Why are there looters?

[ThAnswr]

Gods, it's like anarchy down there.

Even if my fiance's apartment building survived, it would be almost worthless to go back because of the looting.

And yes, I meant it as a defense.

Canada has its problems too. I think that we aren't aggressive ENOUGH. Its one of our problems.

I understand why that is with my country too though. Yours was born out of blood, pain and suffering. Ours was a much more peaceful creation.

Its mostly about understanding the country's past and culture to understand the way they think.

Canadians are taught to be polite, and nice. Aggression is rare. Thats not to say that we wouldn't. We still have murder, rape, theft, and all the nasty little things humans can do to each other.

We are just different..

To understand Americans (as confusing as it can seem to us) its best to understand their history. I understood a whole heck of alot better after my American History classes in college.

No offense intended, but I don't think you understand squat.

 

[RickinNYC]

Thanks for proving what I just said.

Did I not just say that there are exceptions to that within Canada? Or did you not even read what I posted?

Proving what you said? Nice way to try to turn a disaster into debate central with you at the center. Good job. Be proud.

Totalia, perhaps you might consider focusing your "aggression" that you learned during your stay in the U.S. and put it to good use by campaigning your community for donations that might go to support those people who are now homeless and penniless. Rather than trying to make Americans feel humble or otherwise like crap, you can give those folks down south a little hope.

Think about it.

 

[Lessa of Pern]

I felt very much at home in Montreal...it reminded me so much of NYC in its attitude.

so much for totalia's theory that canadians are nicer or more polite...

 

[ThAnswr]

Totalia called it anarchy in New Orleans. It is anarchy. There's no drinkable water, there's no electricity, there's no food and there's no way out.

Add to that the fact it's hotter than hell, and what you've got is a recipe for disaster.

 

[Deb in IA]

USA is the most heterogeneous nation on earth, so please, totalia, do NOT categorize all Americans in such broad generalities.

 

[TammiMcMan]

At the end of the day, I have no idea what I would do if I were in those dire straits. I would like to think I wouldn't be involved in the looting because I believe it is wrong, but faced with starving I may well steal what I need to live.

I also keep coming back to this thought as I watch the TV. There are some who are disgusted with looting as a whole. My perspective is that there are 2 distinctions. The people who are doing it for survival and the one's who are clearly taking advantage of a horrible situation. I heard a phone conversation during a report last night from a hospital worker. There are patients in the hospital on life support systems and they are relying on portable generators to keep these people alive. Is it considered looting when these staff members have to go out to the parking garage and syphon gas from cars to keep the generators going? I'm not there, but based on the pictures that I've seen, I can't imagine anything worse. Entire towns are destroyed and many people have only the clothes that they are wearing. This is probably a cop out, but only God knows what is in these peoples hearts when they walk into a store. He's a better judge of character than I could ever be.

 

[inaminute]

Totalia, you don't miss an opportunity, do you? Kick 'em when they're down. If you're an example of the "polite and nice" as taught in Canada, I'll stick with being a rude, obnoxious, aggressive American.

 

[Viking]

However what really scares me is what's going on in the Super Dome. It's just going to be a matter of time before a riot breaks out.

We just had a 15 minute special on one of Germany's major nationwide TV-stations. Evening news here are at 8pm and last 15 minutes. Whenever something really important happens they add those specials. New Orleans now made it necessary for three days in a row to braodcast such a special.
Tom Buhrow, their long-time correspondent in Washington, compared the situation in the Superdome to that of a refugee camp in a third world country. When there is no outside help very soon, the situation may explode.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have no idea, but it makes me sad that some of the folks in the USA behave this way.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

I had typed out a long post and lost it somehow, I decided not to re-post because the generalizations and stereotypes (on many accounts) going on in this thread has upset me, so I'm bowing out of this one.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Proving what you said? Nice way to try to turn a disaster into debate central with you at the center. Good job. Be proud.

Totalia, perhaps you might consider focusing your "aggression" that you learned during your stay in the U.S. and put it to good use by campaigning your community for donations that might go to support those people who are now homeless and penniless. Rather than trying to make Americans feel humble or otherwise like crap, you can give those folks down south a little hope.

Think about it.

Bravo Rick! Well said.

 

[totalia]

Yes and nice way of twisting what I said to make you seem like the victim in what I said even though it wasn't intended that way. Very nice indeed. Well done.


Clearly some of the posters here actually got what was meant. Nice to see that. Thanks guys.

Now how about we actually get back to the issue instead of you jumping down someones throat with extreme oversensitivity hmm?

 

[jgmklmhem]

We just had a 15 minute special on one of Germany's major nationwide TV-stations. Evening news here are at 8pm and last 15 minutes. Whenever something really important happens they add those specials. New Orleans now made it necessary for three days in a row to braodcast such a special.
Tom Buhrow, their long-time correspondent in Washington, compared the situation in the Superdome to that of a refugee camp in a third world country. When there is no outside help very soon, the situation may explode.

According to recent reports the Superdome's current occupants are going to be evacuated to the Houston Astrodome in the near future. The Superdome will still be used as a triage place to send new evacuees.

