[Smogger]

I disagree that it's a lot of poor any color suffering the most.

Sh*t man. I got credit cards with high limits, two cars, cellphones, and plenty of homeowner's insurance. If the call came to evacuate I would reluctantly leave town, and wait it out from a plush hotel room somewhere.

If I didn't have any of that I think I would be highly tempted to stay behind and protect my meager belongings come Hell or highwater as so many did.

As for the looters if they're not getting groceries, or candles they should be shot on sight.

[Desert_Girl]

I want to say something. I see a lot of criticism here of the way things are being handled, and I realize a lot of us have friends and family in the path of the storm and are worried, and the rest of us are just plain old compassionate and feeling helpless at the devastation we are witnessing from afar. But lets get realistic. Katrina came in on Sunday nite/Monday morning, and it was late Monday before we had any inkling of what had happened, and even then we thought it wouldn't be as bad as it is. It is now only Wednesday night, a scant 48 hours into this, and already we are bickering and passing judgement on those who are dealing directly with what must be so overwhelming we, who judge from afar, can't even wrap our minds around.

We have the easy job. We get to sit back and commentate on others' shortcomings, while they are dealing with scared, tired, hungry, thirsty, angry people who have absolutely nowhere to turn at the moment. We need to give those organizations and the authorities a little time. Consider how hard it is to get supplies in to NO right now, and how hard it is to get people out. If you have never been in a flood, it is unimaginable.

Each of us needs to do what we can to help, and we need to do what we do best, pull together to make it happen for those people. I live in Houston. I am going tomorrow to the Houston Food Bank to help stock supplies for the refugees that will be arriving here in our city. I have a friend in Boston, a young EMT who is arriving in Lafayette tomorrow to help at the shelters there with medical needs. Another friend is going to be helping with counselling those who have that need. My dad, who lives in western La. has already opened his home to two families who came to the hotel where he works and there was just no more room for them, so he took them home with him.

I know not all of us can help in like manner, but there is always something to be done, if its donations of all kinds, prayers, or even just kind words for the victims. If we all do what we do best, this won't end up being the worst disaster in our nation's history, but rather our nation's finest hour.

I want to say one more thing about the looting going on. Looting jewelry or electronics is one thing. In fact, it sucks. But just about anything else and I personally can overlook it. If I were in that situation I know I would do whatever it took to survive. And I also know that after a day or two of wearing wet shoes, I would take the first dry pair I found. If you are honest, I bet you would too. Violence is not to be countenanced during this awful time, but I saw police using nightsticks against children carrying off clothes and groceries. If that is not a crime, it should be...

Off my soapbox now. Carry on.