THANK TEXAS!

[greeng13]

a lot of blame by many of us...and at the same time many helping out.

so like i said "Thank Texas!"

[Ivanhater]

like one of my country songs says "God bless texas"

[mahicks]

LOL....I already puffed my chest out at my wife tonight and said that I was proud to be a Texan...

She's never been there with me, but still she refers to Texas as "The Motherland" because of me.

[TexasSam]

a lot of blame by many of us...and at the same time many helping out.

so like i said "Thank Texas!"

Heck with my nick name I guess I have to say Your Welcome???

[KatDaddy]

Not just us Texans but everyone all over the US and WORLD.

[KatDaddy]

More to add.....We are very thankful to help any way we can.

[soonertwister]

I'm watching Greta Van Susterin interviewing the young man who commandeered the school bus and drove around 80 people to the Astrodome. Very impressive story. That is what is called intuitive intelligence. Picked up everyone on the way, from newborn to people in their 80's, black and white. They stopped three times, everyone chipped in for gas.

I'd hire him if I had a business. That kind of personal creativity in time of crisis doesn't grow on trees.

[Houstonia]

More to add.....We are very thankful to help any way we can.

I love living in Texas. And I'm not trying to brag, but even locally when disaster strikes - apartment fires, family tragedies - Houston really pulls together and generally donates lots of money to victims. It's a great and remarkable thing.

A final note: Please don't forget us when the Big One hits us ...

[GalvestonDuck]

From what I've read, y'all were there for us 105 years ago. Just paying back an old debt.

[greeng13]

Not just us Texans but everyone all over the US and WORLD.

i agree kat daddy!! i agree...but overwhelmingly texas is helping out and in a way "taking charge" as far as accepting the evacuees.

and doing so with a smile

[jasons2k]

Thanks to everyone helping out, and "God Bless Texas."

[Mattie]

Yea - God Bless Texas for sure! Ok folks - no rumor - no hype - 289 evacuees were moved to North Texas and 15 sheriff deputies were called out to break up the fighting. Our towns and cities don't need this. They aren't being mistreated, they have food water and shelter and the entire force (my boyfriend is a police officer) is on call all weekend for this crap. These people should just be grateful - - - but we see first hand.

As a former resident of South Louisiana (born and raised) these people are not from the mainstream society. They cannot be socialized into a community that sees very little unrest. The only life most of these last evacuees know is street life and that is very unfamiliar territory in the Dallas area.

Sad, but very very true.

[greeng13]

Yea - God Bless Texas for sure! Ok folks - no rumor - no hype - 289 evacuees were moved to North Texas and 15 sheriff deputies were called out to break up the fighting. Our towns and cities don't need this. They aren't being mistreated, they have food water and shelter and the entire force (my boyfriend is a police officer) is on call all weekend for this crap. These people should just be grateful - - - but we see first hand.

As a former resident of South Louisiana (born and raised) these people are not from the mainstream society. They cannot be socialized into a community that sees very little unrest. The only life most of these last evacuees know is street life and that is very unfamiliar territory in the Dallas area.

Sad, but very very true.

does this thread need to be turned into this? i was merely trying to thank those in texas who have helped out---overwhelmingly---those who have evacuated NO.

[NFLnut]

Yep. Although as a lifelong Washington Redskins fan, I STILL hate the Dallas Cowboys, but Texas is alright in my book!

Besides, my Dad lives south of Houston now (he's originally a Floridian, like me) so there's a connection.

[Houstonia]

Yea - God Bless Texas for sure! Ok folks - no rumor - no hype - 289 evacuees were moved to North Texas and 15 sheriff deputies were called out to break up the fighting. Our towns and cities don't need this. They aren't being mistreated, they have food water and shelter and the entire force (my boyfriend is a police officer) is on call all weekend for this crap. These people should just be grateful - - - but we see first hand.

As a former resident of South Louisiana (born and raised) these people are not from the mainstream society. They cannot be socialized into a community that sees very little unrest. The only life most of these last evacuees know is street life and that is very unfamiliar territory in the Dallas area.

Sad, but very very true.

Do you mean that no one in South Louisiana is from mainstream society or only the "last evacuees"? If the latter is the case, why would only the "last evacuees" be not from mainstream society?

Hopefully the Dallas Police Department can handle this influx of people. These people are suffering more than anyone should ever have to suffer in their life. Even if they "are not from the mainstream society" they should have the opportunity to live in some kind of civilized surrounding, whether temporarily or permanently.

I recently went to Fort Worth for a conference and was pointedly warned about the dangers of Dallas and the high crime rate in certain areas of it. I was also told that outside of the touristy downtown area of Fort Worth (where they have a private police force, I guess on top of the city police department), it is also not a good idea to walk around.

So I suspect that Dallas has some kind of "street life" going on.

And a last though? IMHO, these people are under NO OBLIGATION to be grateful for what we are providing. We can hope or wish that they will be grateful. But one thing I learned working at a local assistance ministry is that people who are going through crisis don't always have the energy to feel grateful for what is being given to them. It's all they can do to get through the day. In fact, I think WE should be grateful that we have the opportunity and the means to help someone else.

