Disturbing News From Baton Rouge

[LSU_Weatherguy]

We are hearing large numbers of reports in BR that some of the evacuees that are coming out of NOLA at the time are causing problems within our city. Downtown BR had to have SWATT teams take control after a large group left the river center a place for evacuees and started looting local business also people are reporting that they are coming out of grocery stores and being robbed of food and money. This is bull that this is going on we are trying to help these people by opening up buildings from them and this is how we are repaid? I think not!

[crazycajuncane]

This is my biggest fear in Lafayette right now. We have sooo many people who have to basically start life over. As much as we are donating to people, I'm sure some will decide to take actions into their own hands.

I actually brought this up yesterday... what if at night while we are sleeping people from New Orleans begin breaking into businesses and begin looting here.

[NFLnut]

Send 'em back! I'm serious.

[birdwomn]

Hopefully they will apprehend the criminals and leave the rest of the evacuees to be helped. While they are getting things under control, it will certainly be a strain on the resources of every community with evacuees.

Those of you closest to the disaster area will get the brunt of it, sadly.

Fortunately, there are probably as many or more positive stories about the goodness that comes out in people in situations like this.

[LSU_Weatherguy]

Hopefully they will apprehend the criminals and leave the rest of the evacuees to be helped. While they are getting things under control, it will certainly be a strain on the resources of every community with evacuees.

Those of you closest to the disaster area will get the brunt of it, sadly.

Fortunately, there are probably as many or more positive stories about the goodness that comes out in people in situations like this.

As many great situations have happened i am becoming more and more like NFL nut "send them back" I hate to say that I have taken off the rest of my vacation from work 3 weeks so i can go to NOLA everyday to help these people but if i can not think of my wife and family as being safe i am not leaving to go help them anymore

[Eye10TX]

At least in BR and Lafayette, you do have an operating jail -- someplace to put the criminals. They found out in NOLA that they could get away with it, but they shouldn't be able to anywhere else. It will be a strain, but maybe a state or federal prison would be a better place than a local jail. Don't know the answer to this one.

[TSmith274]

Unfortunately, the poor and the criminals were the only people left in the city. Therefore, evacuees include many criminals. I hope they are arrested and thrown in jail. I think they will be.

However, the majority of the people being assisted to apprieciate it. Just remember those people.

[crazycajuncane]

Hopefully they will apprehend the criminals and leave the rest of the evacuees to be helped. While they are getting things under control, it will certainly be a strain on the resources of every community with evacuees.

Those of you closest to the disaster area will get the brunt of it, sadly.

Fortunately, there are probably as many or more positive stories about the goodness that comes out in people in situations like this.

As many great situations have happened i am becoming more and more like NFL nut "send them back" I hate to say that I have taken off the rest of my vacation from work 3 weeks so i can go to NOLA everyday to help these people but if i can not think of my wife and family as being safe i am not leaving to go help them anymore

We are dealing with a city (the people of New Orleans) with one of the highest crime rates. We do have to realize that while MANY MANY people want and NEED or help... there will be bad apples that decide they're going to ruin it for the rest.

This does make New Orleans bad, but we've got to remember there are lots of great people that we are trying to save. I'm still worried though. I think we're going to be dealing with more than we bargained for.

I wish we could drop the bad ones right in the middle of the worst part of New Orleans.

[birdwomn]

As many great situations have happened i am becoming more and more like NFL nut "send them back" I hate to say that I have taken off the rest of my vacation from work 3 weeks so i can go to NOLA everyday to help these people but if i can not think of my wife and family as being safe i am not leaving to go help them anymore

I certainly understand your frustration and the fact that you feel the need for your family to be safe. I hope things will get under control very soon.
Praying for your city and all of those afffected...which will be a growing number for some time to come.

[MBismyPlayground]

This is exactly why I questioned the decision to send them to Houston ect... I actually thought the person who had the idea of housing these people on the now closing military bases was far better. The military could control the situation far better, in my opinion. Many of these bases are gated, which means people would have to have ID in or out if guards were placed. And the people would be governed not by state or county law but by federal law. The streets could be patroled without scaring the rest of the city in which they were housed. And I doubt that looters would be able to carry in big screen TVs without being questioned.

[crazycajuncane]

Thats something I didnt think about. Many of these people probably have no ID with them. A good reason for them to go out and commit crimes if they are already criminals.

[wlfpack81]

I may get banned for this but f it.

I knew before if Katrina hit NO that we would have a major problem w/the aftermath on ours hands. Most people left behind were going to be black, dirt poor and more than likely to do crime. Not b/c they're black as most non-blacks in this country love to steretype us as, but b/c they're poor (Russia has crime in its poor areas, so does China and last time I checked no darkies like myself there ). These people grew up in crap conditions and for some violence is all they know. Right or wrong it's just a fact of life. It's how it is. Poor more likely to do crime.

Non-blacks across the country (who already have stereotypes and other suspicions about us) just see this crap on TV and feel they're thoughts have been validated. On one hand I'm pissed off b/c I wish those looting would stop b/c all they're doing is making us look bad across the nation, but then I realize some already hate us anyways and this looting doesn't change crap. Just a damn scapegoat like hip-hop, sports etc. Funny some of these same people were hating my mom and dad back in e-ern NC during the 50s - 60s when rap, Terrel Owens weren't around but whatever.

These Baton Rouge reports are going to continue (and I fear similar situations may happen in Houston) b/c you're taking people who already only know one way of life as I mentioned in my first paragraph and they're not going ot change just b/c they're in Houston or on some Cruise Ship. I mean come on there were old country good ol' boys who hated my dad as teenagers and still hate him and me now as 50, 60 yr old men. Catch my drift, people don't change once they reach a certain point. Just doesn't happen regardless if it's someone hating someone b/c of skin, religion creed, or someone who's shy and can't get over it and get a date for Fri night.

