee everyone's safety. Anyone who reads anything else into this is a complete asshat.

[Tyranny_R_US]

29. Poor Whites (NO) Middle Class Whites (NO) Rich Whites (Hell no)

They didnt do it in california during the major fires and I sure didnt see any national guard troops.

[NaturalHigh]

30. If I were going to be in the Superdome with 30,000 people,

crammed in with no power under harrowing conditions, I would want to know there were no weapons around in case someone snaps. This is not a racial thing, although I knew someone would try to make it one.

[AngryOldDem]

31. Oh give me a break

It sounds like they did the right thing. Brian Williams reported that tempers got a little frayed in there last night, which the Army National Guard was able to calm.

Also, I thought the reason why they began the searches was because people were SEEN with said weapons, trying to get into the facility.

I know if I were going to be spending any amount of time with 10,000-plus people, people who I have NO clue about their stability, mental or otherwise, I sure as hell would want some kind of security check at the front door. It's just common sense.

(And by the way, I have been at venues where the hoity-toity were searched, just like the rest of us poor, lowly schmucks.)