Very Strange to me

kit_kats_mom wrote: I understand that New Orleans is a more urban area than Homestead was but does anyone else recall people looting and shooting others? Even after 9-11 we pulled together as a nation. I understand that the situation in NO is really desperate but I am appalled at many residents behavior. It's time to pull together not riot. Geez

Sorry, it just really bugs me when what you see on tv is looting stuff like shoes and jewlery. Groceries & diapers, not so much I understand that.

Maybe it's just the media but I am not very impressed with what I'm seeing

Maddie&EthansMom replied: There was a lot of looting after 9-11. It was kept on the down low, though. I'm so thankful for that, too. I don't think we need to hear about those kinds of things right now. I don't remember much violence (dare I say) after 9-11. I think the horrendous acts were violent enough for everyone.

I remember watching a show a few months after the 9-11 attacks about the looting and stuff. It just breaks my heart that people have to be that way. More than that, it breaks my heart that media feels the need to cover that stuff. Apparently there was a mall at the bottom of the towers with some upscale shops, etc. They had to keep guards down there 24/7. The firefighters and police officers were the ones ripping this stuff off. How sad is that?

kit_kats_mom replied: Yeah, you are right. It probably did happen. People do act strangely when the lives are in limbo. The media does like to cover stuff like that too. I'm sure that the majority of NO's residents are doing what they can to help their neighbors. It's just really sad that the most destitute neighborhoods got hit the hardest.

MommyToAshley replied: I don't understand the looting either.... I thought maybe it was out of desperation for food for one's family. But, you're right, you don't feed a child a TV set.

It's sad. And, you know, the majority of the people are probably helping one another out. But, it just takes a few bad apples to spoil the bunch.

coasterqueen replied: This happened during Andrew too back in 1992 (was it 92?). I watched a special on this a couple nights ago and they even had KIDS holding guns with signs that said "you loot, I shoot" outside their homes. It was horrible! I had NO idea that had even happened back during Andrew.

CantWait replied: Some people are just nasty enough to take every advantage that they can

gr33n3y3z replied: it all comes down to Greed and that is so sad

My2Beauties replied: I was listening to a hip-hop radio station this morning who was upset that they were showing the people looting, because well most of the ones shown were african-american. A lady called in and explained that 85% of NO population is african-american. It's sad that the media shows these sorts of things, they need to just leave well enough alone and worry about the happy stories that are going on where people are helping each other. So the media is partly to blame for this I do believe. People are going to loot, whether they are black, white, green or purple, like you guys said, it happens in every tragedy, someone takes advantage of a bad situation What really ticked me off though was that they were complaining (people calling in) that no one was coming out there to help them in NO, but that they rushed to the aid of Florida last year during all their hurricanes and I'm sitting their, jaw dropped, thinking how can she say something like that - I immediately thought of Karen's husband, people are leaving their families for months to come to their rescue. It's different when they are working with 20+ feet of water in certain areas and it's still rising they are limited as to what they can do now, gimme a break!

BUT - back to what I was originally saying - the media should not be airing the looting on television, it gives the city a sad name and makes people not feel as sorry for them and they don't show the heroic people out there helping their neighbors. Sad sad sad!

ETA: Not to say I don't feel sorry for them - I didn't mean it that way, because my heart goes out to these people and I am currently getting together toys and old baby clothes of Hanna's that I haven't already given away to send down there. I can see past the looting and realize that there are people in need and that there are decent people there, but some people just can't which is why the media shouldn't air such things

kimberley replied:
why does the media do this?! EVERY ethnicity has its bad apples and do we really need to hear more racist comments when such a devastating tragedy has happened?! that makes me ill!

my continued prayers go out to those families and rescuers in NO.

coasterqueen replied:
LeaAnn - that is horrible that they were saying that. But if I was in their situation I would probably wonder why no one was there to help me either. I mean people are trying to get to them, it's difficult with the city being 80% underwater and unsafe conditions. It's just a tragic situation all around.

As far as my husband, they apparently won't send him in til the water situation is under control. Although FEMA is hiring him to come in, he still works for a private company and they won't put him in that kind of danger immediately. At least that is what I was told by them last night. He's still on stand-by, though. It's a waiting game. He really wants to get in there now, I don't for his safety concern. But they told us it could be as early as Sept 11 (we asked them to not send him before Sept 10) or it could be months before they send him in. It's all up to FEMA at this point.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: That is soooo sad. Why focus on the looting though? (media I mean) People are going to do it no matter what.... why not focus on the HELP NEEDED??

Although....Seriously - I have to say that if I was in a situation where I lost everything, had no family around, had 3 kids to feed, no place to stay, no car to drive to another town in, and I saw an apportunity to grab some clothes for my kids and some food and etc etc that I might need for the MONTH that I am told I can`t return to my home.... I have to admit I probably would. I konw, that`s awful - but it`s about survival.

Comes back to the whole debate of : would you punish a man who stole a loaf of bread to feed his starving family? I wouldn`t, but some people would. I`d just pay for it myself.

Now If I had a place to go, and I had food to feed my kids.... then I wouldn`t resort to looting. I`m not a broke person - I have money...and I always physically carry my bank and credit card on my person, or have them in my pocket-book nearby, so if I had to leave in a hurry, I`d only need to grab that and the kids, and we`d be ok.

A&A'smommy replied: I just moved so I don't have tv and my internet hasn't been "activated" yet so I haven't been able to keep up with this stuff. But my thoughts have been flooded with the pain that these people are going through I saw a story last night of a man who can't find his wife the water or the wind took her away he said the last thing she said to him was take care of our baby, and I love you I couldn't stand it I'm glad I don't have tv because at least I don't have to see how bad the looting is!

jdkjd replied: I think one of the natives commented that the people doing it had been oppressed for so long (it was in the poorer communities) that they saw it as their shot to get back at the companies and society.

I just feel bad for everyone there, and it seemed like most of the looters were getting food. With no stores open and no refrigeration, I can't say that I wouldn't do the same to feed my children.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
Exactly. Who really knows what I would do in that situation.

My2Beauties replied: See the ones I saw were stealing TV's and electronics That is why I said the media shouldn't show it at all - now food I understand, not saying I wouldn't loot for food neither - if it came down to it I would do anything to feed my family - but TV's come on now! You just have those people that spoil it for everyone, and this is what I saw on the television last night and what they are writing about in the newspapers!

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I was thinking about this over lunch - looting electronics could be a quick way of making easy cash.... and for someone who has no money in a situation like that - it could be easy to sell and get some money for food or even for a motel for a few nights...

My2Beauties replied:
So funny I accidentally clicked edit instead and edited your post and posted my quote in it at first, had to remove and hit quote Long day!

Anyways, but cash for what? There is no food to buy anywhere, and why would someone want to buy a TV for which they have no house to put it in? Makes no sense to me

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
I should have been clearer... lol

I meant that they can take it over a few towns and try there.... there`s nothing in NO now, but there might be something if they`re able to drive away a few hours further... kwim?

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: But if they had cars they probably would have left. Most people who stayed in NO had no way to leave. I think they were just being selfish. But I agree, I would steal to feed my family.