Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A nation watches the looting and asks: Why?
Seattle Times ^ | Sep. 1, 2005 | Michele M. Melendez and Dru Sefton

Posted on 09/01/2005 5:09:57 PM PDT by wesley_windam-price

First the hurricane, then the looting.

Photographs and videos show triumphant, smiling scavengers brazenly hauling away everything from food to TVs from ransacked stores.

The images are troubling on many levels: Human behavior at its most desperate. Hordes of people, often of color, stranded with no options. People in a situation we can't fathom behaving in ways we condemn from afar.

But disaster-response researchers are intrigued, especially because this behavior has been far from the norm. Sociologists cite more than 50 years of research showing that widespread looting after a natural disaster is rare.

They cite Hurricane Hugo, the 1989 storm that sliced a massive path of destruction through locations including St. Croix, Puerto Rico, Charleston, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C.

But major looting occurred only in St. Croix, said Kathleen Tierney, sociology professor and director of the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Researchers later determined that St. Croix differed in several ways from the other areas.

"More than 80 percent of the housing was destroyed," Tierney said. "It's an island; there was nowhere to go. They didn't know when help was going to come. Law enforcement was rendered ineffective. They didn't know when they'd see another meal."

Sounds close to the situation in New Orleans.

Still, images repeated in video loops on 24-hour cable-news networks raise stereotypes. That struck Robert Smith, political-science professor at San Francisco State University. "All the people that appear to be in distress ... have been African American, people coming from the [housing] projects," he said. "All the looters that have been shown are black."

Smith said he's not surprised. He said the neglected people in those communities — those stranded without resources — often are black. But he added that the pictures and footage of the looting "will reinforce the image of black people as criminals."

The population of New Orleans is about 67 percent African American, the fifth-largest percentage among American cities with more than 100,000 population.

Ronald Walters sees "a global issue."

"Black people are no different than any other group of people in the world," said Walters, political-science professor and director of the African American Leadership Institute at the University of Maryland at College Park. "Explaining [the looting], you have to go far, far beyond skin color."

Walters said any group — black, white, Hispanic, Asian, whatever — would do anything necessary to survive when faced with tragic circumstances, including raiding stores for supplies.

Sociology professor Henry Fischer agreed. He has long studied human response to disasters as head of the Center for Disaster Research and Education at Millersville University of Pennsylvania.

But what about the looting of luxury items? Some media images showed people hauling off television sets and DVD players, in an area with no electricity. "That's something we as researchers are going to take a closer look at," he said.

He offered a hypothesis — not an excuse, he stressed: "You'd probably find the people doing this to be very poor. Pretty much they have nothing in their lives. They didn't have the resources to escape, didn't have a car or money to leave.

"Now, on this one occasion, suddenly they think, 'Wow, I can have these things,' for once."

Much of what's being taken are essentials: anything edible, disposable diapers, water and clothes.

"That is the behavior people take under the pressure of survival," said Benigno Aguirre, professor in the department of sociology and criminal justice and the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware in Newark. "This is misconstrued as looting, as thievery."

In disaster, social norms shift, sociologists say. What may be considered criminal or unacceptable under ordinary circumstances becomes reasonable.

"Expectations and social agreements can be suspended ... because the situation is so dire," said Barbara Feldman, associate sociology professor at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.

Observers say it's important to note that most people are behaving.

"The looters are a tiny slither of humanity," said Sheldon Solomon, psychology professor at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. "Most of the folks in and around New Orleans appear to be showing humanity at our best — helpful, honest and genuinely concerned about the welfare of others."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: hurricane; katrina; looting; neworleans
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-132 next last
To: wesley_windam-price

This article is factually challenged. I personally watched huge gangs of blacks break into and loot numerous buldings in Charleston , SC the morning after Hugo. The K-Mart, on Spruill Avenue, across from the Naval hospital was the site of looting by at least 200 blacks. I saw it with my own 2 eyes, as did the 4 cops in the parking lot. The storm damage was severe, but there was plenty of food and water available. They were stealing non food items.


