Hurricane Katrina

[kddani]

I wonder if some of the people that are like shooting at the rescue helicopters and that sort of stuff are doing it for some sick, twisted reason. Maybe they think if someone arrests them, they'll at least be rescued and in a jail somewhere (or wherever they're putting people). Yeah, they might get shot, too, but at this point, a lot of these people are close enough to death that it wouldn't matter to them much.

Of course, there's no excuse for the gang rapes and all that other stuff going on...

[ISUKappa]

I don't think you were being critical, I don't think anyone really understands what is really going on down there and why or why not there is or isn't help.

This is not directed at anyone in particular, it's just something I've noticed, and not only about the relief efforts in LA, MS and AL, but about other issues.

It's so easy to sit here, safe in our houses or offices and say "Well, if I were there I would [insert the blank]." But no one can honestly say those things. Until you're placed in that exact situation, you never know how you personally will react.

[Lindz928]

I'm sorry to all of you who think so, but I just do not think that race has as much to do with this as you all think. Black or white, Americans are Americans and I do not think that the government is going to be less concerned about these people than if they were white.

I am appalled to hear about beatings and rapings that are supposedly going on now. I understand fear and desperation, but I don't think any of this calls for lawlessness. It does not justify people attacking the police, stealing guns, and shooting at the people who are trying to do what they can to help.

Everyone agrees that it is taking too long to help those who are still there. But, I do NOT think that it would get there any faster if these people were mostly white.

[ZTAngel]

Originally posted by kddani
I wonder if some of the people that are like shooting at the rescue helicopters and that sort of stuff are doing it for some sick, twisted reason. Maybe they think if someone arrests them, they'll at least be rescued and in a jail somewhere (or wherever they're putting people). Yeah, they might get shot, too, but at this point, a lot of these people are close enough to death that it wouldn't matter to them much.

Of course, there's no excuse for the gang rapes and all that other stuff going on...

I don't condone what the looters or shooters are doing but I think it's a cry for help. I almost sympathize with them in a way. They're hungry, tired and many of them will probably die. The US government has essentially told them that they don't care. Their behavior is out of desperation. It doesn't make what they're doing right and it certainly doesn't help the situation but I can see why they're doing it.

[Eclipse]

I've seen several reporters help different people. I don't remember the network, because I've watched so many, but one reported was in this area where men were walking in water with a boat rescuing people. The men rescued 2 elderly women and after the reporter talked to them they took the 2 ladies to a so called staging area for transportation to a shelter.

Another reporter (I know this was ABC it was Michel something--the AA reporter with the short natural) was taking information from people who had been separated from their loved ones.

This is the most heart wrenching thing I have ever seen. To see people litterally dying on the street from dehydration is beyond belief.

[wrigley]

CNN played an part of a radio interview with the Mayor of New Orleans. He was livid that they(I don't know who he was referring to) are still considering on how to recruit bus drivers to drive the buses out of NO. He asked why hasn't Greyhound sent buses down there.

From GMA, they told a story how some victims pooled their money to charter a bus. They got on the bus and National Guard stopped the bus and made them get out.
As well a 18yr. old boy got hold of a yellow school bus. People piled in and they drove all the way to Houston. There's a possibility he may be brought up on charges. It's not like he took a plasma tv. He was trying to get himself and others out because time is ticking away.

[Lindz928]

Originally posted by ZTAngel
The US government has essentially told them that they don't care.

I don't think this is true at all. People and the government are TRYING. Yes, it is taking much longer than it should. But, the government has not done anything to tell them that they just don't care.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by Lindz928
I'm sorry to all of you who think so, but I just do not think that race has as much to do with this as you all think. Black or white, Americans are Americans and I do not think that the government is going to be less concerned about these people than if they were white.

I don't think race is intentionally part of it, but I think it has played and in playing a role in the disaster we've seen.

This is from today's New York Times, in a discussion of how all the planning and scenarios over the years failed to take into account dealing with much of New Orleans' population:

Brian Wolshon, an engineering professor at Louisiana State University who served as a consultant on the state's evacuation plan, said little attention was paid to moving out New Orleans's "low-mobility" population - the elderly, the infirm and the poor without cars or other means of fleeing the city, about 100,000 people.

At disaster planning meetings, he said, "the answer was often silence."

The plain reality is that these 100,000 people they're talking about are overwhelmingly black. I think that's a reflection on the socio-economic differences that still exist.

And while I agree that Americans are Americans, I can't discount the question -- might things be different if most of these people were white.

