New Orleans

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I agree with you about the over-hyped "race riot" nonsense. However, in a situation like this, expecting that they should have photos of gunmen, or verifiable proof that gunmen were shooting randomly rather than at choppers, seems a bit much to ask under these conditions.

If its people trying to signal for help, ok, but we don't have any way to verify that. So DON'T shoot your guns if you have one...!

But I agree on one premise with you-- meet peoples immediate needs, and they won't turn crazy. You're right.

About people being frigtened of entering black areas-- I don't doubt that to be true, but I think you're exaggerating the case. These people know their job, and there are a lot of people risking life & limb, dangling from helicopters, pulling people out of danger....whether they're black, white, or whatever. So whereas I think, like you mentioned, that the stories of looting, gun battles, and anarchy are exaggerated, so is the notion that these things were simply some contrived divergence on the part of mildly racist aid workers.