The looting, the shooting, the violence... scenarios as if taken straight from a Stephen King apocalypse novel (The Last Stand comes to mind).
Is it a perception error? (i.e. was there looting in Asia after the tsunami too but the media didn't report it so we never knew?)
Is it a result of our Western focus on materialism/individualism?
Is it an American thing? (I cannot help but think so - cue Littleton etc)
I'm trying to understand. But I don't get it. I really cannot grasp how rescue efforts would need to be halted because the rescue forces are being shot at!? What idiots!
Sheesh. Enough cynicism. I have to admit I am really shaken by this. Partly no doubt because I love New Orleans & am selfishly devastated that I didn't get to see it, and partly because I am generally being rather moody / depressed / oversensitive at the moment. No matter. It's horrible. Bed now.
They're was apparently small-scale looting after the tsunami however nothing compared to this. I'm sure it's an American thing.
Posted by: Mark on Fri September 2, 2005 at 3:50the joke you posted on your site is hilarious! 
I don't know if it is one of the reasons for violence but I read that the evacuated prisoners have been transferred with the rest of the people... or they fled... 
well I've read about riots IN prisons so I don't think they were evacuated.
I know some helped distribute goods but they were supervised.