Originally posted by Lindz928
I don't think this is true at all. People and the government are TRYING. Yes, it is taking much longer than it should. But, the government has not done anything to tell them that they just don't care.

This may be more a matter of perception. Those of us with access to TV, radio, the internet know what the government has been saying -- including Bush's statement that the government's response so far has not been acceptable.

But the folks at the NOLA Convention Center have had no means of communication at all. (Even the police have had no means of communication.) All they know is that it's been days and no help has come. If I were in their pretty desperate shoes, I would take that to mean the government didn't care.

[RACooper]

Originally posted by Lindz928
I don't think this is true at all. People and the government are TRYING. Yes, it is taking much longer than it should. But, the government has not done anything to tell them that they just don't care.

If the government was trying there damndest and this was the best they could muster - well lets just say that erodes my faith in the US Administration even though I thought it couldn't get any lower.

If the government really cared - then FEMA would have been in place the day after the hurricane, not today 6 DAYS LATER!!!... I mean seriously Fire & Resuce vehicles from LA could arrive at the same time as the first FEMA convoy - that is pathetic.

If the government really cared - they'd be dropping food and water supplies to those stranded at major gathering points... not dropping sand bags trying to plug breaks in the levee (helicopters really can't do that).

If the government really cared - THEY ACCEPT HELP FOR FOREIGN COUNTRIES DAMMIT!!! Many countries have offered to send disaster relief teams as well as experts to help in any way they can - and yet Bush and the State Department haven't given permission for any teams as of yet.

If the government really cared - they'd have listened to the warnings that have been made concerning the threat to NO and Louisiana... instead of CUTTING the funding to the levee system.

I'm seriously disgusted by the response from the federal government and the US Administration - after all isn't this what millions of dollars have been spent on training for?

I also wonder what is being made of this overseas in Iraq - I mean if they can't get their heads out of their asses in responding to Katrina, it's seriously no wonder that Iraq is still so f*cuked-up... (although a BBC talking-head had a intersting observation: Was the response planned by Rumsfeld and Cheney? Because it bears all the hallmarks of their "foresight" and understanding of the situation)

[DolphinChicaDDD]

Ok, I need some prayers for a friend. I'm not sure where else to put this, so I'm sticking it here.

No one has heard from one of my friends, Troy, who went to undergrad and now grad at Tulane. His cell phone keeps giving us the all circuts are busy line. Troy is a great person and a fellow greek as well so please give your prayers/good vibes/thoughts.

Thanks everyone.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by RACooper
Ignorant Post

Rob,
Please take a moment and stop posting stuff like this.

Anyway, back to the hurricane. Where in the survivor mentality does rape, shooting at rescuers, and stealing plasma televisions fit in?

I don't think it's an issue of race at all. I think it's an issue of money.

-Rudey

[Lindz928]

Originally posted by Rudey
Rob,
Please take a moment and stop posting stuff like this.

Anyway, back to the hurricane. Where in the survivor mentality does rape, shooting at rescuers, and stealing plasma televisions fit in?

I don't think it's an issue of race at all. I think it's an issue of money.

-Rudey

Thank you Rudey. I agree.

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally posted by DolphinChicaDDD
Ok, I need some prayers for a friend. I'm not sure where else to put this, so I'm sticking it here.

No one has heard from one of my friends, Troy, who went to undergrad and now grad at Tulane. His cell phone keeps giving us the all circuts are busy line. Troy is a great person and a fellow greek as well so please give your prayers/good vibes/thoughts.

Thanks everyone.

Prayers are on the way. In a previous post, I posted some websites that allow people to post messages to loved ones that they are trying to get in contact with. Here it is again....


Various Websites are hosting message boards and other information for people searching for the missing. Here are a few:
The National Next of Kin Registry
http://pleasenotifyme.org/nok/restricted/home.htm

Craig's List
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/laf/

NOLA.com (The Times-Picayune)
http://www.nola.com/forums/searching/

WWL-TV
http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewforu...4bd2e188d4f473

Hope this helps

[RACooper]

Originally posted by Lindz928
Thank you Rudey. I agree.

What on the fact that my post was "ignorant"? Or Rudey's wondering about the reactions of the survivors?

[Lindz928]

Originally posted by RACooper
What on the fact that my post was "ignorant"? Or Rudey's wondering about the reactions of the survivors?

I agree with this:

Where in the survivor mentality does rape, shooting at rescuers, and stealing plasma televisions fit in?

I don't think it's an issue of race at all. I think it's an issue of money.

-Rudey

The rest is between the two of you.