A letter to Houston Chronicle on "Renegade Refugees"

[KeepItReal]

Sent to authors.

Here 'tis:

Word Matter: RE: Hurricane Katrina

Hi,

I am appalled at your choice of words in the article written about people fleeing the disaster of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

I believe the title of the article on your Newspaper's website says it all: "School bus commandeered by renegade refugees first to arrive at Astrodome"

In the article you state: " Jabbar Gibson, 20, said police in New Orleans told him and others to take the school bus and try to get out of the flooded city. "

What in that statement qualifies Mr. Gibson and his passenger as "renegades"? Please explain that to me and the countless numbers of people who read that article.

And though the term "refugees" may be grammatically correct, it should be reserved for people other than American citizens who were *VICTIMS* of a natural disaster and subsequent breakdown of civil services.

As a former resident of both Houston (3 years) - where I read your paper on a regular basis, and New Orleans (6 years), I feel compelled to ask you to at least *try* to be more considerate in your presentation of information. The world is watching and forming its opinions based on the desperately-needed reporting organizations like the Houston Chronicle provide.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
KeepItReal
Los Angeles, CA

cc:
[e-mail]
Scott Clark, Vice President/HoustonChronicle.com
Jeff Cohen, Executive Vice President/Editor