Social Death Part 1

            The stereotyping of certain people are trickle down effects from the representation of other groups of people. Cacho echoed Ulysse in some respect; they both understand that certain representations of people become their only identity.  Cacho’s discussion on the representation of Hurricane Katrina victims is similar to the experiences that Haitian earthquake victims suffer. Hurricane Katrina victims were not given proper medical care or basic supplies because of concerns for safety, similar to hot areas during the Haitian earthquake. It was clear, based on who received aid, whose bodies were found to be more valuable therefore worth saving. In the case of New Orleans, the people should have been worth saving, at least to some of the public, because they were not refugees, but U.S. citizens.

            Cacho grappled with notions of citizenship in a very interesting way. Instead of the simple what makes a citizen a citizen, Cacho shed light on which citizens are valued more. The citizen has a monetary value placed on their rescue, so are they worth saving if they are on considered to be less than worthy citizens? What makes a worthy citizen? It seems in the course of natural disasters that the only citizens not worth saving have color and are poor. People who are the victims of government’s misconducts are usually the people who are too disadvantaged to combat or correct the situation.

            Governmental claims to aid people and be an equal force of justice for all are proven false by constant reformation of policies and responses to major crises. Governmental reforms of immigration still leave someone unprotected. The immigration process is tedious and meant to keep out “others” because of nationalistic, liberalist ideals that reinforce the notion that all immigrants are thieves that are robbing the country dry. These laws are intimate ways to keep certain bodies governed within the law while simultaneously keeping them on the outside unable to reap any benefits. As Cohen points out, the immigrants aren’t able to receive any of the benefits their taxes pay for, although the common representation is they don’t pay taxes.

            Cacho reaffirms Ulysse’s notion that representations in the media can become attached to bodies as a singular identity. These singular representations or association of people of color, especially black people, with evil, dangerous and/or sinister themes serves to reinforce the capitalistic ideals that require someone to be placed at the bottom, as the undesirable or other, so that the top can continue to be.