On my way into Baton Rouge, I was inundated with coverage of what has become a post apocolyptic New Orleans. I cannot begin to describe how overwhelming it is to be even sixty miles away from it all. Baton Rouge has doubled it's population- we have 500,000 displaced people in shelters, hotels, everywhere. It's just... overwhelming.

And it's scary, too. Rumors are flying all over the place, you don't know what's true or not. How scared should I be? Everyone is paranoid, and justifiably so in some cases. There have been outbreaks of violence even here in BR. It's tense. It's not wise to be out after dark, though they haven't made an official statement about that. Businesses are closing early so their employees can get home before sunset.

You know, I've never really been that attached to Baton Rouge. I mean, I live here, but it's because Patrick is in school - and we'll move when he's done. But today, I'm proud of BR, and proud to be a part of this city. They've opened their doors, they've fed and clothed thousands of people, they've cried along with these people who have lost everything. BR is stepping up to do what needs to be done, and I have a lot of respect for that.

And so, today, when Jesse Jackson swooped into BR with his convoy of three buses, and tooted his own horn, I nearly gagged. His press conference in Baton Rouge was offensive in every way. I tried to find a transcript of it, but it's not out there. I'll keep looking and I'll post it when I find it. But basically, he was headed into NO to do what all us idiots over here haven't been able to do so far. It was extremely insulting, and a lot of people were upset at his implications.

The people still waiting for evacuation, oh Lord help them. It's so terrible. I saw footage of a woman holding her baby, waiting with a couple thousand people under an overpass for buses to come get them. That baby- it really got me. How did she feed her baby for the last four days? What about diapers? Did she have to find any scrap of cloth she could to keep her baby dry and clean? It just broke my heart.

Another thought is that can we PLEASE distinguish between looting for nike tennis shoes and searching for water and food? Some people are all upset (in their nice, air-conditioned homes) about police officers in NO that broke into gas stations for supplies. They needed food! They needed water! They're out there, without adequate supplies, trying to rescue people, risking their own lives! It's not the same thing as hauling out clothes and appliances and anything else you can lay your hands on.

Do I even need to say how despicable the looters are? What about the gangs of armed men robbing the banks and shooting at emergency personnel? Disgusting and stupid.

I won't end on that note. It's too negative. And for all the bad that is happening right now, there is good, too. People are helping one another, empathizing and connecting in ways that tragedy brings about. Christians are answering the call, loving their neighbors.

And that's a good place to start.