Is Justice Blind to the Katrina Atrocities?

As I’ve mentioned before I can never forget the faces and voices of those who suffer, once exposed to them it is impossible for me to disregard them, ever. When I wrote my last post (They Will Get What They Want) I mentioned New Orleans and the result of Katrina in light of what we are now facing with the current economic meltdown (meltdown for most, enrichment for others). I did not plan to write this present post highlighting New Orleans and what happened in Katrina’s aftermath. I just happened to read a fresh article, this morning, of the so-called white vigilante groups that took advantage of the chaos by going on a killing spree and seemingly avoiding prosecution, so far. It is not a very lengthy article so please take the time to read it. It is entitled “The Grinning Skull” by Rebecca Solnit. Also read the comments left by readers, truly unbelievable. There is an article entitled “Katrina’s Hidden Race War” by A.C. Thompson immediately following the linked article. Some will recall hearing rumors of these accounts while the “majority of us” will be reading it for the first time. Keep in mind that the “majority of us” most likely heard news reports of the looting, violence and killing done by the black population, which turned out to be false.

I used the term “vigilante” because that is the term used in the article, which I have linked to, but I have a problem with the use of this word here. Vigilante is defined as: any person who takes the law into his or her own hands, as by avenging a crime or a person who ignores due process of law and enacts their own form of justice in response to a perception of insufficient response by the authorities. These groups were NOT acting according to the definition. When you read the article you will read how they described their actions, they were hunting, spurred by hatred and the joy of killing those they hated.

I have to think the “majority of us” know that there are bad elements that run through the thread of civilization. Civilization is made up of people, all shades of people with various beliefs, experiences and opinions. Just as the “majority of us” recognize this to be true we also recognize pinning the tag of bad or undesirables on any one shade of people, as a group is untrue and morally wrong. Or anything that makes people who are different, less deserving of equality or the right to peaceful coexistence is unquestionably unacceptable.

There was also the good element which made itself manifest during this horrific episode of U.S. history. I never heard of these people before I read the article. They are called the “Cajun Navy”; I did some research on them and found several write-ups on them and included a link to one source. Please take the time to read this article as well: “The Cajun Navy: Heroic Louisiana Volunteers…” by Jefferson Hennessy. ALL the names you will read of in this article I will mention here because they deserve to be recognized again and again. And I am sure there are many more and they should be known:

Louisiana senator Nick Gautreaux

Deacon Don Leger (his story of saving a black lab retriever is amazing, this is why I support animal rights)

Ronnie Lovett

DWFE Lt. Col. Keith LaCaze

–almodesto