[lovelyivy84]

I came back to GC to see how folks were faring in the midst of all this tragedy. From my job at a local College, I have desperately been trying to get in touch with all the people affiliated with the school that I can. I have heard back from 2.

I am so sick over what is happening here.

A major American city just collapsed, and the residents who have managed to escape with their lives all are left with nothing. In a city where something like 30-40% of the population are at or below the poverty level, what does this mean? What is going to happen to America in the wake of this disaster? NOLA is the fourth largest port in the country, and I read that it is actually the 4th largest port int he WORLD by volume. 1.6 million people just lost everything, and insurance in those areas of the country will usually only cover wind damage to houses, leaving the rest to be covered by FEMA.

And THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT?

I have seen media pictures just like all of you and the VAST majority of looters were carrying clothes, food, batteries and water. WHO CARES whether we call it looting or finding. Fact is they had to commit theft to get their needs met.

As to reports about stealing stereos, etc, do we have ANY concrete information supporting all of this condemnation? I am not saying it is NOT happening, but I would bet that the percentage of people stealing stereos ESPECIALLY at this point is PRETTY DAMN LOW. Talking about like that's half of the god damn city is sooo beyond ludicrous.

BE mad about the robberies and rapes that are going on down there and preventing people at evacuation centers from even going to the damn bathroom. Be mad at a local and federal government that was COMPLETELY incapable of providing any means for the poorest, the elderly and the sick to EVACUATE the damn city. They told them to leave, but didnt do a damn thing to make sure they did.

Being mad that the media called people looters is BEYOND petty.

ETA: Sorry if this feels like an attack on anyone. I'm just angry about the situation, like a whole lot of people, and sometimes it feels like folks IN GENERAL think it's more important to point fingers then actually help. And pointing fingers at black people, white people, etc just feels like a HUGE avoidance of the real issues. I know that a lot of people are discussing a lot more than this, this just seems *especially* unproductive. At least no one here is blaming the victims for not leaving, when so many of them couldn't.

I hope everyone on this thread has already donated to the Salvation Army and Red Cross.