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Adriana Trevino's avatar

I live in San Antonio and appreciate that you mentioned the flooding here in June and the loss of life as well as the fact that Abbott dispatched the National Guard for the protests here but not for the flooding.

Also want to add that I just saw another idiotic “Texas you voted for this” post and after checking on that persons page I discovered a previous post declaring that “not all White people are racist” and please “don’t lump us all together” yet they literally lumped all us Texans together. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Ya no puedo con esta gente.

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Arturo Dominguez's avatar

It struck me that the National Guard was not deployed for the floods in San Antonio while the media was intently focused on the protests. This time, however, the disaster was far too big to ignore. I won't even mention the disparity in coverage when it's white folks versus nonwhite folks. I feel like it's too insensitive to discuss right now.

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Adriana Trevino's avatar

I get that. I shared a video of Mexican firefighters assisting in search and rescue and had so much I wanted to say about it but did not because it’s not appropriate right now so 🤐.

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Arturo Dominguez's avatar

I can understand that too. I saw one video with a caption in Spanish that said something like, "Even though their neighbor to the North talks badly about Mexicans, they still come to Texas to help," and I thought that was pretty tasteful and respectful.

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Paul Snyder's avatar

Regarding the in process blame deflection game:

Watch for the analysis interviews from anyone associated with Accuweather.

They’ve already started on Fox (and then reappear on news consolidation services like FB, Yahoo, MSN, etc.)

There’s a long GOP history here, it didn’t just start in 2005. As always, Dems have just let it percolate in the background rather than point it out.

A reasonable argument could be made that Santorum could not have been installed without money from the Accuweather guys, a PA based company and longtime GOP donors.

The long term goal is to privatize for profit the weather services that are currently provided free for all by the US Govt.

They’re going to do it. Soon.

https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/7-year-old-attack-on-weather-service-could-cloud-santorums-campaign-071129

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Arturo Dominguez's avatar

I read something about privatizing the weather service about a year or two ago and I was remixed about it when I saw that AccuWeather provided warnings for Kerrville. It immediately struck me that they were involved seemingly more so than the NWS.

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Paul Snyder's avatar
Susan Martin's avatar

Beautifully and sensitively written. My heart is with all Texans as you deal with this tragedy. I am more than disappointed in MTN for this insensitivity. You help me remember that it is always those at the lowest levels of power who take the fall. Texas is a diverse and proud state, and my prayers are with you.

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Arturo Dominguez's avatar

Thank you so much. I had to get this one out just to set my mind right. Ron had me madder than hell earlier.

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Susan Martin's avatar

I just sent a note to Ron. I am outraged at the callous remarks. My state has also had catastrophic flooding and I know how hard it is to deal with inhumane remarks in the midst of grief. Take care of you and your family.

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Arturo Dominguez's avatar

Let me know if he gets back to you. I doubt it because he's ignoring anyone who calls him out for his post.

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Susan Martin's avatar

He can only ignore as long as there are no consequences. Let's help him have consequences.

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Arturo Dominguez's avatar

I'd love to see it. I know of at least a handful of people who unsubscribed from him and Meidas Touch over it, but the way they are, they act as if anyone who disagrees with them is MAGA. It's all part of stereotyping Texas and the South.

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Penfist's avatar

What good are prayers? Action is required to make any positive changes in the world.

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Arturo Dominguez's avatar

I typically accept people's prayers with grace even if I don't believe it works. To me, that means people care and they're including you in their faith while thinking about you and the work you do. I'm more spiritual that religious, but people are people. It's not until anyone tries to force it on others that I have a problem.

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Susan Martin's avatar

My prayers are part of my actions. It doesn't matter if we have different beliefs. But, I bet that no matter what you believe, you stop to think before you act. I call that prayers.

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VQN's avatar

For readers here like me, who know little on the subject, this is a good, concise "explainer" about features of the Hill Country, and why it tends to flood:

https://theconversation.com/why-texas-hill-country-where-a-devastating-flood-killed-dozens-is-one-of-the-deadliest-places-in-the-us-for-flash-flooding-260555

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VQN's avatar

Credit goes to The Conversation, which I highly recommend. The video referenced in the article is short, and useful as well.

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Arturo Dominguez's avatar

I love the Conversation and I sometimes cross post their work on my website that's separate from here.

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Jenn Budd's avatar

We have to stop blaming each other for our leaders’ failures. When they say it’s the gays’, trans’, Blacks’, migrants’, liberals’, Muslims’, Jews’, poors’, womens’ fault, it’s always their fault. So, start fighting for each other. Work w/each other. Everyone against the fascists.

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Arturo Dominguez's avatar

I agree. But I take exception to former Republicans who advocated for stripping the voting rights act to talk trash and blame us for a natural disaster in one of the most voter suppressed state in the country. He won't address that part because he's part of that problem, along with so many other Never Trump Republicans.

We shouldn't allow misinformation to prevail for any reason, especially when we know it will be used against us later.

This is as much about being proactive as it is about tackling misinformation.

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