What's wrong with the world!

I woke up this morning cheerful, the sun was shining, the birds were singing and all was well with the world....only it wasn't and it isn't!

I'm genuinely struggling with this post, not because I don't know what to say but because I have too much to say, there is much anger and disenchantment with the world in me right now.

My early morning bliss was short lived as one after another of the confounded BBC news alert emails I subscribe too fell into my inbox, heralding more and more doom and gloom. Today I can understand why some choose not to listen to or read the news!

What has rattled my cage? Well a number of news items but one aspect of the situation in New Orleans specifically.

Katrina it seems has turned into a disaster of greater magnitude than even the doom merchants of the press predicted a few days back,
a once beautiful and historic city now under eight foot of water, hundreds of lives lost, thousands with no home to return too, a lifetime's possessions lost and innumerable individuals struggling to cope with a life that has suddenly thrown them into chaos and left them without the basic necessities of life, fresh water, food and a workable sewage system.

I for one can barely imagine how that must feel on a basic, individual level, let's face it, most of us here are 'up in arms' and feel our life has been halted if we suffer a power outage for more than twenty minutes!

The suffering of others is a great sadness but what saddens me more and in a very different way is the reaction of some to this situation. There are thousands no doubt making every effort to aid those in need, thousands more mobilised in any way possible to alleviate the problems being encountered by those affected by Katrina but there is a number, and it seems not such a small number who have seen it as an opportunity for selfish gain. I should, I know, be less naive but I can't help feeling anything other than surprise, horror and disgust at the actions of those looting not only shops and commercial premises, but holding at gunpoint others in their homes who have also suffered the same fate at the hands of this storm!

I can almost understand that what amounts to theft from a commercial property is seen by some as acceptable under these circumstances and I can can excuse and understand those in desperate need of food or water the theft of those items from shops ........but WTF is going on with human beings when they start to threaten the lives of others with a firearm in these circumstances??!!! I am incredulous, I shouldn't be I know, but I am. What happened to care and consideration, to helping our fellow man and to standing together in times of crisis? I just can't imagine what motivates someone under these circumstances to behave in such a manner. I try hard to see good in most situations and people but the perpetrators of these actions are no better than wild animals, devoid of conscience and the very essence that is humanity.

I am rarely angry and though it doubtless makes me little better than those I am condemning right now I would like to see the look on the face of one of these individuals should I, or another, ram the butt of an automatic weapon into the back of their neck!

Rant over.

My thoughts go to those who are suffering, helping one another and taking care of each other.