[GalvestonDuck]

I think WE should be grateful that we have the opportunity and the means to help someone else.

*applauds*



As for Mattie's "the entire force (my boyfriend is a police officer) is on call all weekend for this crap," I'm just shaking my head. This "CRAP??"

Believe me, they didn't choose to lay this CRAP on your boyfriend or his force. I'm really sure if you ask any one of them at all, they would tell you they didn't choose this crap. This crap slapped them in the face harder than any slap we could ever imagine. Whether they're there now because they just got there from the flooded and ravaged states or if they've been then since evacuating this weekend, they deserve our hospitality, our compassion, and our hearts.

Gee, I'm really sorry they disturbed some people's three-day holiday weekend (obvious sarcasm). Betcha Katrina wouldn't apologize for disturbing some people's LIVES!

[Mattie]

This isn't the Dallas police force - it's the smaller communities - and to futher illustrate the point - check out the cnn news on the bus that overturned on I-49 - they were trying to take over the bus and the driver lost control.

No, they didn't choose to lay all this crap on any one - but we didn't choose to have to deal with the attitudes and fighting of people we are trying to help.

Folks, trust me - most of these are from the metropolitan street life.

Whatever - I can't fight the battle and won't - read the news - the superdome where they are already tearing down the partitions and now we are just trying to settle unruly folks.

Put yourself in their shoes - IF you were homeless would you be grateful that a shower, meal and airconditioning was available to you?? Would you show disrespect by stealing clothes for a man that is going on an interview?? Would you say that the MREs are not good enough and they should be giving you a hot meal??

I'm done - but watch the news.

[GalvestonDuck]

And I'm not in Houston, but a smaller community too.

If I was in their shoes, heck, I don't know what kind of mindset I'd be in either, after what they've been through for the past five days. All you mentioned in your first post was fighting. I seriously doubt it was 200 or more people fighting. You're taking one incident and a small section from a large group of distraught, depressed, devastated people and lumping them all together as bad apples.

And what does the Superdome have to do with it? That was a crowd of 30,000. There's no doubt there was unrest there. You're talking about a mere 289 out of, what, 1.3 million from NOLA alone and enough from the other regions to make it about 2 million who have been displaced from their homes, communities, jobs, and lives? Your smaller community can't open its arms to 300?

Finally, have you ever been to the Big Easy? Metropolitan? I don't think so. It's as laid back as it gets.

[TXGale]

I love the city of Houston. Had the pleasure tonight of working with other Houstonians preparing the Convention center for more evacuees.

In just a few hours, I watched people bring loads of donations....clothing, towels, baby formula, diapers, baby wipes, toys for the kids, grooming supplies, linens, blankets, etc.

I watched members of our outstanding medical community set up a mini hospital triage center. Trust me....these people are going to receive the best medical care you can imagine.

I watched 40 individual shower stalls being built in the "shower area".

Probably about 40 computers were being set up,to be able to put on line information, so that these people can find there loved ones.

Not to mention setting up the sleeping area, food area...etc.

I was there probably about 6 hours and was amazed at what was accomplished in such a short time.

My husband on the other hand worked at the Dome today. He saw "things he's never seen". A lot of patients (including children) in critical condition. He thinks there was even a baby born there today. These people are in shock. Their life as they knew it, is gone. Some were coming in holding only a baggie with their belongings ,as that was all they had left....and they are SO GRATEFUL just to have somewhere to lay their head, have their children be safe, and to be able to bathe and eat.

I know there will be a bad element among them, but they are not the majority. THe majority will be protected now and I do believe the HPD, Harris Cnty Sheriffs and other law enforcement will be able to deal with the bad.

Shelters are being set up in many cities. Volunteer if you can folks...these people need help. You will be amazed and proud of what your community can do. I am so proud of Houston.

Ok...I'm rambling...I'll stop now, sorry, I'm tired.

TXGale


I BLAME KATRINA!!!!

[Houstonia]

This isn't the Dallas police force - it's the smaller communities - and to futher illustrate the point - check out the cnn news on the bus that overturned on I-49 - they were trying to take over the bus and the driver lost control.

Yahoo news: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/katrina_evacuee_wreck_hk1

OPELOUSAS, La. - A bus shuttling hurricane victims out of New Orleans crashed Friday after one of the passengers grew agitated and ended up in a struggle with the driver, killing one person and injuring more than a dozen, a police official said.

The bus was the last of five charter buses in a convoy from New Orleans. It was unclear where the storm victims were being taken.

One passenger, however, disputed accounts of a struggle causing the crash.

Steven Francis, 32, of New Orleans, told The Associated Press as he left a hospital for a shelter that he didn't see anyone threaten the driver or fight with him.

The driver was looking away from the road, looking down, and swerved at the last minute to avoid another vehicle, Francis said.

"I thought it was all over with for me," said Francis, who had 15 stitches in a cut on his head.