This is America right? Land of the yada, yada, yada.

So explain to me how these things are happening:

1. Dead bodies just being left to rot, because "rescuing people is our job."
People what happened to dignity for our dead? Why does the Prez have to come out and tell us that? We're supposed to be a compassionate people, and we let government decide our moral position! Those bodies are somebodies family! Get them off the streets and into a dignified place until we can bury them!

2. Pets not being allowed with evacuees. Just how many pets are going to stop the system? Pets for many of us ( I exclude those of you who are going to inevitably tell me that animals aren't like humans ( as if that has been an issue for this government until pushed to react)) are our lifeblood. If somebody is going to be devastated by leaving pets behind, then why are we putting these poor people through this, and the poor animals as well.

Are we so focused on "getting the job done" that we forget the issues of dignity for the dead and issues of the heart for pet owners and pets?
America the world is watching and judging!

Yes. But hard times require some sacrifices to be made. America lives, overall, in the lap of luxury. It is sad and hard for everyone to accept that things like this must occur during this time of devastation. But another American trait is the ability to get the job done whatever the circumstances, and right now the job is to get the people of New Orleans out and to safety.

Yes, we are so focused on getting the job done that we're going to put aside our concerns for the dead and issues of pet owners.

You can't please all the people all the time.

1. Dead bodies just being left to rot, because "rescuing people is our job."
I think that it makes sense to prioritize rescuing the living before collecting the bodies of those who died.

Rescuing survivors = Less dead bodies to pick up

Priorities, priorities. It's easy for us to criticize from our living rooms, but you're talking about human lives here. Even a little time or space on the bus lost to a pet could cost someone else their life. In a house fire, you get out of the house right away, and don't go back. You don't stop for anything, or you may not get out.

I think that it makes sense to prioritize rescuing the living before collecting the bodies of those who died.

Rescuing survivors = Less dead bodies to pick up
:werd:

I already said this in another thread, but there's no way I would leave without my pet. I wouldn't leave a pet behind any more than I'd leave a human infant behind.

I already said this in another thread, but there's no way I would leave without my pet. I wouldn't leave a pet behind any more than I'd leave a human infant behind.

Then I hope you aren't ever in a true disaster and trade a human life for that of your pet.

My pet's life is just as valuable as a human life.

My pet's life is just as valuable as a human life.

I'll be as mild as I can be at this time. I hope that saving your pet never costs my child their life :nonono: . I would never willingly trade an animal's life for a human's.

It wouldn't be an issue with my current pet, because she would easily fit in my lap or I could carry her. But my previous dog would probably rescue a drowning child, of her own volition. Obviously not every dog could do that, but could you abandon an animal after it had saved a human life?

I've met many humans that I thought were worth less than a dog. So, I don't agree that a human life is always more valuable than a pet's life.
However, I do think that the focus of search and rescue teams right now should be the living.
It might be offensive to some that the dead are being left in the streets, but they are dead. They don't care anymore. The living, however, need help right away.

I agree Groff. The dead are already dead, and it's not them in those bodies anymore anyway. Those are just empty shells now. The living are more important.

This is America right? Land of the yada, yada, yada.

So explain to me how these things are happening:

1. Dead bodies just being left to rot, because "rescuing people is our job."
People what happened to dignity for our dead? Why does the Prez have to come out and tell us that? We're supposed to be a compassionate people, and we let government decide our moral position! Those bodies are somebodies family! Get them off the streets and into a dignified place until we can bury them!

2. Pets not being allowed with evacuees. Just how many pets are going to stop the system? Pets for many of us ( I exclude those of you who are going to inevitably tell me that animals aren't like humans ( as if that has been an issue for this government until pushed to react)) are our lifeblood. If somebody is going to be devastated by leaving pets behind, then why are we putting these poor people through this, and the poor animals as well.

Are we so focused on "getting the job done" that we forget the issues of dignity for the dead and issues of the heart for pet owners and pets?
America the world is watching and judging!

There's a journalist from my town reporting on some of the shelters and she said that evacuees are being told at gunpoint (M-16's) to "shhhh, be quiet" so people can go to sleep. I guess there has to be order though, but to what extent...............?

The military bases that were closing should've been used as shelters for these people. They're ready-made for a disaster like this.

People who voluntarily evacuated on their own were able to take their pets. Those who did not are at the mercy of the emergency efforts aimed at saving as many humans as possible. This is triage - not optimization.

Dead bodies just being left to rot, because "rescuing people is our job." People what happened to dignity for our dead? Why does the Prez have to come out and tell us that? We're supposed to be a compassionate people, and we let government decide our moral position! Those bodies are somebodies family! Get them off the streets and into a dignified place until we can bury them!

In a situation of of diseaster, you must save the living. You can do nothing for the dead, they will be dead in 10 days as they will be in 1 minute. The living may have a chance to survive if you get to them in time, and wasteing time picking up the dead will not help them in their time on grevis need.

There seems to be an assumption made by many of you that picking up dead bodies gets in the way of rescuing live people. I'm not talking about going around looking for dead bodies in lieu of live people I'm talking about those dead bodies that were left in plain sight for days, even when the place was over run with soldiers, cops, resuers. Would you want that to be your family member? I don't believe it came down to "we can't do both" I think it came down to "our mission is live people."

When soldiers have someone dead they raise heaven and hell to bring them back, at risk to their own lives (Mogadishu - Black Hawk down). If soldiers place such a value on their own dead, they need to do the same for others. I can absolutley guarantee you that if one of those dead bodies was a family member of a famous/rich/connected person that body would have been given the proper respect ASAP! Dead poor/unknowns don't rate high in the compassion list in the USA. Hell live ones don't either, as we found out...again.

As to pets, thank you Kellet, you're not as hard ass as your picture!

Someone said voluntary evacuees were allowed to take pets. Not when I watched BBC TV! Many people refused to be evacuated when they were not allowed to bring pets, and when push came to shove, sometimes the G.I.'s gave in, but probably only because they were on camera!

Now don't call me anti G.I. I am a veteran, but I know how soldiers are trained to do "mission" and ignore humanity issues if they get in the way. "I was only following orders", is still the soldiers excuse when something bad happens!

I would hate to leave my pet(s), but life sucks. Katrina is just the latest chapter of the how much life can suck book.

It's ugly all over down there.

how is it even their buisness if they are taking their pets? just lost iyour house and all your personal belongings, finally comes rescue, and then leave your kitty behind to die?

http://www.bernardsboe.com/Mount-Prospect/CyberAcadademySpring/Serena/chinesewriting.gif

:repost: We've heard the argument before,Sam.