New Orleans Mayor Says God Mad at U.S.

[jamie]

(He's a little closer but he still missed it)

New Orleans Mayor Says God Mad at U.S.

Jan 16 9:44 PM US/Eastern

NEW ORLEANS

Mayor Ray Nagin suggested Monday that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and other storms were a sign that "God is mad at America" and at black communities, too, for tearing themselves apart with violence and political infighting.

"Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it's destroyed and put stress on this country," Nagin, who is black, said as he and other city leaders marked Martin Luther King Day.

"Surely he doesn't approve of us being in Iraq under false pretenses. But surely he is upset at black America also. We're not taking care of ourselves."

Nagin also promised that New Orleans will be a "chocolate" city again. Many of the city's black neighborhoods were heavily damaged by Katrina.

"It's time for us to come together. It's time for us to rebuild New Orleans _ the one that should be a chocolate New Orleans," the mayor said. "This city will be a majority African American city. It's the way God wants it to be. You can't have New Orleans no other way. It wouldn't be New Orleans."

Nagin described an imaginary conversation with King, the late civil rights leader.

"I said, `What is it going to take for us to move on and live your dream and make it a reality?' He said, `I don't think that we need to pay attention any more as much about other folks and racists on the other side.' He said, `The thing we need to focus on as a community _ black folks I'm talking about _ is ourselves.'"

Nagin said he also asked: "Why is black-on-black crime such an issue? Why do our young men hate each other so much that they look their brother in the face and they will take a gun and kill him in cold blood?"

The reply, Nagin said, was: "We as a people need to fix ourselves first."

Nagin also said King would have been dismayed with black leaders who are "most of the time tearing each other down publicly for the delight of many."

A day earlier, gunfire erupted at a parade to commemorate King's birthday. Three people were wounded in the daylight shooting amid a throng of mostly black spectators, but police said there were no immediate suspects or witnesses.

[boblandis]

I do not believe God was mad at black people. I think it was a combination of the U.S. stance on throwing Jews out of their homes and God picked a city that is filled with hedonistic debauchery.

[boblandis]

I think God sent judgement on this city because of it's hedonistic debauchery, not because of blacks.

[amor]

I think God sent judgement on this city because of it's hedonistic debauchery, not because of blacks.

How about, bad but not unpredictable (whilst you can't predict when a big hurrican will hit, you can predict that it will hit saooner or later) weather, and poorly maintained flood defences, the total lack of adecent evacuation strategy. Nagins is trying to pass the buck onto God for the lack of preparation made by him and his fellow politicians at local, state and national levels.

Edited January 17, 2006 by traveller

[nebula]

Nagin also promised that New Orleans will be a "chocolate" city again. Many of the city's black neighborhoods were heavily damaged by Katrina.

"It's time for us to come together. It's time for us to rebuild New Orleans _ the one that should be a chocolate New Orleans," the mayor said. "This city will be a majority African American city. It's the way God wants it to be. You can't have New Orleans no other way. It wouldn't be New Orleans."

How is segregating themselves like this going to help eliminate racism?

[apothanein kerdos]

Oh how cute, the US has it's own little Mahmoud Ahmadinejad...otherwise known as Nagin.

[Marnie]

This is a funny thread. If I am reading it right, you seem to claim that Katrina is proof G-d is angry with America. That's pretty flawed thinking, for He promised Noah He would not destroy the world with water. G-d's judgment will be in the form of fire. Was New Orleans more or less wicked than New York? Or San Francisco? Why spare those cities? What about China, where Christians are persecuted? No, the fact is, if you build your house UNDER WATER, you have to expect to get wet sometime. If I was a resident of New Orleans, and a Christian, I would be really offended by ideas like this. As it is, as a resident of America, I am offended by this.

[jamie]

This is a funny thread. If I am reading it right, you seem to claim that Katrina is proof G-d is angry with America. That's pretty flawed thinking, for He promised Noah He would not destroy the world with water. G-d's judgment will be in the form of fire. Was New Orleans more or less wicked than New York? Or San Francisco? Why spare those cities? What about China, where Christians are persecuted? No, the fact is, if you build your house UNDER WATER, you have to expect to get wet sometime. If I was a resident of New Orleans, and a Christian, I would be really offended by ideas like this. As it is, as a resident of America, I am offended by this.

Before we decide it wasn't a form of judgment lets wait and see what happens next in America as a whole. Though he is merciful enough to give us time to repent, it isn't happening.

Odd how people have forgotten the (HOLY) character of God.

[ted]

Oddly enough, I kinda agree with what is left of amor's post. Many cities have been ravaged by hurricanes over the years, but yet, most of them didn't see the type of flooding that happened in N.O.

Now, I certainly believe that God can and will have His way with whatever circumstance that He chooses, but New Orleans itself was, and still is doomed to it's own construction.

You just can't build something like that below sea level, that close to water, and expect it to last forever without giving it the proper maintenance and attention that it needs to survive. The city's barriers were neglected far too long for it to take a hit like it did.

Basically, for whatever reason the storm struck, the city was simply too weak to handle the storm.

If they do decide to rebuild this place, they need to take a good hard look into it's defence system before they go moving people back into it.

If we are going to do it, then let's do it right.

t.

Edited January 18, 2006 by ted

[jamie]

Personally I believe that the whole earth is in the birth pains before the return of Jesus Christ.

(If) God does judge certain areas that become especially depraved, then it is an act of mercy in order that people might repent.

All God has to do is remove his hand of protection off of an area and allow the natural elements to destroy something, if we are looking for him to judge in miraculous ways then we might miss the message.