The Lord of the Flies...

I am appalled by what I'm seeing in Louisiana. The devastation is horrific. The damage is unfathomable. The whole thing is tragic. Having said that, I think out of sympathy we are avoiding saying some obvious things...

Louisiana, according to 2000 Census Stats, has 19.6% percent of their population living below the poverty line.

Only 19 percent of the population has a college degree or higher. Only 7 percent of graduating high school seniors take the SAT.

In the year 2000, Louisiana ranked 4th for total crime, 7th for violent crimes, 5th for crimes against property and FIRST for murder.

The New Orleans Police Department has a rich history of being brutal and corrupt and fostering an atmosphere of lawlessness.

Louisiana and New Orleans in particular have some major problems on a good day and today is anything but a good day. But none of these things excuse the behavior we are witnessing.

People are looting things they can't possibly use--what are you going to do with 12 TVs in New Orleans right now? They are breaking into hospitals for drugs and taking infants hostages. All rescue efforts have been called off for the time being because the police and National Guard are needed to quell the roving bands of violent criminals. People actually shot at a helicopter that was trying to land so that it could evacuate sick people...

I've already heard those on the left say things like..."these people have suffered abject poverty and oppression for so long..." Ummm...nope. Not an excuse. There is no justification. NONE. The people behaving this way should be arrested or shot. And when the cries of racism and bigotry come...I'm going to laugh. 32% of the state is "of color." Most of the people who stayed behind were "of color." Most of the arrests and deaths (by law enforcement) will be people "of color." SO, I don't want to hear it!

Almost everyone is armed. Apparently, one of the things you take with you when you evacuate to the Super Dome or swim from your flooded house to higher ground is your gun. Yup...I hear you already...better to protect ourselves with. Bullshit! Ask the National Guard and Medical Workers just about now how they are feeling about the South's interpretation of the Second Amendment. There is absolutely no need for guns to be so prevalent. None what-so-ever. Best case scenario in this situation is that you might get the opportunity to defend yourself; worst case scenario in this situation someone shoots you because you used the last damn piece of toilet paper in the Super Dome.

This is a hideous tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the survivors, but my sympathy has boundaries.

Chris

TONY: What are we to do with thieves when we catch them?
RALPH: We can't have kids stealing and running wild. We'll have to have stricter rules and hand out demerits... I guess.

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RALPH: You're not going to get away with this.
JACK: Oh yeah? You're all alone. What are you going to do about it?

Lord of the Flies

Read more on the looting: ABP, Michelle Malkin, definately read this at GOP Vixen. Rumblings of racial bias start at MyDD. Read BoingBoing.

Comments

[dr wnc]

This subject must be taboo with no comments or too politcally incorrect.
Compasion is something every human being should have for another.

But I must say you make some great points, the relief effort for this massive disaster will be scrutinized more than any other. With the bad being pointed out more than the good.
You could say, if you depend on the goverment and expect the goverment to take care of everything then when a situation is overwhelming the goverment is not doing enough because you are unable to care for yourself.
The glory of private charities should shine...and be a lesson to the LARGER goverment crowd but instead a call for a larger FEMA and goverment programs will be the point for many.

[Steel Turman]

I have been surfin' around and found a half dozen references to 'Lord of the Flies' today. I read that book 45 years ago. No other book chronicles the true baseness of humanity better. Would you believe the 'author' has commented on my site? True story.