Absolutely disgusting.

[gopherit]

So now they are reporting (NBC) that people are getting raped in the convention center in NO. Police have tried to enter but gunfire and/or crowds held them back. I cannot even FATHOM what these &%^$^# are thinking... Oh, I can't even think of a NAME for what you call someone who does this to finish that thought with!

And if that's not bad enough -- I was in the middle of watchng NBC tonight in their 1 hr Katrina news, and halfway through, BOTH our NBC stations elected to show "WHEEL OF FORTUNE".

 

[Free4Life11]

Apparently this TRAGEDY is not network newsworthy on many stations...I am shocked to say the least.

 

[babar]

Apparently this TRAGEDY is not network newsworthy on many stations...I am shocked to say the least.

I'm glad it's not on every station. I need to relax, i'm getting very worked up and my dogs are scared!!

 

[maleficent1959]

It's called anarchy and it's scary.

 

[grinningghost]

I understand these people are stressed out, but this is just crazy. How do they expect to be helped when they're acting this way? I feel sorry for the rescue workers - this must be making it nearly impossible for them to do their job.

 

[babar]

I understand these people are stressed out, but this is just crazy. How do they expect to be helped when they're acting this way? I feel sorry for the rescue workers - this must be making it nearly impossible for them to do their job.

I think they are a little more than "stressed out."

 

[lauran cameron]

it is scarey...I can't even imagine right now...

 

[Aneille]

I'm glad its not on every channel because personally I don't want to watch it all day long. Everyone needs a break from it. Its like watching the most depressing movie ever, over and over and over again.

I can only watch so much.

 

[Christine]

The Washington Post discussed this today. There was an interview with one of the military commanders there. He said that there are "rumors" going around that 2 women had been raped and that one person had even been murdered. He said that none of that is true. The only truth was that a few babies had been born and some people had died. But there had been no rapes or murders.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

one of the children was a victim of rape. And the only death that was not due to the elements was a man who jumped between levels.

I read this in a news story (as opposed to a forum or blog of rumors).

 

[alliecats]

I think LA Times reported about the rapes as well, and I heard one was a child.

 

[Sirius]

So now they are reporting (NBC) that people are getting raped in the convention center in NO. Police have tried to enter but gunfire and/or crowds held them back. I cannot even FATHOM what these &%^$^# are thinking... Oh, I can't even think of a NAME for what you call someone who does this to finish that thought with!

Did anyone hear Michael Chertoff on NPR? He said he wasn't aware of any people at the Convention Center and that the reports were just "rumors." It's been on the news all day. Video from reporters inside the Convention Center and the Sec. of Homeland Security isn't aware of it!

 

[HayGan]

one of the children was a victim of rape. And the only death that was not due to the elements was a man who jumped between levels.

I read this in a news story (as opposed to a forum or blog of rumors).

The man who died jumping between levels was at the Superdome. A number of rapes have been reported at the Convention Center as well as 3 murders.

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20050902/D8CBPDI00.html?PG=home&SEC=news

BTW, Shepard Smith is reporting about more supplies going into the Superdome and more people going out.

 

[grinningghost]

I think they are a little more than "stressed out."

OK, poor choice of words.

They are under extreme stress and are desperate - but it still boggles the mind how they can be turning to such violence when people are trying to help them and risking their own lives doing so.

 

[babar]

OK, poor choice of words.

They are under extreme stress and are desperate - but it still boggles the mind how they can be turning to such violence when people are trying to help them and risking their own lives doing so.

I agree, but one really never knows what they will do until they are in that situation. I just hate to judge all of them because I can't say for sure what I would do.

 

[gopherit]

I remember when I was training as a lifeguard, how they warn you that when you go in to rescue someone, they may be so panicked, so frightened that they will cling to you, climb on you, and possibly drown you in the process.
I expected to hear stories of panic in situations like this -- like, when they bring in the water, stampedes occur, or too many try to board a helicopter - that sort of thing. But how out of your MIND do you have to be to SHOOT at a helicopter trying to bring people medical supplies / evacuation? THey may a well have shot themselvs in the foot while they were at it.

