Compare and contrast...

[GuavaHalf]

... the reaction of people caught up in the tsunami and those in New Orleans. It seemed to me that in the case of the Tsunami those that were able did everything they could to assist each other. In the case of New Orleans it seems to be every man for themselves.

Is this a good example of the selfish nature of western society, did the lawlessness go unreported in the case of the Tsunami or am I just plain wrong?

[january_bug]

It does seem to be pretty horrendous in New Orleans at the moment, and I think it's terrible and morally indefensible that people are looting at this time.  I can honestly see where the looters are coming from, but they just simply shouldn't be doing it... poor or not, it's just wrong. 

I think the states affected by Katrina are home to more materialistic people than the regions affected by the tsunami.  I think this may be a reason for the difference. 

I honestly have no idea what the editorial slant was/is for each, i.e., what's being left out to make the story read the way the media wants it to read. 

Either way, much of the behaviour in New Orleans does appear to be dispicable, and hopefully it will end soon so that the rescue efforts can return to "normal" and people can be helped. 

[georgit79]

You have a very good point, GuavaHalf (brilliant name, by the way). I had just started thinking along those lines, and was about to post when I saw this.

[kaktus]

That's how it looks in the news I'll give you that, but then on the other hand I saw a report from Biloxi yesterday where some people did all they could to help. I don't know if the people in New Orleans are more materialistic than people affected by the Tsunami, I think the difference is that shops and malls in New Orleans and other areas have a lot more "interesting things" to steal than in the region where the Tsunami hit. BTW if people steal to get clean water, food and medicine, I say rock on...

[WaldoMcFroog]

Additionally, there's a huge rich/poor divide in New Orleans and the poor tend to be the non-whites. Gang culture is rife and nearly everyone carries a weapon. All of these factors may go some way to understanding why the response was very different. I feel January's comment about materialism is definitely important.

There's two types of looting going on, of course - food and clothing Vs jewellery, TVs etc etc. There's a big difference between the two.

[january_bug]

I admit that until I read kaktus' post, I hadn't really thought of the looting as going on from the shops.  I thought the reports were off looting other people's possessions from abandoned houses.  I still feel that stealing is wrong, but for food and water and basic clothing/shelter etc, if there is no-one around to sell the stuff to them, then I can't criticise as I think I'd probably do the same.  Stealing from private houses remains utterly dispicable in my opinion though. 

[El D]

Of course old dubya has made no distinction between those stealing food and water and non-essential goods despite the chronic failure of the US to help those in need. Nice one george . . .

[kaktus]

Just watched the evening news, and as far as I can seem people are coming to help, at least they are in Biloxi. They're coming with food, medicine, clean water, dog food, you name it. I think that would case of New Orleans too, if it wasn't as impassible and perhaps much more dangerous.

I think there is "fend for yourself" here, but I believe that is quite normal, I'm pretty sure I would be fending for me and my family if I was in a situation like that.

 According to this "America expert", who has travelled all his life in the US, especially in the South, the people in New Orleans started to loot places like Walwart, because they apparently pay some very low wages you can't live on etc. The point being that when the anger of not being rescued or helped comes out, it hits the things that might have made these very poor peoples everyday life harder. I of course don't know if this is true, but I can definitely see where he's coming from.

[kaktus]

I can see of course not seem.

[Pootle]

Oh its so easy to judge sitting in front of your pc tapping away your remarks about the news as you receive it. Face it, none of you, including me, have lost our homes and in may cases, the lives of the ones we love. How dare you condone the acts of these people in a situation of which you have absolutely no understanding.

[Pootle]

Condemn not condone

[kramshell]

I wanted to point out one difference between the Tsunami and those effected by the hurricane in New Orleans. The area hit by the Tsunami was more of a vacation spot...right? So, all the people that were visiting got to go home to thier families. These people here...are homeless. They have absolutely nothing left. I also think that the Tsunami efforts were quicker because they were also prepared. I think the New Orleans area didn't think it would happen to them. What is funny, is there was a movie out last year on TV about what would happen to New Orleans if the levees did break. The scary part is it probably could have been prevented if the government saw the movie!

[El D]

http://www.aquarianzone.net/wavmap11.gif

You obviously know very little about the asian tsunami.

[moghopper]

http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2004_12_30_indexar ch.php#110442006657483017

[kramshell]

I stand corrected El D. I was going on the news here...I guess I should have read on it further. We raised money at my school for it last year and we sent it over. Now, it's like we needed to send more. I guess it is harder to understand if it is so far from home.