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Amid several angry messages from viewers read out on CNN on Thursday in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina was one from an irate patriot who demanded Korean troops be sent to the devastated city of New Orleans. CNN borrowed the words of the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to describe the situation in the city as a state of "urban warfare." A viewer identifying himself as Jim from Charlotte, North Carolina wrote, "I won't be satisfied until I see the South Korean Army in the street of New Orleans helping us. And where are the Dutch? Aren't they the masters of building levees and dikes. And what about the French? This used to be their city. Oh, that's right, they're French."
This was just one of the many e-mails in a similar vein sent to "The Situation Room" program in the late afternoon Thursday. The program, which asked viewers whether the international community should help the devastated Gulf Coast region, noted that some of the e-mails were rather "interesting," relaying one in which the writer said, "This shouldn't even be a question. The shoe is on the other foot for once. We are the ones in need of help. We have helped so many for so long, I guess we will now see who our real friends are by who helps us in our time of need."
The e-mails reflect growing social tension due to a continuous sense of insecurity since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, distrust of foreigners, fatigue over the Iraq War and high oil prices, all magnified by the loss of lives, looting and lawlessness in a U.S. city that Americans usually only see happen in Third World countries.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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