And rape? With no food, or water, and the heat and sheer devastation and zero sleep -- WHo has the strength down there to even expend on that sort of act of violence? I mean, obviously it's their crude attempt at a show of power, but good Lord -- they want to see real power, true power? Put humanity and order back in the city -- now the person who can do THAT has REAL power.

I wonder -- we have seen the bad element rise up -- how bad would things have to get before, out of fear, the "law and order" justice in others (which I honestly believe would be the majority of those poor people trapped there that just want out of the chaos) would rise up and say "ENOUGH!" and fight back to put the bad elements in their place?

 

[babar]

I hope everyone realizes that those that are looting......don't think for a second that if this happenend anywhere else, rich spoiled white kids wouldn't be doing the same thing. you know, the ones that video tape their crime sprees and vandalism?

Also, I think we need to relax a touch....the looters are not going to take over the country!!!

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I agree, but one really never knows what they will do until they are in that situation. I just hate to judge all of them because I can't say for sure what I would do.

Well, I am pretty sure that I would do whatever it took to get food for my family. I wouldn't be shopping for clothes or electronics. At no point in time would I rape anyone.

don't think for a second that if this happenend anywhere else, rich spoiled white kids wouldn't be doing the same thing.

I do believe that when someone had their car vandalized on this board by teens, no one asked if they were white or not before everyone referred to them as idiots. I don't see what the point of this quote is?

 

[babar]

Well, I am pretty sure that I would do whatever it took to get food for my family. I wouldn't be shopping for clothes or electronics. At no point in time would I rape anyone.


I do believe that when someone had their car vandalized on this board by teens, no one asked if they were white or not before everyone referred to them as idiots. I don't see what the point of this quote is?

The whole point is that you don't know who is doing what for what reason....just judging based on one group.

My other is just a reminder, because if you don't think that people are now really viewing this in a "racial" way, you are crazier than I was this morning.

I know now that it crosses people's minds that "oh look what those black people are doing" or whatever they say. I'm not saying people on here, but all over and it scares me and sickens me.

 

[gopherit]

If I were watching these scenes and the people were asian, white, black, tan, or purple with green spots -- it's not their color that I would have issue with -- it's the actions. I don't connect the color of the person to the crime. Nor do I think that it only happens among the poor. There are lots of skyscrapers in New York City, and there's lots of crime -- but I don't think big tall buildings cause crime. Lawless people with no morals or convictions cause crime, and they come in all shades.

I'm sure disaster like this in any area could bring out the bad element of humanity - regardless of race, creed, or moolah. I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of these people trapped in the chaos just want their basic humanity restored (food, water, shelter). They aren't ALL rioting. And I guess one could assume that they don't rally against the "baddies" because (a) they are too beaten down by all that has happened, (b) fear (to have survived this far and then lose your life to some gun-stealing punk?), and (c) to some degree, they have had to go to a baser level themselves out of necessity and won't throw stones. I would certainly never steal or shoplift nor break down property to do so... but that's in my cushy little suburban world where law and order allow me to get those things through normal channels of society. But if my kids were hungry or my husband needed medicine or lives were at stake -- well, I am not willing to stand in judgement of any on those who are doing what they have to do to stay alive.

But stealing TVs, grabbing liquor and guns, shooting at rescue / medic personnel and rescue effort teams, and raping people -- that's not survival instinct - that's anarchy, entropy, and "all about me". And that's when a part of me wishes the helicopter had a really good military sniper on it that could have taken out whoever was shooting at them in one swift, bulls-eye shot. Same goes for any rapist.

I have to wonder -- if we were trying to do a rescue service over in some other country, and someone popped up and fired at our aircraft, would we have fired back?