Heard the comments here and there about the area having a feel of a third world country, and that gets me thinking of why we have an image of ourselves as somehow superior to the people in the 3rd world? Take away the wealth, which is what the hurricane has done, and are we any better than any other set of people?

Well, the right would say that it is our industriousness and determination that sets us apart - both of which are fed by our freedom and faith. The left would say that it is our binding compassion and ability to work together that makes us different - both of which are fed by our social contract and our respect for each other. Truth, always being fickle to pin down, probably taps into both.

As for whether the media has the ability of reflection, that is easy to answer - none at all ("...which By a curious coincidence..."). In order to digest massive events we have to melodramatize things - for example, the war in Iraq seems to have come down to a question of opinion on what one thinks of Cindy Sheehan.