What is wrong with the GANGS in New Orleans?

[Janie]

Now they've reported that the gangs that are looting electronics and money are now basically sniping at a group of 50+ firefighters and their families in a building. No wonder this whole thing is so screwed up - there are NUTS out there! Now they have to send a team out to rescue the fire fighters which takes away from rescuing other people! Idiots!

[Lionheart]

Now they've reported that the gangs that are looting electronics and money are now basically sniping at a group of 50+ firefighters and their families in a building. No wonder this whole thing is so screwed up - there are NUTS out there! Now they have to send a team out to rescue the fire fighters which takes away from rescuing other people! Idiots!

They're not the only NUTS. We've got people just as bad away from the disaster. One of my assistants said "So what if help is a little late? They're just a bunch of welfare low lifes anyway. So a few thousand of them conveniently die. Big deal."
I was SHOCKED. I didn't know whether to cry or strangle her. These are people. AMERICAN people. Our people. They may be poor, but that doesn't automatically make them bad or disposable. I could have been one of them. I grew up poor. I lived on a bowl of rice flavored by ketchup and butter most days until my senior year in high school when things finally turned around for my parents.
The apathy I saw among a few staff members was infuriating. They're judging victims of this Force Majeur as deserving of their fate because they're black and poor. They couldn't evacuate mostly because being poor, they had no resources with which to leave. I have two cousins in New Orleans, and they left before the storm, but they're doctors with the means to get out in their car, with money to spare for food and gasoline along the way. I'm not black, but I sure grew up poor, and I haven't forgotten what it's like. I will be praying for those who are less fortunate, and by golly I am planning to give generously this Sabbath to any relief efforts sponsored by the church, as well as any relief efforts around town (haven't seen any yet-this is so maddening). I am in tears as I write this, I am so distraught by todays events at the office.
Sorry for the long rant.
destitute in spirit.
Leon

[Trevor Ash]

Wow, putting aside differences in one's personal beliefs, I can't believe someone would actually say that in a professional work place. I'd be pretty upset too, probably damge your relationship for the rest of the time you two work together.

I like to think that the amount of violence is being overblown by the media, but I just don't know. One thing I'm confident about is that they are isolated incidents by individuals. They don't represent the whole of the people of New Orleans.

As bad as some of these activitities are (looting for example), I have no idea what I'd have done were I in their shoes. The killing and raping, that's not excusable, ever. I might want a weapon to protect my "loaf of bread" though.....especially if I had a family I was trying to take care of. Gotta take care of yourself first, and I don't care how selfish that sounds.