How to hide iconic images

[a_majoor]

The iconic image of the New Orleans city bus fleet being used as an artificial reef isn't being shown on the news or reprinted in newspapers and magazines in an rightious rage over the mendacity and poor planning of the New Orleans city government, since that might obscure the "real" truth. This is the picture I got in my email today instead....

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Sorry Arthur,

Two things:

1)  Highly unusual but, I'm not sure what your post is trying to say; and

2)  I've seen the picture before, and find it tasteless, immature and not in the least bit humorous, given the loss of life, property and economy. Not to mention the politically biased slant, considering the total lack of spine, fortitude, foresight, lack of acceptance of responsibility and absence of plain old balls shown by both the Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisiana. Those two are the ones that should appear in the picture, a la Nero, fiddiling while Rome burned.

 

[armyvern]

 Ha!! That's GOOD!!  ;D

 

[STA Gunner]

...and absence of plain old balls shown by ... the Governor of Louisiana.

Freudian slip perhaps?  ;D

It is quite interesting to hear what you have said recceguy, because from what I have read in the media (Time and Macleans in the dentist whilie my wife had surgery), and the analysis put forth by the US government on what had occurred, the mayor and governor, while not Rudy Giuliani by any stretch, have not been singled out by most for the problems in Louisiana.  Time had an excellent article entitled "4 Places Where the System Broke Down" which submits that it was lack of foresight at the lower levels of government, and a lack of judgement when reports were pouring in about complete devastation in the higher levels of government.

Look at our own ice storm and to a lesser extent the floods and forest fire experiences.  When the solicitor general for the province of Quebec reported that the province needed military and domestic emergency assistance, the country was able to respond within 24 hours.  In Louisiana, that assistance was sought and for a critical period decisions were reserved, mostly with FEMA.  Perhaps the Mayor and Governor could have been more forceful with FEMA or the federal government, but who knows.  What is evident is the amount of attention paid to the mayors of Galveston and Houston and the governor of Texas for Rita.  Lessons have obviously been learned.

I do find it interesting that you characterise the mayor and governor as a Nero (altogether not an untrue characterisation).  I would almost liken them, as well as every leader who "failed" in their support, to the Keystone Kops. 

And I agree with you on the photo, poorly 'shopped, and in poor taste.

 

[a_majoor]

Sorry Arthur,

Two things:

1)   Highly unusual but, I'm not sure what your post is trying to say; and

2)   I've seen the picture before, and find it tasteless, immature and not in the least bit humorous, given the loss of life, property and economy. Not to mention the politically biased slant, considering the total lack of spine, fortitude, foresight, lack of acceptance of responsibility and absence of plain old balls shown by both the Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisiana. Those two are the ones that should appear in the picture, a la Nero, fiddiling while Rome burned.

Which was the point I was trying to make; the media and a great deal of the public are not holding these people to account, but rather, through tastless pictures like the one posted, misleading articles and reports in the press (i.e. reporting on FEMAs slow response, but never, ever on the lack of planning or action on the part of the state and local governments) shifting the burden of blame on the Federal Government and the Administration.

Frankly, the picture which should be front and centre on the press, on TV and on the Internet is the one of the artificial bus reef, which would then have people thinking about what really happened and how to make real changes to prevent future disasters from overwhelming the system.