Posted on 08/31/2005 5:40:37 AM PDT by Proud_USA_Republican
NEW ORLEANS — With much of the city flooded by Hurricane Katrina, looters floated garbage cans filled with clothing and jewelry down the street in a dash to grab what they could. In some cases, looting on Tuesday took place in full view of police and National Guard troops. At a Walgreen's drug store in the French Quarter (search), people were running out with grocery baskets and coolers full of soft drinks, chips and diapers. When police finally showed up, a young boy stood in the door screaming, "86! 86!" — the radio code for police — and the crowd scattered. Denise Bollinger, a tourist from Philadelphia, stood outside and snapped pictures in amazement. "It's downtown Baghdad," the housewife said. "It's insane. I've wanted to come here for 10 years. I thought this was a sophisticated city. I guess not." Around the corner on Canal Street, the main thoroughfare in the central business district, people sloshed headlong through hip-deep water as looters ripped open the steel gates on the front of several clothing and jewelry stores. One man, who had about 10 pairs of jeans draped over his left arm, was asked if he was salvaging things from his store. "No," the man shouted, "that's EVERYBODY'S store." Looters filled industrial-sized garbage cans with clothing and jewelry and floated them down the street on bits of plywood and insulation as National Guard (search) lumbered by. Mike Franklin stood on the trolley tracks and watched the spectacle unfold. "To be honest with you, people who are oppressed all their lives, man, it's an opportunity to get back at society," he said. The rest of the story is at the link.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
"these folks have probably never had a choice in their lives"
I can NOT believe that you posted this! Totally ridiculous. You make choices everyday of your life, I don't care how rich or poor you are. I think you are posting on the wrong site. Should be at DU.
I stole a few DVDs for the kids:When a teenage girl passed out face down between the baby clothes and a women's sock display, people pushed past or stepped on her.
Joseph LoCascio, of Picayune, Miss., stopped to try to help the girl. He rolled her over, and she vomited pink liquid all over her face and hair. He then rolled her back.
"This is (messed) up," he said. "... People just walking around like they don't care. All they're worried about is getting free bulls- instead of a human life." He and his friend Sandi Nolan, 21, of Baton Rouge, La., tried to revive the girl by pouring water, Gatorade and soda over her face and neck. It only left her shirt and hair soaked.
LoCascio tried to get a man wearing a firefighter T-shirt to treat the girl, but the man hesitated, saying, "She's breathing. If I took her, where would I take her?" About 15 minutes later, a firefighter medic arrived and began checking the girl. Still, LoCascio and Nolan were furious at their fellow looters.
Both have infants being treated at Children's Hospital, New Orleans, and had come to get baby food and supplies.
"I've never seen people like this. I have drinks and chips, things I need," Nolan said. "They're getting chainsaws and fishing poles, anything they can get for free." As she and LoCascio left, she noticed he had at least a dozen DVDs in his basket, as well as baby formula and baby food. She laughed and pointed it out to him.
"They're for the kids, so they can watch them," he said. "Things like "Finding Nemo." Nolan laughed. "Don't worry," she said. "I got a few, too."
No Lights, No Phones, No Motor Cars...Not a single Luxury...Like Robinson Carusoe, It's as primitative as can be....
I think Robinson Carusoe was oppressed all his life as well...
"They're for the kids, so they can watch them," he said. "Things like "Finding Nemo." Nolan laughed. "Don't worry," she said. "I got a few, too."
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Yep! Just another fun day stealing from "the man". These people are pathetic!
"I don't care how rich or poor you are"
Obviously!
Rocaware, FUBU, and bling.
Yep, you are a DUmmie for sure. Taking quotes out of context. They train you people well.
Whoa there, hoss. NO way am I going to be swayed by such a sob story. Yes, I FULLY understand hitting the grocery stores, and yes, that IS survival. You're also correct that the foodstuffs therein will be of no use to anyone afterward anyway.
However, we are NOT just talking about people taking food for survival, and you full well know it. I've seen footage after footage of looters with piles of jeans, electronic goods, jewelry........you name it. If it could be stolen, they stole it.
As has been pointed out, you find the true mettle of a people during extreme hardship. I guess we just found the true mettle of these people, and it turns my stomach.
So don't ask me to give 'em a pass; ain't gonna happen.
I don't see that putting you statement "in context" improves your attitude, sorry!
I just saw some guy on tv walking away with like 15 bottles of A-1 sauce. That should come in real handy.
I'm not worry about the people who steal food or water to survive. I probably would have done the same.
On the other hand, stealing an electric shaver will indicate either extreme stupidity or pure malice. Not only the looter will never use his electric shaver before it becomes useless due to salt, silt and humidity, he will also be wasting valuable time and energy trying to protect his loot from fellow looters.
Looting nonessential items is utter irrational behavior at this time. There is a mandatory evacuation is in place, because levees are precariously holding back a lake full of dirty water.
There's also taking the stuff and leaving an IOU. I wonder if anyone has even done that.
A lot of the video footage I saw showed people stealing clothing, tv sets and stereos, though. I can sympathize with the panic of someone who grabs a can of milk for their hungry baby, but not someone who says, "while I'm here, I'll get myself a flat-screen tv".
The context was that YOU said these people never had a chance to make a choice in life....
what kind of attitude is that? If you seriously believe that you have a real problem....and YOU do belong at DU.
Very good point.
Are you ALWAYS this rude????
Why don't you just come out and say what you feel...that these people are ENTITLED to steal.
Are you always this quick to give people a pass for breaking the law?
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