 

[RickinNYC]

Totalia, I thought you might appreciate a little blurb I found on CNN.com when we all experienced the massive blackout of August, '03. Here's the little snippet I saw:

"Police in Toronto and Ottawa, Canada's capital, reported looting and other crime during the night of darkened streets, and authorities advised people to stay home if possible Friday. "

And here's another more telling quote:

"In Toronto, police made 38 arrests overnight linked to the blackout and reported 114 incidents, mostly for looting and other thefts, said Constable Mike Hayles. The city fire department received more than 1,400 calls, with five substantial fires reported.

Ottawa police reported 23 cases of looting, along with two deaths possibly attributed to the outage -- a pedestrian hit by a car and a fire victim. "

Here's a link to the full article:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/americas/08/15/canada.blackout.ap/

Interestingly enough Totalia, I live in NYC, the most "aggressive" city in the U.S. We didn't have any looting. In fact, the newscasters broadcasted stories of neighborhood block parties, midnight Central Park picnics and strangers handing out bottles of water to tired folks who had to walk through the subway tunnels.

Fascinating how Canadians were so "nice" and "friendly" during that time.

I tend to think what you characterize as an American trait is rather a human trait that is thankfully not shared by many. Unfortunately, you are basing your opinions on what is highlighted in the news.

 

[totalia]

When is the evacuation supposed to begin?

Man, I never thought I'd see the day when NO would be a virtual ghost town for even a short period of time. Thats disturbing.

 

[totalia]

Totalia, I thought you might appreciate a little blurb I found on CNN.com when we all experienced the massive blackout of August, '03. Here's the little snippet I saw:

"Police in Toronto and Ottawa, Canada's capital, reported looting and other crime during the night of darkened streets, and authorities advised people to stay home if possible Friday. "

And here's another more telling quote:

"In Toronto, police made 38 arrests overnight linked to the blackout and reported 114 incidents, mostly for looting and other thefts, said Constable Mike Hayles. The city fire department received more than 1,400 calls, with five substantial fires reported.

Ottawa police reported 23 cases of looting, along with two deaths possibly attributed to the outage -- a pedestrian hit by a car and a fire victim. "

Here's a link to the full article:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/americas/08/15/canada.blackout.ap/

Interestingly enough Totalia, I live in NYC, the most "aggressive" city in the U.S. We didn't have any looting. In fact, the newscasters broadcasted stories of neighborhood block parties, midnight Central Park picnics and strangers handing out bottles of water to tired folks who had to walk through the subway tunnels.

Fascinating how Canadians were so "nice" and "friendly" during that time.

*sighs* Whatever you say. Gods, why are you harping at me over something you misinterpreted instead of talking about the actual issue?

 

[RickinNYC]

*sighs* Whatever you say. Gods, why are you harping at me over something you misinterpreted instead of talking about the actual issue?

Guess I don't completely understand the gist of what you are getting at. Enlighten us please.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Looting doesn't happen everywhere. We were ground zero for Hurricane Charley last year and there was no looting. Then again, we are not an urban area and this area is primarily made up of private homes.

Unfortunately, there are segments of American society in which there has been a total breakdown of what keeps a civilized society together. I think a lot of it has to do with drugs and the breakdown of the family. I don't accept poverty as an excuse because there has always been a bottom of society.

Add a disaster like Katrina with the extreme stress that it causes and you get extreme lawlessness.

However what really scares me is what's going on in the Super Dome. It's just going to be a matter of time before a riot breaks out.

ITA ThAnswr.

I also agree that the mob mentality can turn good people bad.

I remember hearing about psychology studies such as one where a group of young people would administer shocks to an old man strong enough to kill him just because he answered a question wrong. (Of course he was an actor and not really being shocked, but the participants didn't know this.) It is said that Hitler used mob mentality to rile up hatred in his people during WWII.

I also want to add that the media just LOVES to show things like lootings. It get's the ratings. Quite frankly, I've been watching CNN, and I'm seeing the same clips over and over. And I can't imagine how much the media in other countries is salivating over this stuff.

 

[totalia]

No. I won't. I'm not going to let you turn this into a flame war instead of a discussion on New Orleans and the horror going on there.

Now, back to the looters, please...

I wish the police could actually do something about this. Unfortunately, the NO police are rather legendary. They probably don't really care. As can be seen by the fact that some of them are the ones doing the looting. I'm surprised the military hasn't gone in and forced order in the city.

Has anyone heard any word on whether the military is going to enter to try to get the city under control?

 

[MosMom]

No. I won't. I'm not going to let you turn this into a flame war instead of a discussion on New Orleans and the horror going on there.

Now, back to the looters, please...

I wish the police could actually do something about this. Unfortunately, the NO police are rather legendary. They probably don't really care. As can be seen by the fact that some of them are the ones doing the looting. I'm surprised the military hasn't gone in and forced order in the city.

Has anyone heard any word on whether the military is going to enter to try to get the city under control?

Actually, this was a discussion about looting and why it happens so please, Totalia, tell us where we misinterpreted your post.