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For the Poor, Sudden Celebrity
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/21/AR2005092102396_pf.html ^ | September 22, 2005 | Kevin Merida and Michael A. Fletcher

Posted on 09/22/2005 5:18:06 AM PDT by Maria S

DALLAS -- All of a sudden the poor have emerged from the shadows of invisibility, lifted onto a temporary pedestal by natural disaster. Whether it is because of guilt, pity or the nation's generosity in times of crisis, those who lost everything -- many of whom had little to begin with -- find themselves in a strange wonderland of recognition.

The destitute people sent fleeing by Katrina have been offered free housing, free clothing, free cars, free toys, special admission to universities and preferential job treatment. Athletes come to them , bestowing jerseys and autographs. Entertainers sing for them, and Bennigan's restaurants here and in Houston announced Katrina's kids could eat without paying for a while.

This is what it's like for the celebrity poor, a new subculture created by Hurricane Katrina.

Chris Lawrence, 49, who spent five days on a New Orleans overpass, is not sure what it all means. Mostly, he sits still in a Dallas shelter and reads the Bible. Describing himself as bone-tired after a life of working two jobs in New Orleans, he figures he's blessed just to be alive. The outpouring of kindness by Texans has restored his belief in compassion. "I had lost faith in humanity," he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 09/22/2005 5:18:06 AM PDT by Maria S
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To: Maria S

At 49 bone tired after working two jobs , he needs to get up off the bed and start looking for ONE job.

Give me a break , I worked 2 and sometimes 3 jobs at one time sure I was tired, but my working 2 jobs allowed my wife to stay home and actually raise the kids instead of having to farm them out. Now they are married I am retired and life is good. If thing s happened and I had to get out tomorrow and work thats what I would do, I wouldnt lay around waiting for someone to hand me a living. We have thousands of illegals crossing the borders every day finding work, and they send half of the pittance they earn back home. Stop whining get off your azz and find a job.


2 posted on 09/22/2005 5:41:34 AM PDT by sgtbono2002
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To: Maria S
Since the WaPo, like most other MSM rags, should be laying off a bunch of folks soon, maybe they can convert some of the newly opened office space to subsidized lofts for their newfound comrades.

THE WAPO LAYOFF LOFTS - bad credit - no credit - NO PROBLEM!!

3 posted on 09/22/2005 5:46:53 AM PDT by keithtoo (Howard Dean is a Rove plant, Rove is a NeoCon plant, NeoCons are Trilateralist plants....)
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To: Maria S
Since the WaPo, like most other MSM rags, should be laying off a bunch of folks soon, maybe they can convert some of the newly opened office space to subsidized lofts for their newfound comrades.

THE WAPO LAYOFF LOFTS - bad credit - no credit - NO PROBLEM!!

4 posted on 09/22/2005 5:47:11 AM PDT by keithtoo (Howard Dean is a Rove plant, Rove is a NeoCon plant, NeoCons are Trilateralist plants....)
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To: Maria S

And will they do the same for all of RITA's TEXAS evacuees?



5 posted on 09/22/2005 5:50:03 AM PDT by stopem
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To: Maria S
"congressional researchers say there are more than 80 poverty-related programs, which in 2003 cost $522 billion.

Unbelieveable! $522 BILLION for welfare programs!

6 posted on 09/22/2005 5:54:03 AM PDT by stopem
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To: Maria S

We have been looking to buy an RV to travel in on family vacations. My kids like looking at the different features with us at RV lots, etc. Last night I was thumbing through the latest issue of newsweek(I got the magazine free for a year) and there was a picture taken from a helicopter of the RVs that will temporarily house hurricane victims. (Victims. Even the racist hurricanes target poor blacks.) My 8 year old glanced over my shoulder and asked if we could go look at THOSE RVs and see if they have a good one? I said no, my dear, those are for hurricane victims. He was silent, and asked why we didn't get an RV. I told him those people didn't have a home and the RVs will be their home until...until what? Until someone gives them a home?


7 posted on 09/22/2005 5:56:46 AM PDT by aaronbeth (Our freedom was won from the barrel of a gun.)
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To: sgtbono2002

My dad's young married life was a bit like yours...he worked two jobs while going to school, first finishing his bachelors, then masters and Phd. We were teenagers when he finally had the time to finish writing his doctoral thesis.

Now he didn't work manual labor, he had an office job, and taught school in the evenings.


8 posted on 09/22/2005 6:17:41 AM PDT by Katya (Homo Nosce Te Ipsum)
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To: Maria S

"This is what it's like for the celebrity poor, a new subculture created by Hurricane Katrina."

...

Well isn't this so typical of American culture period, ie., build them up, tear them down, repeat often.
Many of the people who fled Katrina don't have anything. It will take months before the (many) ones who don't make the feel bad or feel good news stories get assistance, clothes, housing, and even a decent job. Life isn't perfection so to the envious or jealous viewers out there, get use to it.


9 posted on 09/22/2005 6:22:17 AM PDT by SunnySide (Ephes2:8 ByGraceYou'veBeenSavedThruFaithAGiftOfGodSoNoOneCanBoast)
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