Subliminal message?

[NeoConsSuck]

I don't even know if this would qualify as 'subliminal', but look at the headline and photo at Cnn.com. The story is about the oncoming hurricane. Why the need to show military with rifles? Since when did the two go together?

I'm an old geezer, and I remember when photos used to show people helping other people before a hurricane hit.

www.cnn.com

[Sal Minella]

1. "Law and order" corollary to the Minnesota gestapo cuffing people and throwing them on the floor

for no discernible reason.

Maybe this pic is intended to suggest the National Guard is actually on the job ahead of time for Gustav -- I really hope that's it!!!

[lpbk2713]

2. NOLAns had to start looting for their own survival when it became obvious ...

... that they weren't going to get help any other way. The message here is blunt and obvious.

They would rather kill citizens than help them.

[lovuian]

3. Your right its a Military look to Martial law but I have news for them

notice thats one truck with three guys with guns

that ain't going to do nothing

Its for show

[Truth4Justice]

12. Maybe not, maybe so. Welcome to Amerika, comrade.

[adamuu]

4. keeps the riffraff from coming over the bridges into the good neighborhoods

what a disturbing observation on the CNN site. ty.
Apparently this is how we react to hurricanes.

[bertman]

5. While this looks very militaristic and unnecessary to those of us who live elsewhere, the

folks who had to evacuate their homes in the New Orleans area will probably see this as a reassuring sign that their homes and possessions are not being abandoned to the criminal element.

Believe it or not, the gang presence in New Orleans has grown significantly in the wake of Katrina. Gang violence including, thefts, murder, drug sales, extortion are all a very big problem in the Big Easy nowadays.

So, imagine a city left at the mercy of those who might stay behind to prey on the possessions of those unfortunate people who were forced to leave their homes.

I'm not talking about looters taking stuff from the WalMart. This could be a motherlode for thieves if there were not a large police and National Guard presence--a well-armed presence.

Therefore, I ask that you not jump to too many negative conclusions based on that photograph or the presence of armed NG troops. I and my many in-laws who come from N.O. are very glad to see that someone is thinking about the worst-case scenarios. And I'm sure that the thugs who are hoping to capitalize on this disaster-in-the-making are not happy to see the armed presence on the streets.

[stillcool]

6. I'd feel reassured to have guns pointed at me...

especially after Katrina. And especially if they are Blackwater Mercenaries. We all know our government cares so much about the American people, right?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3890719

[bertman]

7. The photo is of U.S. military types. Look closely. Are they pointing their guns at anyone?

Your response is the kind that serves only your preconceived idea about why the NG is there and armed. Fine, if you don't agree with my assessment, but I promise you there are thousands of folks from New Orleans who would rather see armed NG patrolling the city than unarmed NG or no NG.

Most of us (I assume) do not even think in terms of ripping off our fellow citizens, especially not during a time of disaster and tragedy. Unfortunately, there are some individuals who will see this hurricane as a golden opportunity to enrich themselves. They will not be armed with slingshots and spears.

BlackWater is another story. They should't even be in existence, much less allowed to be "contractors" to do domestic work in the U.S.

[stillcool]

8. My problem is that my preconceived idea...

is based on Katrina. For some reason my trust in the United States government has not improved.

[bertman]

16. I agree with you on the post-Katrina government actions, including BlackWater's.

I was as angered at the way our Federal officials acted as anyone was. And no one was more vocal than my in-laws and me, about the government's neglect and reckless abandonment of the Gulf Coast before, during and after Katrina.

But I'm glad to see that they are doing some good things in the runup to the storm hitting. They may not do everything right, but having the NG present early on is a step in the right direction.

My wife's mom and dad just moved in with us after being in the N.O. and Gulf Coast areas all their lives. Plus, my wife's sisters and their families live in Bay St. Louis and Ocean Springs, Miss., both were hit very hard during Katrina. The Bay St. Louis family was thrilled to see the National Guard patrolling their streets yesterday and today before they evacuated. They are all glad to see that the government is at least trying to do some things right this time.

[TexasObserver]

9. Yes. The message is "we're here to stop looting."

[malaise]

10. Shock Doctrine

Disaster Capitalism at the barrel of a gun across the globe.

[Truth4Justice]

14. Bingo!

[SmokingJacket]

11. Oh, man. It actually looked "normal" to me.

How horrifying!

[Chovexani]

13. The times

They are a-changin'. :(

[Truth4Justice]

15. "The Perfect Storm" will assure us of that.

[Greyhound]

17. All in the name of law and, most especially, order.

Our own revolutionary terrorist American founders would just call the whole thing off and stay British if they saw what we've become.
:(