"But when given their freedom didn't know what to do or where to go, having been told what to do all their lives"
That scenario is at varying stages of relplaying itself in several other areas around the world right now (e.g. Zimbabwe right now, Venezuela just starting).
And in those cases, like w/ the original slaves of the US, it isn't that they were just lazy recipients before hand.
What kills me in particular about the NO situation is that these people will sit there in lawn chairs somewhere complaining about their situation all day long. Meanwhile some poor schmuck who still believes in working for a living will be out there in the hot sun shovelling sh|t to rebuild FOR them.
Why not just send them a couple truckloads of tools and materials and tell them "Here ya' go... Start reconstructing"?
Even if they don't have the requisite skills to build, couldn't they at least get off their @sses and help cleanup?
Its as thought that point never even comes up in public discussion. They can't all be "disabled".
Its just disgusting....
This is where Habbit for Humanity (Jimmy Carter UGH!) could do some good... since they would be required to participate in the building of their home it might 1)teach a skill, 2) instill some pride, 3) get them off their rears.