[Baron]

Last christmas when the Tsunami hit, and so many lives were ended or ruined for ever, people from all over the world watched as everyone chipped in and helped clean up the mess. People gave up their time to help the wounded and to clear the dead and rubble left behind in one of the worst natural disasters ever. People could have panicked more and gone on the attack for supplies in places like Thailand, but they remained focused and in order.
Skip nine months further down the track and we see another natural disaster occur. This time however it is hurricane Katrina, and the place America. New Orleans was the worst hit with most of it underwater and destroyed, leaving thousands dead and as many missing. And just how do the supposed 'world leaders' react...by going on a rampage of rape and pillage! I mean how moronic can one country be? I know there are going to be a few Americans on the site who feel the need to defend themselves here, but don't even bother! Once again we see how a little panic shows up the nation as animals (Rodney King/L.A riots). I know there are decent people in America, they're the ones with no supplies hiding in trees in case they're shot for fun or raped. I mean, there was a report of two children being raped...WTF??? Emergency help can't be given because gunmen are shooting at them, turning over ambulances and robbing chemists. Then you have the ones who feel its important to burn any building still standing. It's become a scene from 'Escape from New York'. If there was ever a case for better gun laws over there, this is it. All i can say is, thank god i'm not an American! And i really don't care on what any American here has to say in defence, you can bite me!

[KnowItAll]

(Edited: Random thoughts which probably do not make sense and are not cohesive)

I do think this is the real test of a nation.

With 9/11 the focus was on an enemy they could bomb. The enemy was brown, lived overseas and practiced worshiped an alien god. The nation united and followed the president.

With the Tsunami, it was easy to give money. After all .. "them po asians need our help".

This incident has sort of brought out the best and the worst in people.

I was surprised when Bush did not return to Washington before the hurricane and I am in a bit of a shock to see some of the footage and read some of the stories.

I was in New Orleans for a week in late June and saw first hand what a divided city it was ... typical of the deep south, where majority of the black population tends to be uneducated, poor and dependant on all sorts of chemicals. The rich are rich and the poor are poor.

Even when food, water and armed police officers were freely available while I was there, I did not feel safe walking around.

Lets hope for the sake of those who're getting f'ed over both by nature and their fellow humans... they survive and recover.

[KnowItAll]

(By the way, I've assigned myself a project to research Aussie stupidity .. I don't think it is a national priviledge of just Americans or Hong Kong or Disneyland)

[Baron]

I'm sure there are plenty of 'stupid act' stories involving Aussies, but none on this scale in modern times.

[saltwater]

Jeez... tell us what you really think Baron!

Fair call though. America had a chance to show the world how it can come together as a nation and deal with this tragedy. And all we see on the news are pictures of looting and rioting.

[Baron]

Yeah, i was pretty pissed off when i wrote it, after having just seen an ambulance man bashed and the ambulance stolen as he tried to help someone. I should point out that i know Americans, and that the above should have pointed out that there are many decent people who live there. But once again when the country needs to come together, the bad guys attack the good guys, and guns are a major factor. I don't understand how these incidents can happen, or why, in a large western culture like the U.S.A?

[angiebaby80]

the president of usa should withdraw his troops from iraq and put them in new orleans...everyone will be happy as everyone in the war zone can finally go home...

[Baron]

Something that really upsets me, is that the search and rescue police had to stop searching for the missing so that they could be used in defence of looters and gunmen.

[KnowItAll]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050902/D8CBS1T0F.html

Sums it up.

[saltwater]

Their constitution gives them the right to go on shooting rampages at any opportunity.

I do honestly feel for them though. 99% of Americans are decent, hard working people so its just such a shame to see the remainder on tv putting their nation to shame. They're a nation with much to be proud about, but this isn't one of their greater moments.

btw KIA, Australia's got plenty of morons too. Look no further than the politician who recently resigned after making some inappropriate comments to a nice lady who turned out to be a journalist.