I feel that I shouldn't have to apologize for actions of other blacks I don't even know (apparently a black man did this on some call in show) b/c if it gets to that then I'm gonna start calling for whites to apologize for the past dark history of this country. But of course get on that subject and some dont' like the guilt trip thrown on them based on what past generations or even current generations have done (and I agree it's not right). So I don't think it's fair that I get judged when Kobe Bryant, O.J., or that fool in the Alt courthouse, or some dumb looters in New Orleans do what they do.

But that being said I urge people to try and judge these people on their character and not b/c of their color or even b/c theyr'e poor. Hate some ahole looter b/c he's a looter, not b/c he's a black looter or poor. Hate the stupid gang members b/c of their character, not b/c they're black gang members.

I know race hadn't been mentioned outright yet but I mine as well be the 1st to through it out there b/c everyone knows it's an issue. Just didn't want to say it. This whole recovery is going to make an already pathetic race relation situation in this country worse. I wish I could go crawl in a damn hole or go back in time and make Katrina a fish 'Cane.

Just about had it w/the whole stresses of this damn situaiton. I normally try to keep calm and not let horrible tradgey like this get to me but f it. Too, too damn much!!! I know I've thrown a can of gas on the flame but I got tired of holding in these feelings for the past 2 days. Enjoy.

[Eye10TX]

I just remembered what a survivor said in a TV interview tonight in Gulfport. He was in a shelter there - now I can't recall if he and his wife and kids went there before landfall or after their house was demolished -- anyway, they left and were going to sleep in their car, because they said the shelter was too dangerous!!

So, it's desperate people everywhere, maybe even some who had never been aggressive or violent before now.

[MBismyPlayground]

wlfpack81,
Just so ya know, I didn't know, until you told me, that the majority of the people being evacuated were black. It just never occured to me to pay attention to skin color. (shrugs) Actually I didn't know that they were all poor either. And honestly, any of the comments I have made have never been based on any of the above issues. Based totally on the situation.
I was assuming that this behavior was based on other factors. Such as people think they can get away with this behavior without repercussions based on the fact the town is in ruins. The total lack of law enforcement and the lack of a judicial system there.
The reason I liked the idea of a military post is because they are more capable of offering some structure for these people who have been lacking it since the hurricane. And are able to offer everything in one contained area, without having to keep things so closed in one space, regardless of how large the space is. A military post would also offer something a bit more then a TEMP solution. Not a perm. solution but with less of a time frame.

[wlfpack81]

My post isn't directed at everyone as I know there are those who aren't paying attention to the demographic and all the comments about looters, criminals haven't had an ounce to do w/the fact these people are black and poor. However, to think that all are having this same attitude is unreasonable in my opinion. My opinion may be wrong but hey in a free country I can state my opinion (though I realize this is a private message board). My post was directed at them not you MBismyPlayground or those like you.

I know someone will soon though accuse me of playing the great spade race card. Say what you will but I think what I said had to be said. Again not everyone is to the point where they judge what they see on the inside of a person. This is a historic situation and even normal non-bias people may get the urge to change their views based on the chaos in NO.

With that I'm off to bed. Going to TN to see family tomorrow (going to try and stay away from TV, Internet) and need some sleep. I know I've opened a can of worms w/that post and do feel some regret for posting it b/c I hate sharing personal opinions, feelings, emotions w/others but honestly at least I feel a bit better as that was bogging my mind down. Right or wrong at least it bought down my stress level from 10 to 9. Of course in the coming days it's only going to go up when the body count starts rolling in

[MBismyPlayground]

My post isn't directed at everyone as I know there are those who aren't paying attention to the demographic and all the comments about looters, criminals haven't had an ounce to do w/the fact these people are black and poor. However, to think that all are having this same attitude is unreasonable in my opinion. My opinion may be wrong but hey in a free country I can state my opinion (though I realize this is a private message board). My post was directed at them not you MBismyPlayground or those like you.

I know someone will soon though accuse me of playing the great spade race card. Say what you will but I think what I said had to be said. Again not everyone is to the point where they judge what they see on the inside of a person. This is a historic situation and even normal non-bias people may get the urge to change their views based on the chaos in NO.

With that I'm off to bed. Going to TN to see family tomorrow (going to try and stay away from TV, Internet) and need some sleep. I know I've opened a can of worms w/that post and do feel some regret for posting it b/c I hate sharing personal opinions, feelings, emotions w/others but honestly at least I feel a bit better as that was bogging my mind down. Right or wrong at least it bought down my stress level from 10 to 9. Of course in the coming days it's only going to go up when the body count starts rolling in

wlfpack,
don't worry about it all.....those worms in the can, they don't eat much.....and you are just worried. Understandable. and venting can be very healthy!!!
I think the majority of us on the board realize that you are not trying to throw down that race card but making sure that people don't assume that all of the black folks in NO are criminals. Regardless of the city, there are criminal elements. Even in the wealthier neighborhoods.

[Josephine96]

I have to agree with a couple of ya'lls here.. If they are causing trouble in Baton Rouge or Lafayette, and they wanna cause chaos there..

SEND THEM BACK! Place them back in the hell they left.. Maybe then they'll actually realize what happened {in NO} and say to themselves.. "Whoops.. I screwed up"

[CharleySurvivor]

I bet you Texas ain't gonna let them mishave very long.... remember there slogan; 'Don't mess with Texas!'

I sure hope it gets under control soon 'everywhere', it's getting out of hand and I bet many are scared for their safety. I would.