Life at the Superdome : urine and rape

[tocqueville]

A 2-year-old girl slept in a pool of urine. Crack vials littered a restroom. Blood stained the walls next to vending machines smashed by teenagers.

The Louisiana Superdome, once a mighty testament to architecture and ingenuity, became the biggest storm shelter in New Orleans the day before Katrina's arrival Monday. About 16,000 people eventually settled in.

By Wednesday, it had degenerated into horror. A few hundred people were evacuated from the arena Wednesday, and buses will take away the vast majority of refugees today.

"We pee on the floor. We are like animals," said Taffany Smith, 25, as she cradled her 3-week-old son, Terry. In her right hand she carried a half-full bottle of formula provided by rescuers. Baby supplies are running low; one mother said she was given two diapers and told to scrape them off when they got dirty and use them again.

At least two people, including a child, have been raped. At least three people have died, including one man who jumped 50 feet to his death, saying he had nothing left to live for.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/latimests/20050901/ts_latimes/trappedinanarenaofsuffering&printer=1;_ylt=AgkbahqRtdYJNgyK4GFraCDsbr8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

[KyndCulture]

1. omg... tears.

This is so awful.

[DIKB]

2. We need to evacuate

these people and get them to qualified places where they can get care. They should not be forced to endure this.

[Mnemosyne]

3. Each time I think my heart can not break anymore,

things like this are reported. And now there is a fire there.:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Benbow]

4. When they get out, please can they have their own web site to tell us

about their experience. So that America cannot look away.

[bribri16]

5. I tried to warn people about the desperation of drug addicts but was

roundly criticized for even thinking about those addicts. My point was that in providing and thinking about those addicts, many many other people would be more safe.

[bribri16]

7. Now we are seeing a the results of a failed society that shuns

drug treatment, a decent minimum wage, a sound medical and health system, idolizes Jesse James and Al Capone, lives by the gun, thinks more of fetuses than living human beings, throws away tax revenues by giving it back to the wealthy, and "treats the least of thsese" like the "worst of these," wages war in the name of peace, and rewards selfishness and greed. I think even God is fed up.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Why is it taking so long to get these people out of there?

Why aren't they using buses, boats and helicopters to get these folks out.

This is a crime against humanity being committed against these people and all Bush cares about is making sure no one loots anything.

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. The rush for the busses

That's why: Nobody wants to be left behind in the hellhole that is New Orleans, so they can't even load up busses, because the rush for the busses is too severe. Categorical imperative: if everyone cuts the line, then there is no line...will every action such that you would will it universally. Of course, that relies on trust, trust in the authority figures to actually give a fuck about getting everyone out. Without this trust, the categorical imperative line breaks down, according to demonstrated principles of game theory (stag hunt, or TIT FOR TAT moves in an iterative prisoner's dilemma). That's what we're seeing now. Now why would the largely poor and minority population of New Orleans have so little trust in government authorities to look out for their interests, up to and including their very lives. Yeah...I wonder. :sarcasm:

[xiamiam]

9. why is the evacuation taking so long

this is absolute crap...every aspect of this evacuation is filled with incompetence...the buses should be there to take the people off the freeway overpass..out of new orleans..and out of the superdome...this is possible..now they've stopped the entire process because of some gunshots...ridiculous...put armed troops on each bus...how much can these people possible hide at this point...RIDICULOUS..i cant blame anyone in New Orleans..they are in shock..where is the leadership...where is the adequate support...