New Orleans is one of my favorite places that I've had the opportunity to visit so far in my life. The coverage of this tragedy has been disappointing from the perspective that so much focus especially on TV has been placed on scenes of looting and people fighting and screaming. The need to sensationalize a domestic tragedy is so much more convenient for American news media when it happens in their own country, because they can justify the portrayal under the guise that these problems are the result of their own citizens' actions. Had they overindulged in illustrating a similar situation during the tsunami when tragedy struck abroad, the criticism of their coverage would come under far more scrutiny than what we've been subjected to up until now.

Obviously nobody wants to see looting and raping happen, especially during a time like this. But given the relative weight of this catastrophe, the proportion of coverage dedicated to showing scenes like people walking out of Wal-Marts with shopping carts full of stuff (including food and clean drinking water) is out of whack with the obligation of the media to provide information in a timely and relevant manner. In this case, giving people capitalizing on the city's grave misfortunes unwarranted airtime is akin to the coverage of Petra Nemcova's missing boyfriend in Phuket some eight months ago.

I can only hope that city and all areas affected by this horrible situation make a full recovery and demonstrate the resiliency and inner strength that has made New Orleans such a vibrant and distinguished area. Without hesitation would I recommend it as a place most people should visit during their lifetime, now more than ever to fully appreciate the scope of such an unfortunate event.