Posted on 09/01/2005 9:59:09 AM PDT by KevinNuPac
Looters Are The Worst Of Humanity
By Kevin Fobbs
We all saw the same thing. We didn't have to rub our eyes in disbelief either. Maybe we were expecting it. As Hurricane Katrina was sweeping through the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana hundreds of thousands of families were trying to escape to safety with their loved ones. The worst of society was also sweeping through the storm ravaged cities like New Orleans. Immeasurable thousands of the dregs of society rose to the top of their game and only proved an old familiar axiom that disaster brings out the absolute worst in people.
It was the worst of humanity that was roaming unchecked through the city of New Orleans. These thieves were open and defiant and did not fear apprehension. They were brazen in their unchecked thievery, doing it in open daylight, with television network cameras rolling and holding their own version of a Blue Light special.
So while governors, elected officials and FEMA representatives were alerting the residents and the nation to help, to donate, to give what it could for the sake of others, these criminals were, according to an Associated Press report, becoming weaponized. These thieves had become roaming gangs who were armed with possibly newly acquired firearms. New Orleans' homeland security chief, Terry Ebbert, said looters were breaking into stores all over New Orleans and stealing guns. They even decided that they would go after the cops. Mr. Ebbert pointed out in published reports that some of the gangs of armed men moving had fired upon police officers who had been stranded on the roof of a hotel.
Just what would be the motivation of a person to walk out of their home that day, now freshly flooded, and decide, "I'm going to go down to the neighborhood store or even better yet, downtown and take what's mine, because after all society owes me something?"
These are individuals who were morons before they left their home. This disaster of historic proportions was merely a dinner plate that had been set for them, courtesy of Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane did not suddenly change a church going person with high moral standards into a morally challenged cretin. They were basking in their 15 seconds of fame as they explained to the camera in a near gleeful manner how the items they were looting were just the essentials; you know...televisions, electronic equipment, jewelry and clothing.
What should be done? Of course there are some liberals who are advancing the feather weight theory that these looters are just circumstantial criminals, thieves who by day are ordinary law-abiding citizens, who are just stressed out, uptight and pushed over the edge because of seeing so much horror. Their tortured little minds just plain snapped. Now I have to say that type of logic is as airtight as the levees that gave way in New Orleans.
The only shock they may be suffering from is that they may be identified later when all of the television cameras that recorded their misdeeds come back to haunt them in court. Just look at the items of choice they decided to take. Unless pilfering a television set is a survival item in a city with no electricity, these marauding rogues and their new family of criminal neighbors is truly no better than those who would steal from a family who was attending a funeral of a loved one.
Others may believe that these thieves should be left alone and let God judge them, because after all isn't that what God is there for? I think that there is a more appropriate resolution for these looters.
First thing on the list of justice re-education is to arrest as many of them as possible, then take them down to the morgue, makeshift or otherwise. Acquaint them with those poor souls who could not escape the hurricane's wrath. Second, put them to work in cleaning out the areas of the city as in the case of New Orleans, pretty much 95 percent of it. Help them to understand through their efforts what paying back society is truly all about. Third, put them on the levee reinforcement detail. Maybe that will help them with their regret, not with what happened, but with their true regret, in getting caught.
While the criminal looters who are caught may be re-directed in their illegal conduct, there still remains the vast majority of the possibly thousands of thieves who are not caught or can not be easily apprehended due to law enforcement manpower shortages.
There are two possibilities that remain for impacting upon their heart as well as being able to physically identify them.
The first may sound juvenile, but hear me out. Some of the police, who feel they don't have the capacity to apprehend, detain and lock up the looters may be able to tag them. That's right... just take a red paint ball gun with permanent red paint balls and tag the thieving perpetrator in the act. The looter is tagged with a scarlet letter of sorts and a reward can be given to anyone supplying information on the looters who are wearing their version of the scarlet letter.
Second, is the solution which actually plays upon the hearts of those men and women of the cloth who may be able to affect those wayward thieves who just may retain an ounce of honesty in their hearts.
