More Thoughts on Katrina

I've been reading various posts on several message boards around the net concerning the looting and "ungratefulness" going on in New Orleans. As I said before, I can understand people given the situation they are in getting food, water, clothing, and medicine the best way they can, but stealing big ticket items just blows my mind. The various comments have amazed me, enraged me, and some just plain don't make sense. As we all sit here in the comfort of our homes casting stones as we always do during times like these, I can't help but think about how most of us would handle the situation if we were in their shoes. As a wife and mother, I know that I would do whatever I had to do to ensure my children had clothes to wear, food to eat, water to drink, and maybe a toy to play with while they waited endless hours for aid or transportation. I can't imagine being contained with thousands of now homeless people in extreme temperatures, with overflowing toilets, no real food to mention, for endless hours waiting for some communication about evacuation. Most of us cringe when we go into a filthy gas station restroom....imagine being herded into close quarters with the stench of rotting bodies, perspiration, malfunctioning bathrooms, filthy standing water and no communication for days on end. People are literally dying in the streets while displaced families are looking on and wondering what their fate will be. I credit the people who are there trying to help, but I'm having a hard time with how fast the help is coming. Law enforcement is nonexistent, and they are overwhelmed with the wave of criminal activity. These people have their own misery to deal with even though they are on the front lines rescuing and attempting to control the lawless behavior. There just doesn't seem to be enough police to patrol all of New Orleans and rescue people at the same time. I realize that many roads in are flooded or blocked by debris, but the news media found ways to get in and up close and personal and show us all first hand the deteriorating circumstances. We are seeing the best and worst of human behavior from their viewpoint. I don't condone the criminal activity that is being played out around New Orleans. Some of the reporting paints such an ugly picture, and so many of us back here in our homes believe what they are seeing is being repeated by all people all over the cities affected and choose to condemn...pass judgement even on people who are helpless and trying to survive. I think we need to try to keep an open mind about what is going on. When you are stripped of everything you ever had or worked hard for, and your future minute by minute is unsecure, you will do what you need to do to survive. It's the survival instinct that kicks in. If you have a conscience, it will direct your behavior. So much of the criminal element is being shown and played up. But for every criminal, there are hundreds of caring people that are trying to survive and help their fellow man. I have seen so many images of people individually fishing others out of the water onto dry places, and reaching out even though they themselves have lost all. But on the other hand can you blame people for their anger when they are being treated like unwanted animals. Even the dolphins in one of the aquariums were evacuated and taken out before the storm even began. Why are we treating human beings like they are less than an animal? Our reaction to this truly makes me shudder. This catastrophic event could be played out in cities around the country through terrorist attacks, and we choose to sit back and throw stones. Just like we came together during the horrible days after Sept 11, we need to come together as a unified country and help our own. It's easy to feel detached because we do not live in the areas affected, or because those affected don't look like you do, but we are all part of the human race, and if you can't put aside your differences to lend a hand, or offer a word of encouragement, then maybe you need a reality check. Put yourself in someone elses shoes and walk around in them a while. You may be surprised at the thoughts and feelings that come to the surface. Casting stones never got anyone anywhere. Taking those stones and building upon them creates change not only for yourself, but for everyone whose life touches yours.