'We're All in This Together'

Dallas Morning News ^ | September 1, 2005

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Living in the most materially advanced civilization in history, we Americans forget how fragile civilization is and the tragic nature of the human condition. This week, nature reminded us.

.....Civilization has been compared to skin stretched over a skull – that is, the thin veneer under which the ever-present savage dwells. We have seen the truth of that observation borne out in horrifying tales of looters, some of them armed – and some of them police officers – running rampant in flooded New Orleans.

To paraphrase Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the line between civilization and barbarism runs through every human heart. And even as the mob raged on the streets outside, heroic doctors and nurses worked – and are still working – in the heat and darkness of New Orleans hospitals to save patients. Hunters and fishermen organized a bateau and bass-boat flotilla and sailed into the flooded areas to rescue survivors. Despite the harrowing circumstances, these good men and women have not forgotten who they are.

And what about the rest of us? Who are we? What is our duty to our neighbor? Texas Gov. Rick Perry admirably declared this state's willingness to do what it can for refugees, saying, "We're all in this together." There is nothing as true and as necessary to say at this point.

In recent years, sociologist Robert Putnam has noted with alarm the fraying of the social fabric as our wealth made us more individually self-sufficient. Now, the hurricane has jerked us back to elemental reality, and this catastrophe will test the American character as nothing else – not even 9-11 – has in modern U.S. history.

Civilization is not buildings, highways and cities, but what we carry in our heads and hearts. And, in the end, all we have is each other.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Juliana Douglas, 9, right, rests while her sister Callie Douglas, 7, walks their dogs after searching through remains at their parents' home, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005, in Biloxi, Miss. Their house was destroyed by powerful winds from Hurricane Katrina. (AP Photo/Joshua Lott)

The American flag waves in front of a house destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005, in Biloxi, Miss. (AP Photo/Joshua Lott)

Reuters Survivors of Hurricane Katrina line up at a drug store to buy supplies in Biloxi, Miss., today. Mississippi Power says it will take weeks to restore electricity to the region.

James Middleton relaxes after searching the remains of what was his three-bedroom house, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005, in D'lberville, Miss. Middleton's house was destroyed by powerful winds due to Hurricane Katrina. (AP Photo/Joshua Lott}

Volunteers unload blankets on the floor of Houston's Astrodome Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005. More than 20,000 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina are expected to be transported from the New Orleans Superdome to the Astrodome over the next two days. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Troy Lee, left, embraces his friend Bay St. Louis, Miss., police officer Joel Wallace after discovering he had survived Hurricane Katrina, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005, in Waveland, Miss. (AP Photo/Ben Sklar)

[PAMadMax]

I don't know how accurate this guy is, but he calls himself "The Interdictor" and has a satelitte link (from what I gather) and is in New Orleans.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/

Looting pics and a webcam....

[atomicweeder]

What is the point of all the taxes paid at state, local, and Federal govt level? So that armed gangs can take over New Orleans?

It's clear that Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin are COMPLETELY out of their league.

The lesson from Katrina -- take care of yourself and your family. Gov't can't help.

[Quinotto]

Did anyone informed the Democrats and the nut jobs Lefties about this? Thus far they are more concerned into placing blame than concentrating into solutions for helping out these folks.

[libertylover]

The American flag waves in front of a house destroyed by Hurricane Katrina...

Part of the TV video shows a spot where a house used to stand, but the owners found their American flag and attached it to a tree. These people need and deserve our help and I'm sure FReepers will contribute. God bless America.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The disruptors and scum get all the coverage.

The majority of these people are decent and struggling to survive with our help.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

......God bless America.

Bump!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Did anyone informed the Democrats and the nut jobs Lefties about this?

They know, they're just letting America do the heavy lifting, while they find a way to reap political hay to store in their own barn.

[Jalapeno]

That blog is an interesting read.

I think one of the biggest losers in all of this is the police department of NO. The pictures of cops carrying out CDs from Walmart didn't do much for their image.

[twntaipan]

Have you noticed how the MSM are blaming the president--rather than local, corrupt, inept demonRATs?

[garylmoore]

and some of them police officers – running rampant in flooded New Orleans.

You mean to say that police officers were looting? If so, they should be shot on the spot. That is so low.

[beyond the sea]

'We're All in This Together'

Not those looters.

[RadioAstronomer]

placemarker

[Cincinatus' Wife]

That's the first I've heard of that.

I knew the New Orleans police department had serious problems but believed that had been cleaned up.

I expect it didn't stop with the police department.

[MissAmericanPie]

BMA, buy more ammo.

[Jalapeno]

One of the first looting stories was about the Walmart. Tuesday NO Police opened the Walmart so that people could get food and stuff. Well, once inside, the stuff turned into computers and jewelry. The police said they were "overwhelmed" and did not want to start a riot and panic by trying to stop the perps, they also said there were too many of "them".

Then the police started 'shopping' themselves. In another thread there was a picture of officers walking out of the Walmart looking over the DVDs/CDs they had just taken. Many people in the article reported seeing the cops "join in".

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1473997/posts

[Jalapeno]

[Cincinatus' Wife]

My God.....

[Jalapeno]

I was quite disheartened as well.

[Les_Miserables]

Is seems clear that the extent of this devastation was not predictable and no one could have predicted the multiple failures of the levees to the extent they occurred so evacuation of those unable to leave on their own was not done.

Having said that, almost everything I have seen since Katrina struck the coast has been absolutely predictable including the lawlessness in New Orleans. This is not Monday morning quarterbacking. The governor has had her liberal head in the mud "expecting these people to be on their best behavior". The mayor is clearly incompetent as well. You can mark a good bit of this down to the abject fear Democrats have of images of forcing lawful behavior upon a majority of poor black citizens. I suspect that is also why Bush has been derelict at declaring federal marshal law and bringing a immediate halt to mayhem.

Now we move to the Feds. Bush is to be applauded for prepositioning relief resources but it should have only taken 8 hours, no more, to realize that was inadequate and massive federal resources should have been mobilized immediately. Giving speeches to VFW organizations while New Orleans sank reminds us of Nero and Rome.

I have come to the sad opinion that Bush, while, occasionally selective of the correct solutions, is woefully and inadequately slow in the decision making department. This has cost lives in New Orleans that he, the governor, and the mayor should be called to account for. His most damning failure as president has been his failure to protect the country from the invasion that continues on our southern border.

Bush needs to be removed from office.

This is probably not a popular view with most Freepers and dedicated conservatives (I am both) but reality demands more than blind support. It demands cold objective judgment and action.