by Numi Numowitz

Created on: March 15, 2010   Last Updated: March 16, 2010

There’s only one thing in advertising that sells better than sex and that’s catastrophes and train wrecks. At least there are some people offended by sex. But we all can’t seem to resist a great disaster.

What local news station doesn’t have a traffic department where somebody makes a big salary telling us where all the “Rubber-Necking” delays are. You know those half hour crawls because we all had to gawk at the fender-bender. So imagine the advertising traffic that is being generated on something as terribly traumatic, and curiously fascinating as an Earthquake.

Here we are not two days after the quake hits and these people are already being portrayed as looters and rioters in the media, if you read the headlines. The profit hungry media machines carelessly pollute the public perception. With their form of subliminal justification for these would be survivors being subject to tear gas, and other forms of militaristic restraints and discipline.

Is it now incumbent on the mass media to conduct itself in such an irresponsible self-serving fashion as to exploit and jeopardize the health and welfare of the victims of natural disasters? Is this just another sad example of how they continue to place profits before people?

These poor people have enough difficulties and impossibilities facing them already. Merely trying to survive something of such magnitude, most cannot begin to imagine.

I am nothing short of ashamed for the spoiled reporters writing these stories. Who would be among the first ones looting if they were living in the middle of a disaster area.

My bet is they don’t come from a background conducive to surviving in the streets, especially when their Platinum Cards won’t pay for their beers and hotel suite.

Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a major distinction between looting a business for bread and water, vs. the appliance store for a Plasma TV. Especially in a time of severe humanitarian crisis. Let’s be honest, do we really believe any of these people are stealing food and water just so they can make a profit.

I have not seen one picture so far on any article showing unruly, riotous or violent crowds running from stores with anything other than the basic provisions for life and survival.

Try to imagine, you’re in your bed sleeping and 90 seconds later you're literally shaken out into the street. Maybe your wife or husband is dead, maybe a child or two. There is no lights, power, water or services

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