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Levees in west-central Illinois were breached early Wednesday as the swollen Mississippi River spilled floodwaters into Hancock and Adams counties, according to a CNN report.

[Marcea]

Must have been built by the Army Corps of Engineers, just like New Orleans!

[Midwestern animal lover]

I know these poor people are going through a major disaster, but who are the photographers taking pictures of poor animals that will probably drown? How can you take their pictures and just leave them there? What about the stranded cat pictured in the above slide show? Did you pick it up and rescue it? What about the pigs shown in a picture yesterday that were trapped in their pen with just their snouts above the water? Did anyone think to unlock their gate so maybe they would have a slim chance of swimming to safety? Shame on everyone for not thinking more of the poor animals!

[Wheres Geraldo]

Have you noticed the extreme differences in the coverage and in the reaction to the floodings which have been in the media the last number of years? The New Orleans flooding following Katrina, and the current flooding in Missouri and Iowa. The differences are so different. I want to know: Where is a breathless Geraldo rescuing people? Where is Louis Farrakhan stating that George Bush blew up the levees in Iowa? Where have these people gone to? Where have they disappeared to?

[Marcea]

Wheres Geraldo wrote:

Have you noticed the extreme differences in the coverage and in the reaction to the floodings which have been in the media the last number of years? The New Orleans flooding following Katrina, and the current flooding in Missouri and Iowa. The differences are so different. I want to know: Where is a breathless Geraldo rescuing people? Where is Louis Farrakhan stating that George Bush blew up the levees in Iowa? Where have these people gone to? Where have they disappeared to?

That rule of thumb only applies to people of color or race, "play the race card". The people in the midwest are also low income, but they work hard and together to try and get through this, rather than holding their hands out waiting for the government to do it all for them. I didn't hear about any looting either, go figure..........

[Texas Longhorn]

Where's Cheney with his Haliburton contracts? He could save the day!

[Trixie]

Marcea wrote:

<quoted text>That rule of thumb only applies to people of color or race, "play the race card". The people in the midwest are also low income, but they work hard and together to try and get through this, rather than holding their hands out waiting for the government to do it all for them. I didn't hear about any looting either, go figure..........

...and they are not whining and complaining that it is because of their race that they are not getting everything they want...have you also noticed that the folks in the midwest are not blaming the president? Couldst it be because they are actually helping each other rather than putting the blame on everyone. They probably don't have too much time to even think of blaming someone.

[Marcea]

Trixie wrote:

<quoted text>...and they are not whining and complaining that it is because of their race that they are not getting everything they want...have you also noticed that the folks in the midwest are not blaming the president? Couldst it be because they are actually helping each other rather than putting the blame on everyone. They probably don't have too much time to even think of blaming someone.

ABSOLUTELY RIGHT and this is not a racist statement. It is not the government's responsibility to take care of a person. The whole welfare system was supposed to be a short term fix, but you have people that live their entire lives off of it and expect it. Alot of people use the energy to try and manipulate the system for their benefit. Too bad they don't use that energy for something better and for bettering themselves and family.

[Trixie]

Marcea wrote:

<quoted text>ABSOLUTELY RIGHT and this is not a racist statement. It is not the government's responsibility to take care of a person. The whole welfare system was supposed to be a short term fix, but you have people that live their entire lives off of it and expect it. Alot of people use the energy to try and manipulate the system for their benefit. Too bad they don't use that energy for something better and for bettering themselves and family.

You are so right!! The system is so abused -- I always thought that (like the midwest) neighbors helped neighbors, church folk helped each other, and you would take welfare only if you really had to and it would then be only temporarily..it boggles my mind that so many people think they are owed something by the government. Actually, it makes me sick!

[some people]

in keeping with all of these posts about race....my original post on this story when it first came out was.....i wonder if there will be looting and riots here...or is this a white community. guess i was right.

[Brother]

Trixie wrote:

<quoted text>You are so right!! The system is so abused -- I always thought that (like the midwest) neighbors helped neighbors, church folk helped each other, and you would take welfare only if you really had to and it would then be only temporarily..it boggles my mind that so many people think they are owed something by the government. Actually, it makes me sick!

Being originally from the midwest, particularly Iowa, I can tell you that you are all on target with your thoughts. Neighbors help neighbors back there. My sister is in Manhattan KS and a close friend lost their home from the tornado that hit the area - they had people they didn't even know driving up to volunteer in helping them collect their items and transport. I have two cousins who lost everything in the flood in Cedar Rapids all they can think about is how grateful they are to have survived the ordeal - the physical items can be replaced. Gotta love the heartland of this country!!!

[Brother]

some people wrote:

in keeping with all of these posts about race....my original post on this story when it first came out was.....i wonder if there will be looting and riots here...or is this a white community. guess i was right.

It isn't a racist issue in Cedar Rapids....blacks and whites were both affected in that community. I only wish others in this country could learn from this.

[Trixie]

Brother wrote:

<quoted text>
Being originally from the midwest, particularly Iowa, I can tell you that you are all on target with your thoughts. Neighbors help neighbors back there. My sister is in Manhattan KS and a close friend lost their home from the tornado that hit the area - they had people they didn't even know driving up to volunteer in helping them collect their items and transport. I have two cousins who lost everything in the flood in Cedar Rapids all they can think about is how grateful they are to have survived the ordeal - the physical items can be replaced. Gotta love the heartland of this country!!!

Your story is inspiring...makes me feel better that there are communities left who are willing to help each other in time of crisis - without the whining we heard after Katrina. My prayers are with your family and friends!

[Brother]

Trixie wrote:

<quoted text>Your story is inspiring...makes me feel better that there are communities left who are willing to help each other in time of crisis - without the whining we heard after Katrina. My prayers are with your family and friends!

Ty Trixie - I'll pass on your prayers to them - they will appreciate it.

[Trixie]

Brother wrote:

<quoted text>
Ty Trixie - I'll pass on your prayers to them - they will appreciate it.

My pleasure - it is the least I can do!

[Joao Pessoa]

some people wrote:

in keeping with all of these posts about race....my original post on this story when it first came out was.....i wonder if there will be looting and riots here...or is this a white community. guess i was right.

Iowa is 90% white. Hard working whites not white trash. This is worse than Katrina because Iowa is an agricultural powerhouse (especially corn) in the Midwest.

[Kenny]

Hopefully they will use the money correctly unlike in New Orleans.

[JAM]

My goodness, you mean they aren't eating each other?! Where are the pictures of all the looting and pillaging?!! And have they gotten a FEMA card yet?

[Cathy]

What's our gov't doing the money we pay in taxes and why don't they plan for emergencies, like I do? The infrastructure of this country is crumbling - where's the money going? It's not paying for the war, that's being borrowed from China (so the amount isn't included in the budget - slick!).

[Culture clash]

and how we suffered from the threat to the New Orleans culture. Oh my, what would we do without the historic birthplace of jazz. ummm, did anyone miss it? Did anyone ever find it? That culture took the bus out of town a long time ago.

[Avenger]

I went through Katrina in Mississippi. I lost everything but I did not expect the government to fill my every need. The people in the Midwest are the same. I rebuilt my life and they will too. All government help is appreciated but you should not expect the government or anyone else to take care of you forever after. The New Orleans debacle was caused by and inconpedent mayor and governor, not the prez. As for Faracunt and all of the others claiming the President blew up the levees...please..lay off the crack pipe and get off of the racism boat. The cause of that disaster was because the people waited for the government to take care of them just as they have all of their lives. The old gov is not omnipresent. Sometimes you have to take care of yourself.