"Everyone Certainly is Appreciative"

[Pearl Harbor]

Everyone Certainly is Appreciative

That's a quote from the Fox News reporter on scene at the Superdome in New Orleans, thanking two National Guard privates for confiscating, among other things, a fork, plastic disposable razors, allen and ratchet wrenches, pocket knives, scissors, combs, and nail clippers, from refugees seeking shelter from Hurricane Katrina.

People must unergo bag and body checks for "contraband." If you have prescriptions, you must have ID to match. And of course, no weapons are allowed.

When asked why a fingernail file was confiscated, one of the privates replied "Fingernail files have a point on them. We just think it will be safer."

Ah yes. The militia is now the National Guard, right?

Back to Geraldo Rivera, who is relieved.

"I'm glad for all the people seeking shelter, that's all they've got."

Make no mistake--this is the way things will go down in every future major emergency. And no doubt everyone will certainly be appreciative.

[lady cop]

i am not quite sure if this was tongue-in-cheek...but i will say this, it was anticipated that tempers may fray in that environment, and anything that could be used as a weapon needed to be confiscated. it's like jail...people would be amazed at what is converted to weapons.

[Pearl Harbor]

Originally Posted by lady cop

i am not quite sure if this was tongue-in-cheek...but i will say this, it was anticipated that tempers may fray in that environment, and anything that could be used as a weapon needed to be confiscated. it's like jail...people would be amazed at what is converted to weapons.

It is tongue in cheek. It highlights how crazy our society has become. Since these are not jail inmates but regular folk, I think it is crazy to take away forks, scissors, combs, etc. I bet if you and I were reading this during the 1970's or 1980's we would think it was a joke.

[lady cop]

my point was only that many diverse people were going to be placed in extremely close physical proximity in stressful circumstances...worrying about their homes and lives. friction and tempers had to be considered. heat and uncertainty.discomfort. the unknown. fear. a ripe atmosphere for conflict. the authorities were correct to remove potential weapons in my opinion.

[Pearl Harbor]

Originally Posted by lady cop

my point was only that many diverse people were going to be placed in extremely close physical proximity in stressful circumstances...worrying about their homes and lives. friction and tempers had to be considered. heat and uncertainty.discomfort. the unknown. fear. a ripe atmosphere for conflict. the authorities were correct to remove potential weapons in my opinion.

I disagree with this. We don't live in Communist Russia. Shelters are not Gulags. Combs, forks, and sundry bathroom supplies are not weapons. Only in a police state would anyone suggest this. Since when does FEMA treat citizens as criminals?

Why didn't the the National Guard confiscate car keys? Key rings? Shoes? Belts? Laces? The metal hooks on bras? Why did they not cut off all straps on backpacks? All of these can be used as weapons. There is no logic behind it. Just reactionary foolishness.

[Tombstone]

Originally Posted by Pearl Harbor

I disagree with this. We don't live in Communist Russia. Shelters are not Gulags. Combs, forks, and sundry bathroom supplies are not weapons. Only in a police state would anyone suggest this. Since when does FEMA treat citizens as criminals?

Why didn't the the National Guard confiscate car keys? Key rings? Shoes? Belts? Laces? The metal hooks on bras? Why did they not cut off all straps on backpacks? All of these can be used as weapons. There is no logic behind it. Just reactionary foolishness.

This does give me pause. It says a lot about how the authorities feel they have to operate in our current social environment.

[Scrat]

I think the guard is just being practical, considering the conditions and the state of the society we live in. I also have to agree that it seems ridiculous and is.

I remember the authorities used to be here to "protect and to serve". Now they are forced to protect us from each other.

[lady cop]

it's my understanding tonight there is widespread looting, gunfire and carjackings. martial law has been declared. i started a thread about it because it may get worse due to the dire circumstances under which people are existing. .. no details yet, but i am hearing there are also problems in the local jail/prison. i still think the authorities were justified and thinking ahead, but that's only my opinion. and the violence is not in the superdome, but the streets.

[ubetta]

I think it's only going to get worse before it gets better...unfortunately at times like this you see the best in people but also the worst. I read a report that more than 60K are now in the dome for safety reasons...whether that is true or exaggerated, I don't know. The jails, from what I understand, they are trying to figure out how to transport all the prisoners to another high security facility. They want everyone out of the city...the entire thing evacuated so they can repair and restore. They can't all stay there and be helped. It's going to be a loooong haul.
But. They'll make it. We always do.

[ubetta]

Looks like LC has it correct:

Inmates at a prison in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans have rioted, attempted to escape and are now holding hostages, a prison commissioner told ABC News affiliate WBRZ in Baton Rouge, La.
Orleans Parish Prison Commissioner Oliver Thomas reported the incident to WBRZ.

A deputy at Orleans Parish Prison, his wife and their four children have been taken hostage by rioting prisoners after riding out Hurricane Katrina inside the jail building, according to WBRZ.

Officials are expected to hold a press conference regarding the riots at 9 p.m. ET.

A woman interviewed by WBRZ said her son, a deputy at the prison whose family is among the hostages, told her that many of the prisoners have fashioned homemade weapons. Her son had brought his family there hoping they would be safe during the storm.