Define looting….

Steve Blow from the Dallas Morning News does a good job:

Blame the looter, not his race

Those looters are really disgusting, aren't they? And I don't know about you, but they are stirring some ugly racial attitudes in me.

Yeah, right or wrong, I can't help thinking that white oil executives are a pretty savage bunch.

What? That's not the group of looters you had in mind? Well, maybe I should refer to them as "gougers" rather than "looters." But the guiding principle seems the same – grab all you can while you can. I can't think of much else to explain why gasoline should jump 25 cents overnight. Other than greed, I mean. Wasn't that gasoline already in the ground?

But going back to my starting point, I'm going to bet that whatever irritation you're feeling about gas prices, race hasn't played any part in it. On the other hand, if you're honest, I imagine those looting scenes in New Orleans have pushed some racial buttons in a big way. And I must say: Congratulations, looters. You may have scored a $100 pair of sneakers, but you handed the bigots about $100 million of glorious propaganda. Look for yourself on the Aryan Nation Web site. Truth be told, the looters probably fanned a little ember of racism in many of us – which we didn't even want to believe was there.

Well, with the belief that it's always better to talk openly about things being whispered, let's ruminate a little on this touchy topic. So many different things come to mind.

First is the obvious – that the looters are scum. Scavenging for food and water is one thing, but I don't think anybody needed a new wardrobe right now, and that's most of what I saw. But if disaster brought out the worst in the looters, let's not let the looters bring out the worst in us. Like focusing only on the negative, for example.

It's an absolute fact that for every act of looting there are a thousand acts of bravery, compassion and generosity. But if we're not careful, we end up outraged by the bit of bad rather than inspired by the rampant good.

We also have to guard against judging a whole race of people on the boneheaded actions of a few. TV this week showed a church service at The Potter's House, where the mostly black congregation was praying and raising money for hurricane victims. But do you suppose many viewers leaped to judgment about all blacks being generous, prayerful people? Somehow I doubt it. But you know the looters have the stereotyping going in surround sound.

It's my observation that when we see people who look like ourselves, we judge them as individuals. To me, a white guy acting a fool is just that – one fool. But when we look at people different from ourselves – by race, by sex, by income, by whatever – then we start generalizing. You know, "those people" do this or do that. It's good to remember we're all individuals – and those looting individuals make me sick.

But lastly, if you really want something to chew on, ponder this: How different, really, are the looters from any of us?

Now, don't get defensive. It's just food for thought.

Imagine for a moment that the system seems stacked against you, that everyone else is taking advantage, that what you're doing won't really hurt anyone ....

That kind of thinking has led a lot of people to fudge on their taxes. Or put a little extra on an insurance claim. Or cheat on a test. Or get free cable. Or take home some office supplies. With enough rationalization, we can persuade ourselves to do almost anything – maybe even jack up the price of gasoline.

Well, that is a lot to chew on. Dang those looters! It's bad enough they steal, but now they're making us think, too.

Thinking yet?

... Nick

UPDATE:  Link provided.

-Rick

Comments

[Mike]

Great column, Nick. Is there a link?

[Leslie]

Mike,

Google revealed this...

www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/sblow/stories/090205dnmetblow.17c6fb14.html

You might have to subscribe. Good wishes to you on Labour Day.

Leslie

PS Very much agree about the looting oil executives Nick. :)

[cats]

oh, i am so with you on this. thank you for pointing out the issue of color and judgement. you said it way better than i could have.

[Paul Wood]

when i read about the looting my gut reaction was 'they should shoot all of the looters' even tho i am opposed to capital punishment. but i am an englishman living in romania and i had no idea that the looters were black (i get my news from the BBC and english papers which were too PC to mention colour at first).

my point? angry retributive feelings need not have any connection with racialism.

by the way why arent people criticising the Louisiana and New Orleans authorities? i thought the USA was supposed to be a federal country. why didnt the mayor lay on transport to get people who dont have cars out of the city? noone seems to ask this.

[Paul Wood]

when i read about the looting my gut reaction was 'they should shoot all of the looters' even tho i am opposed to capital punishment. but i am an englishman living in romania and i had no idea that the looters were black (i get my news from the BBC and english papers which were too PC to mention colour at first).

my point? angry retributive feelings need not have any connection with racialism.

by the way why arent people criticising the Louisiana and New Orleans authorities? i thought the USA was supposed to be a federal country. why didnt the mayor lay on transport to get people who dont have cars out of the city? noone seems to ask this.

[Mike M]

I agree with the article, but African Americans dont think of themselves as individuals. African Americans dont want to be treated as individuals, they demand to be treated as a group. You cant have a black leader, call each other brother and sister, require affirmative action, scream racism when not promoted, and scream hate crime when a white hits a black.

[Zossima]

And the prize for racist asshole of the day goes to Mike M. Your generalizations about an entire people reveal you to be a simpleminded bigot.

[Mike M]

Zossima, a racist says that one group of people are bad and can not be expected to act accordingly. I on the other hand believe that all people start out honest and sincere and devolve into less.

I will not accept excuses for the looters, period. If a person is so desparate after 48 hours that they have to loot to survive, then I have to ask What Decisions Did You Make to Get Yourself Here?

If the black leadership is going to constantly scream racism then they are going perpetuate the victim mentality and discourage individual responsibility and respect for all people regardless of skin color or social standing. Let me ask you this, why do black leaders constantly point fingers when they encounter an injustice and bash anyone that questions them (think Bill Cosby)?

If this is racist, so be it.

[Nick]

Mike M writes,

I on the other hand believe that all people start out honest and sincere and devolve into less.

Lets limit the term “Looting” to those who are stealing things that are not necessary for survival. Liquor (the source of much of the trouble in NO today was the result of the stockpile of liquor that was taken in the first wave), guns, jewelry, cash (gas gouging), etc.

When looting (or any sin for that matter) occurs it is man revealing his natural instinct to put himself first. First before God, first before his culture, first before his friends and neighbors.

I believe that man starts out sinful, and only changes through the work and influence of the Holy Spirit.

Nick