Before it's gone

I'm sure an investigation will examine whether there existed (poor) planning for the scenario that Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour just called the worst natural disaster in American history. The BBC is reporting thousands of dead in New Orleans alone! Hurricane Katrina's destruction is unprecedented and at this point, the Federal Government will lend significant help.

One sickening side effect of all this has been the "looting" and the coverage of said looting. The term "looting" appears to be selectively applied for identical behavior by (racially) different individuals. It's sad when the people most vulnerable to Katrina's destruction are subject to biased reporting.

I found this on Bridget Jones' Diarrhea: Coverage of the "looting" is already taking a nasty spin.

via Yahoo! News, the AP reports:

A young man walks through chest deep flood water after looting a grocery store in New Orleans on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005. Flood waters continue to rise in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina did extensive damage when it made landfall on Monday.


He's black (above left).

also via Yahoo! News, the AFP reports:

Two residents wade through chest-deep water after finding bread and soda from a local grocery store after Hurricane Katrina came through the area in New Orleans, Louisiana.


They're white (above right).

Action's the same; they're scambling for food. See the difference? It's race.