If you are Chicago Tribune National Correspondent Michael Martinez, what can you not say and maintain your vaunted objectivity? Hey! Buddy! The buses are over there! Turn around! (registration required).
The article describes the challenges in in evacuating an entire US city. There was a group of people holed up in the seven-story parking garage of a post office near the Superdome and were unable to board the buses that were evacuating the Superdome Refugees:
At the post office, refugees swarmed visitors, asking for help for a sick relative in need of medicine or a child who hadn’t eaten.
Among those waiting were Paula Jackson, 52, a licensed practical nurse, and her 14-year-old daughter, who is paralyzed on one side and requires a feeding bag. “They’re emptying the dome first, and they’re leaving us to weather the elements,” Jackson said.
“It’s like it’s at your fingertips, if you just stretch out your arm, but you can’t do it,” Jackson said of the buses. “I don’t picture how they can go to the nation telling what great assistance they’re giving us. At ground level, ground zero, it’s poor, poor, poor service.”
Darrell Dozier, 39, a pizza deliveryman in New Orleans, agreed. “They’re ignoring us,” he said. “I want to get out of New Orleans. I just can’t live like this.”
Very sad. Terrible. If you could do anything to help these people, you would, wouldn’t you? Like say, if there were more buses accessible around the back of the building, you’d tell them wouldn’t you? Apparently, Mr. Martinez would not, but he will exploit their image for a heart-string tug…
“Sadly, Jackson and Dozier could have boarded a bus if they’d known they had only to walk around the garage to an alley between the post office and a bus station. The two-block trek eventually leads to a back entrance to the Superdome, where Louisiana National Guard commanders were directing people to a long line for buses evacuating refugees.”
Asshole! If only someone had known there were long lines of buses just a hop, skip and a jump away. If only there had been one person who could have told them. Oh right. There was, but he decided to keep this little nugget for his story. Bastard.
Hat Tip: Mrs. Bixby (Not Her Real Name)