[maryz]

I've said it bluntly to peoples faces that the people that stayed behind have some blame in this.

I for one don't see any reason to blame them. I'm sure most of them lived in New Orleans all or most of their lives and have been through hurricanes before. They were obviously wrong to assume this wouldn't be tragically worse, but not necessarily stupid. Didn't Fats Domino go back to ride it out with his family? And some stayed to protect their property from the looters that they may have had expected from experience. My own heart is with that Floretta (is that her name?), who would not abandon her dog; I can't imagine that I would abandon my cat.

[oceanview]

if Nagin had pulled out those school buses and given them an opportunity at transportation out of there, alot more would have left.

[Soul Seeker]

That is an excuse, however well intentioned.

I am confidant they thought they could ride it out, but they made the wrong choice. They bear some responsibility for their choices.

It is fine to feel sympathy, I share it, and I'm aiding them but I'm responsible for the decisions I make. If I stay behind with knowledge a hurricane is coming right at me, I must accept I could possibly die. There is the reality.

[jveritas]

The majority of people who stayed there did so out of stupidity or because they wanted to loot. If they have left all this tragedy would have be reduced mostly to material losses rather than seeing the human suffering and the shame of committing looting and crimes as many did after the hurricane.