Dear Fellows,

Yesterday I noticed an inbound link from Virus to my weblog and whilst searching for what or who had referenced me, I found this tirade from IRC (http://tinyurl.com/9u3tc) logged on 4th Sep 2005:

22:24:30        Mermaid i am listening to limbic's audio blog
22:24:45        Mermaid http://www.limbicnutrition.com/blog/archives/029237.html
22:24:57        Mermaid i am APPALLED by his opinions
22:25:23        Mermaid he basically says...that people there are suffering because they didnt help themselves
22:25:36        Mermaid never heard a blatant apologist for bush
22:25:53        Mermaid sounds very racist to me
22:26:00        Mermaid unapologetically racist
22:26:28        Mermaid i am sorry to use the word to describe a fellow virian
22:26:32        Mermaid but that man is a racist
22:27:03        Mermaid people were LOCKED in a stadium
22:27:12        serenade  with no food or water
22:27:27        serenade  and military was turning away supplies
22:27:34        Mermaid and he says that they were too stupid or lazy and he graciously adds that they were probably sick..to leave the city before the disaster
22:27:35        Mermaid wtf?
22:27:44        Mermaid i am livid
22:28:00        serenade        ridiculous


You can imagine my shock at being labelled an "unapologetic racist"! How would you feel to read someone stating without equivocation or qualification that you are a racist?

I can tell you that it is me who is APPALLED and LIVID at this baseless libel.  

Here is what Mermaid claims I said:

"...he says that they were too stupid or lazy and he graciously adds that they were probably sick..to leave the city before the disaster"

Here is what I actually said:

"The people who were left behind [in New Orleans] were basically the underclass. Too lazy or too stupid or too unwilling or simply unable, for whatever reason - financial or medical - to leave New Orleans." (Found at 03:50 in the podcast)

Firstly my statement is true. Secondly it is outrageous to impute that I am a racist. 

I am particularly stung because I consider Mermaid a friend of sorts.

You can hear the 8 minute podcast yourselves at the link above. Have a listen. This was a podcast expressing my sadness and concern for the people of New Orleans.

I think as a Virian I deserved to be given the benefit of any doubt and asked to clarify my views.

Kind regards

Jonathan (Limbic)