You may recall the Mississippi flooding MidWest a few years ago. Did we see there anything remotely resembling the violence of NO? Did KMarts get looted of... TV sets? Makes perfect sense: your cousin may not be alive, your neighbors' body is floating in the muddy waters, and your thoughts are... how to get your hands on the wide-screen you always wanted.
You point about the requirement that one must view another as a member of another tribe to rape and murder under these circumstances is an astute observation as well.
Thank you for your post.
Most of Des Moines, Iowa was underwater for several weeks in the 93 flood. There were no riots. No looting. No shootings.