Our shifting take on looting: Baghdad vs. New Orleans — Page 3

now, now, they heard them talking about hurricanes, assumed they were miami fans and booted them, it's just a case of mistaken identity.

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Sorry Namo, it's true. It was reported from Cox News Service.

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Updated On: 9/1/05 at 11:03 AM

Isn't it possible that what goes through the mind of at elast some of these looters taking electronics is "I've lost everything. Now if I can find a place to store this plasma tv, maybe when this is over I can sell it and get what I need."

Doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but then little in this disaster does. I would bet a large amount that most people here, fearing for their lives, under enormous stress, given the opportunity, would do the same thing. It's easy when you are safe, have food, water and a place to live, to specualte and make judgements. The truth of the matter is, I don't think any single person here can say they ever experienced what is happening in New Orleans and therefore, have no idea what illogical thoughts go through a persons head when they are desperate to survive.

And as I watched Fox News at the gym (it's on, you can't help but glance up), I noticed the entire focus of their reporting is the criminal angle. With lots of shots of helicoptors, too, to make sure we Support Our Troops, even when they're late.

Not a single close up of the dehydrated mob in New Orleans. The anchors, including the board's beloved Bill Hemmer, now ensconced there, keeps steering the chat toward the lawlessness, but the field reporters can't help but talk about the pain and anger.

And if one more person thinks it's the high road to say "let's not point fingers..." Pu-leeze. Let's point fingers immediately. There are AT LEAST SIX WEEKS LEFT IN HURRICANE SEASON! Let's remember that there is damned good reason to own the mistakes and correct them!

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Emphasis is mine.

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HOUSTON -- NEWSCHANNEL 5 crews were in Houston as some desperate refugees arrived in a stolen bus.

HOUSTON -- Thousands of refugees of Hurricane Katrina were transported to the Astrodome in Houston this week. In an extreme act of looting, one group actually stole a bus to escape ravaged areas in Louisiana.

About 100 people packed into the stolen bus. They were the first to enter the Houston Astrodome, but they weren't exactly welcomed.

The big yellow school bus wasn't expected or approved to pass through the stadium's gates. Randy Nathan, who was on the bus, said they were desperate to get out of town.

"If it werent for him right there," he said, "we'd still be in New Orleans underwater. He got the bus for us."

Eighteen-year-old Jabbor Gibson jumped aboard the bus as it sat abandoned on a street in New Orleans and took control.

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The teen packed it full of complete strangers and drove to Houston. He beat thousands of evacuees slated to arrive there.

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Authorities eventually allowed the renegade passengers inside the dome. But the 18-year-old who ensured their safety could find himself in a world of trouble for stealing the school bus.

"I dont care if I get blamed for it ," Gibson said, "as long as I saved my people."

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Full article here:
http://www.newschannel5.tv/2005/9/1/4255/Taking-refuge-in-the-Astrodome