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laurainlimbo at 10:23am on 03/09/2005
laurainlimbo at 10:23am on 03/09/2005I have to admit that one of the hardest things about living overseas is not having access to the news (i.e. television and radio news in English and newspapers) during a crisis like what is happening in New Orleans. There is coverage on the news here, but of course its not the same as what you get in America - in fact, in America people are probably inundated with the coverage to the point of not being able to see anything else. But still, without CNN or even ABC news, I can't see what is really happening - I have just had to rely on the internet and little blips on Japanese news. but last night I watched the bilingual news and there was about 20 minutes of coverage, including some explanation of what happened, so I felt better! And when I finally got a chance to see some actual videos and pictures, and interviews with people who are waiting for food and medicine, etc., I was almost in tears. Watching people suffering from insulin shock when they couldn't find any medicine, and seeing babies crying who are hungry and mothers who can't feed their babies . . . its too much to watch!
I was complaining on here that people are being insensitive and looting and raping and attacking tourists. But after I finally saw some actual films of what is happening there, I feel differently. Of course I don't condone the actions of some people carrying around their own guns, or those who have been attacking tourists or doing anything violent, and I don't agree with looting in general. But in this situation, if the food is going to rot anyway, and if people need things that they can't get without looting, maybe its acceptable. and I'm afraid now that the National Guard will turn things into a police state, so that will be another problem . . .
anyway, its a tough situation all around, and I really feel for the victims of this crisis. Its really affecting everyone in the U.S. with the gas prices increasing and the overwhelming feeling of dread people must have now about the inability of our government to respond to a crisis. And did I mention our wonderful President Bush and his overwhelming sensitivity to the issue? (please note the sarcasm) His response: "don't buy gas if you don't need it." What great advice. and this is the person who is running the most powerful country in the world?
I was complaining on here that people are being insensitive and looting and raping and attacking tourists. But after I finally saw some actual films of what is happening there, I feel differently. Of course I don't condone the actions of some people carrying around their own guns, or those who have been attacking tourists or doing anything violent, and I don't agree with looting in general. But in this situation, if the food is going to rot anyway, and if people need things that they can't get without looting, maybe its acceptable. and I'm afraid now that the National Guard will turn things into a police state, so that will be another problem . . .
anyway, its a tough situation all around, and I really feel for the victims of this crisis. Its really affecting everyone in the U.S. with the gas prices increasing and the overwhelming feeling of dread people must have now about the inability of our government to respond to a crisis. And did I mention our wonderful President Bush and his overwhelming sensitivity to the issue? (please note the sarcasm) His response: "don't buy gas if you don't need it." What great advice. and this is the person who is running the most powerful country in the world?
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