| Thursday, September 01, 2005 |
| This is not lawlessness, it's desperation |
The media has got to get straight what's happening in New Orleans. The people still trapped inside the Superdome and convention center -- who appear to be mostly Black and overwhelmingly poor, at least as portrayed on television -- are being portrayed as depraved criminals -- but it sounds more like they are desperate to the point of madness. No food, no water, no shelter, no evacuation, no hope ... this doesn't sound like you garden variety loot-fest. It sounds like a violent descent from civilization. To echo one refugee, via MSNBC, why can't supplies be dropped into New Orleans by helicopter?
I'm sure the National Guard, military and police and other rescue services are doing their level best. Thank God for them. And I don't envy the city or state officials charged with dealing with this crisis (thought its becoming increasingly clear that they could have prepared better beforehand, and that the White House and Congress are partly to blame). Still, leadership in this crisis is sorely needed. 9/11 had Rudy Giuliani. Katrina has Haley Barbour... |
posted by JReid @ 12:03 PM   |
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