Human beings are never prepared for catastrophies, or so it seems. In spite of the heavy rains and wind in New Orleans, not many people could foresee the disaster that we now refer to simply as “Katrina.” With the roads of New Orleans flooded, as well as most houses, the rest of the country watched helplessly as television coverage captured some of the scenes for us.

Helicopters swooped from the sky to lift people from rooftops. The National Guard deployed to the area, and all of the local police, fire and rescue units were mobilized. The sobering truth is that, due to miscommunication, people presumed to be looters were shot by the police. Some were not looters, at all! Some officers truly believed the rumor that Marshall Law had been declared, when it had not.

Last night, I watched (part of) a television show that outlined the specific behavior of some law enforcement officials. When called upon to assist a (Black) man who had been shot, the authorities saw an opportunity to beat the two men who reported the problem, viciously. Then, they drove the victim, bleeding to death in the back of the car, to a remote location where they allegedly set his car on fire. When the crime scene was discovered, much later, the man’s skull had been removed. It is suggested that this was an attempt to tamper with evidence.

Multiply this scenario, and expand it into other unsavory situations, and you will begin to understand the true face of disaster. Of course, this criminal case is but a brief look at the tragic end of only one person’s life.

I have lived long enough to understand the group herd mentality that goes into the creation of mass hysteria and bad behavior on the part of those who are “supposed to be” role models. It is not that long ago that the incident of My Lai occurred in Vietnam. It stands out in my memory because I wrote an essay about it in Spanish for a college paper, when it was fresh news. A whole village of innocent women, children and old men were brutally slain by American soldiers to whom they posed no threat. The commander was court-martialled and spent some time in prison in the U.S.

In other instances, people are not killed directly, they just are not given financial aid that has been collected in their behalf. Somehow, the money goes astray into the pockets of the unscrupulous agents who have collected the funds.

Two art quilters, recently featured on this blog and on our website, have depicted the concept of the “Seven Deadly Sins” in their work. Greed is one of those sins. One quilt is geared specifically toward remembering “Katrina.” The artist states that the people of New Orleans suffered greatly and are continuing to endure pain because of that hurricane.

You know, humans would like to think that they are a cut-above the animal world and that they do not succumb to the pack mentality. To readjust your thinking, just look at the followers of Hitler and the millions who were slaughtered due to his insanity. That is not so long ago. While one lone wolf might be less likely to attack, a half-dozen will not hesitate to tear apart any prey.

The story of the murder of the bleeding man who needed medical intervention in New Orleans represents a greater moral question. Should one always adhere to chain of command protocol, even if following orders will have a bad outcome that is essentially unjust and unlawful? Food for thought…

Patricia Cummings