[extropy-chat] Manhattan vs. New Orleans

[Dirk Bruere]

On 9/2/05, David Lubkin <extropy at unreasonable.com> wrote:
> 
> My impression, from coverage and commentary, is that, to everyone's
> pleasant surprise, beyond the quiet and extraordinary heroisms on
> 9/11, was a communal unity. There *wasn't* the expected uptick in
> crime with the police busy elsewhere, or desperate people savaging
> one another for a chance of survival. There *were* people pulling
> together, and helping one another.
> 
> My impression, from coverage and commentary of New Orleans, is there
> are heroics, but less dramatic. Certainly many people trying to help
> one another. But an atmosphere in many areas of felonious barbarity.
> Looting, rape, murder, brutality -- not to save oneself or one's
> loved ones, but in sociopathic nihilism.
> 
> (1) Do you agree that these are the pictures that have been painted
> for us of the two events?
> 
> (2) Do you think either reflect the gist of what has happened? If
> not, what has caused the distortion(s)?
> 
> (3) What explains the differences between these two portrayed
> responses? The causes of the events? The composition of the populace?
> 
> No doubt racists will draw their own conclusions, but the major factor is 
that with 9/11 the victims died pretty much all in one rapid hit while 
everyone else was OK.
In NO the victims are still alive and suffering a protracted disaster. Plus 
there are far more actual victims in a city that has been effectivelt 
destroyed. In NY IIRC three buildings were knocked over. No big deal in real 
estate terms (except to insurers).

Dirk
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