CAN LOOTING BE JUSTIFIED?
By Dante Lee, BlackNews.com Columnist
Many are quick to criticize the thousands of individuals who are looting in New Orleans and other areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. However, the million dollar question is: Are they stealing to survive or to profit? I would say both.
Stealing food and drinks is absolutely necessary for survival to people who are stranded in the middle of nowhere with nothing - literally. With the weather at about 95 degrees plus humidity, many will die if they don't invade abandoned stores and search for something to eat or drink. Because none of these stores are open for business, even if you had money - you couldn't legally pay for the products.
The media agrees with this and claims that food and such is okay to steal, but anything else is unlawful. Many disagree. What about baby diapers, toilet tissue, soap, shoes, and dry clothes? Aren't these items just as critical to survival as food and drinks?
What does one do in this situation? Should they wait a few more days for rescue?
Won't most of these items perish anyways? These stores are abandoned, and will remain closed for months. Does it really matter whether or not people take the items?
The biggest criticism stems from the incredible footage of people stealing TVs and DVD players. This I would agree to be unlawful. But is it really?
Ever heard of the word "hysteria"? Do you know what it really means? It means a drastic situation where everyone behaves with excessive or uncontrollable emotion, such as fear or panic. People are in a severe panic mode, not just because they could die, but because they have no money or no access to it.
Banks in the area are closed, and will remain closed for months. ATM machines do not work. Credit cards are useless because phone lines are needed for the transactions. A person waiting to receive a check in the mail, can forget it - because the postal system is down.
Perhaps people are stealing DVD players and TVs to sell them for money - money they don't have and won't be getting for a long time. Would a person be stealing these things to take back to a home that is destroyed with no power?
I can't say I agree with looting, but I also can't say I wouldn't be doing the same thing if I were in a similar situation.
Dante Lee is a columnist for BlackNews.com
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Friday, September 2nd 2005 at 11:58PM
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