Twerps.

[afternoonjazz]

I was asked to be on the BBC "World Have Your Say" radio segment, but I responded minutes too late to be on the show. Poop.

So while I suffered this minor defeat, I found a forum on their website where some of the stupidest comments where being thrown around concerning the fires.

• We'll get aid and FEMA and Bush sooner than Katrina because we're "white."
  
• It's our own fault, since we live here.
  
• It's our own fault because we have poor land management. (What?)
  
• We are all affluent, so it's not a big deal.
  
• There was a better response by emergency crews because we're white/affluent.
  
• We should be spending money on Iraq, if we didn't waste our money there we could have fought the fires better.
  
• We need a lesson in fire-fighting; apparently the reason why we're burning is because we're stupid and poorly trained.
  

Certainly there are voices of reason, but my God, is this really what people think? I've read some of the ill-informed and ridiculous comments about my work and the sex-abuse settlement/bankruptcy and I can stand the complete ignorance on that front. But this is just the stupidest drivel ever. Since I made a list, I may as well respond in form.

• Many lessons were learned during Katrina on how the federal government needs to respond to natural disasters. We are reaping the benefits of those lessons. We are an incredibly diverse population and I don't believe there is a white majority in our county. We have an enormous latino population.
  
• And it's our fault if we suffer an earthquake. Heck, by this reasoning it's those Nawhlin's residents fault that they died because of Katrina. We should never live anywhere that has any possible threats. Tornados in Kansas-serves them right. Especially if they have trailers.
  
• Urban sprawl, aw how it is misunderstood. Many of these communities (at least in the South East) have existed as separate entities from "San Diego" and were eventually connected to the city through in-fill. There have been reservations, communities, and ranchers out in the boon-docks for quite some time. The areas that have been filled in since these communities were established actually reduce the amount of brush and tinder.
  
• I'd say that Rancho Santa Fe and Rancho Bernardo are the most affluent communities affected. Much of the burn area has affected low-income families and middle-class commuters. A good point was made that many people bought their homes in the $50-$60,000 range and cannot afford to rebuild at current prices. Not everyone has home insurance, and even then it has its' faults. Luckily, an insurance disaster has been delcared, allowing claims adjusters from other states to come in and assess the damage.
  
• We suffered under these fires 4 years ago and many lessons have been learned. We have had a good response because we have well-trained crews! Many improvements have been made in regards to communication between different entities and even the media is better connected. Our demographics have little to do with this preparedness. Credit the better local and state government vs. Louisiana's during Katrina if you want to find a cause.
  
• Yeah, that's how $$ and taxes work. I can't even start to tear this one apart.
  
• You need a lesson in the Santa Ana winds. Fixed-wing aircraft (the kind that dump fire-retardant powders) could not take off Monday due to the winds. The winds also caused the unpredictability and rapidity of the fire. Wiki it if you need to!
  

It's a result of the excellent coordination of our various emergency services; local, state, out-of-state, military, and federal assistance being offered and effectively dispatched; the orderly evacuation that saved many lives; and the cooperation of the residents after having seen the effects of the Cedar and Paradise fires four years ago.

If you are really thinking any of the first list and my post didn't convince you, then please let me know what I can clarify. Imagine if we blamed the monks in Burma (Myanmar is the name that the unrecognized and current government changed the country to) for their corrupt and oppressive government... if we blamed the Greeks for the fires that ravaged their country this summer... if we blamed the Jews or the Armenians for being massacred... we could never retain the right to have unlucky circumstances befall us. Everything bad is our fault and everything good is because we are affluent and white. Please keep an open mind and make some room in your hearts for compassion.