A young man walks through chest deep flood water after looting a grocery store in New Orleans on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005. Flood waters continue to rise in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina did extensive damage when it made landfall on Monday. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)


Two residents wade through chest-deep water after finding bread and soda from a local grocery store after Hurricane Katrina came through the area in New Orleans, Louisiana.(AFP/Getty Images/Chris Graythen)

I didn't grow up in New Orleans. But, its where some of my earliest memories took place. It's where I went to college and it's where I met my husband (ex, now). It's where my mother was born and where my grandmother was born, and her mother before her. Its where my sister lives to this day in what was once my Grandparents house.

I saw these two photos juxtaposed this evening at Eschaton. Like you are probably are doing, I can't help but marvel at the rascism inherent in the contrast between the two captions. Since last night (early Tuesday evening) at 1:30 a.m. when the levee gave way I've been worrying about the rising water and the people who're still there. As the day passed today I began hearing the reports of the looting thats going on.

One of our members here at Our Word, RedDan, posted a diary at DailyKos that tells the story of looting in New Oreans. But the looting RedDan describes is probably more dire in its consquences, and very well may have led to the looting that has been occurring today. Trevino&co: lickspittle sycophants defend Bush against the reality of the Katrina Disaster

As far as my story goes, my sister and family are here staying with my mother very near me, and are safe. Her house has not flooded as of this writing although it's beginning to look as if it will. In the grand scheme of things a house isn't all that important, contrasted with the suffering and the death and destruction that's occuring/occured in New Orleans. I try and imagine what it must be like to be trapped tonight in the city, unable to leave, possibly without food, without electricity and with flooded homes or shelter.

I want to thank RedDan for putting his diary together. I was familiar with some of what he's posted but he's done such a good job.