So where should the admonishment come from? Of course we expect it to come from the elected leaders. After all that is why they are elected, but what about the unelected representatives?
What about the role of the clergy in this horrible natural disaster? Maybe we should be seeing a joint press conference being held by the New Orleans -- "Put That stuff You Stole Back Clergy Coalition." Who is appealing to the hearts of the thieves? Maybe a clergy coalition may help the thieves who took their children down to the "Open Window Sale" to say "Rasheed, or Tamara, or Tanya, let's put this stuff back."
Maybe when the next natural disaster rolls around the perspective looters will re-evaluate looting. Maybe with the assistance and support of the clergy these walking natural disasters of the heart will embrace the value of living for the sake of others so that their neighbors and friends and most importantly their children will be governed by a credo found in the Ten Commandments, "Thou Shall not Steal"
Maybe the nation will not have to undergo a second crisis after a natural disaster: a crisis of conscience.
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Kevin Fobbs is President of National Urban Policy Action Council (NuPac), a non-partisan civic and citizen-action organization that focuses on taking the politics out of policy to secure urban America's future one neighborhood, one city, and one person at a time. View NuPac on the web at www.nupac.info. Kevin Fobbs is a regular contributing columnist to the Detroit News. He is also Outreach Communications Vice Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party and daily host of The Kevin Fobbs Show on News Talk WDTK - 1400 AM in Detroit as well as co-founder of the Jackson, MI-based American Conservative Values Television Network. Listen to The Kevin Fobbs Show online at www.wdtkam.com daily 2-3 p.m.
What about the looters in NJ that stole the election for Frank Lautenberg?
They'll burn NO down now. Creates diversions for their looting activities. Stupid scum. They'll never get their loot out of there.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1474029/posts?page=3#3
A better cause? These people just lost EVERYTHIING! EVERYTHING. I'd be pretty mad at God right now too. You have no idea what you would do in those circumstances. I'm not saying what they did was right, but to punish because some people will just naturally do the wrong thing is absurd and it makes me think you're just looking for a way out of giving money. Shame on you.
3 posted on 08/31/2005 9:15:33 AM CDT by Hildy
I'm ashamed for these freepers. Sadly they think they're in the majority.
I recommend we all visit www.nupac.info
I read a portion of the writers (Kevin Fobbs) website. Very, very spot on.
He has a comment about Faith, Family and Freedom.
I may borrow that tag line!
Some have finally figured that out and have now taken to shooting at FEMA (and private) rescuers in an attempt to steal their boats.
I know a Calvinist pastor who always tells people who don't believe in the depravity of man to just observe what happens when the power goes out for 24 hours in any U. S. city.
Back in the old days, looters were shot. In today's PC environment, the cops look on, doing nothing, saying "the jails are full".
im sure i posted those very words a few days ago. wonder if they scan FR.
Oddlyt enough, the looters will eliminate the growing attempt by those on the left to play the rtace card with this natural disaster, and somehow imply that Bush, and the GOP doesn't care about blacks...Why..because all the looters happen to be black, and their pictures are all over the media..
Get a grip! Looters need to be SHOT, KILLED ... do I make myself clear? How can the police and National Guard let this happen openly? They have guns ... USE THEM FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!
IT's not a good response for the ones you are forced to shoot.
But it's better for everyone else, because it stops lawlessness and saves more lives in the long run.
Some of the more aggressive looters who are dangerous (i.e., are shooting at people, etc.) should be shot on site because they are causing a danger to the rescue workers, etc.
The previous post was right: In the old days, looters were shot because it is the only way to really stop the looting (that is why they are looting because nobody can stop them).
You really are a "San Francisco Republican" aren't you...
It's Martial law- they ought to be shot.
Looters need to be SHOT, KILLED ... do I make myself clear? Yes, I just disagee with you.
I can't for the life of me, understand this looting. Even with four hurricanes that hit us last year here in Florida, you heard of no looting. We Floridians pulled together and helped each other and rebuilt our state, and didn't tear it down!
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