41 posted on 09/01/2005 5:26:52 PM PDT by ExpatGator (Progressivism: A polyp on the colon politic.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BallyBill
LOL! Between your post and your tagline--I have tea all over my keyboard. Thanks a lot! :o)
42 posted on 09/01/2005 5:27:56 PM PDT by asp1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: wesley_windam-price

Every single one of the looters has an option to be law abiding. Every single one of them can make their way out of the affected areas to emergency shelters.

They are purposefully exploiting the disaster to steal. Nothing more, nothing less.


43 posted on 09/01/2005 5:28:03 PM PDT by coconutt2000 (NO MORE PEACE FOR OIL!!! DOWN WITH TYRANTS, TERRORISTS, AND TIMIDCRATS!!!! (3-T's For World Peace))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brilliant

I heard they just opened the cell doors
and let'em walk....


44 posted on 09/01/2005 5:30:26 PM PDT by NickatNite2003
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: zlala

Yes, and as O'reilly stated, I hope Shep wins the biggest award possible...


45 posted on 09/01/2005 5:30:36 PM PDT by sit-rep (If you acquire, hit it again to verify...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: wesley_windam-price

When 911 happened in New York City, which had a greater fear factor, (with out a three day notice) did the citizens in New York take to the streets.


46 posted on 09/01/2005 5:32:11 PM PDT by FAHRENHEIT 4 MORE YEARS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wesley_windam-price

The Los Angeles Watts riot consisted prmarily of looting and burning. The New Orleans looters were just a mirror image of that.


47 posted on 09/01/2005 5:36:37 PM PDT by hgro (ews)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wesley_windam-price

Liberalism has taught a group of people to be victims, to blame others, to rely on things un-earned, and to hate and be vengeful. That is a part of the equation.


48 posted on 09/01/2005 5:38:00 PM PDT by Names Ash Housewares
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wesley_windam-price
Walters said any group — black, white, Hispanic, Asian, whatever — would do anything necessary to survive when faced with tragic circumstances, including raiding stores for supplies.

Thank goodness for the stores with all those big screen TV's, computers, DVD's, electronic equipment, expensive sneakers, etc. Otherwise, where would all those poor souls be!!

I'm sure no one here would have a problem with people getting food, water, baby formula, you know, the things people really need to survive. But I cannot fathom what would make someone shoot at rescue workers or feel that it's okay to steal things they can't possibly need to survive! Their mommas didn't raise them right!!!

49 posted on 09/01/2005 5:38:18 PM PDT by KosmicKitty (Well... There you go again!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wesley_windam-price
But what about the looting of luxury items? Some media images showed people hauling off television sets and DVD players, in an area with no electricity. "That's something we as researchers are going to take a closer look at," he said.

Translation #1: "I don't have a freakin' clue."

Translation #2: "It would be politically incorrect for me to state the logical conclusion."

50 posted on 09/01/2005 5:38:56 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (I ain't got a dime, but what I got is mine. I ain't rich, but Lord I'm free.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hgro
The Los Angeles Watts riot consisted prmarily of looting and burning. The New Orleans looters were just a mirror image of that.

Interesting mathematics here.....La = LA?

51 posted on 09/01/2005 5:39:20 PM PDT by Rockitz (Geena YES, Hill NO!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: curiosity

I can't imagine how those degenerates plan to get their ill gotten booty out of the city. Everyone is to be evacuated and as the main body of survivors are removed, that will leave behind the perpetrators for the most part. They will be sought out and forcibly removed if need be. They will not be taking the loot with them. I cannot fathom their reasoning. If they realize that they can't get the stuff out, then their actions are those of barbaric sub-humans. I hope they use all the video footage of these reprehensible acts to eventually bring justice to bear.


52 posted on 09/01/2005 5:39:29 PM PDT by Birdsbane (If You Are Employed By A Liberal Democrat...Quit!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: wesley_windam-price
Walters said any group — black, white, Hispanic, Asian, whatever — would do anything necessary to survive when faced with tragic circumstances, including raiding stores for supplies.

Sociology professor Henry Fischer agreed. He has long studied human response to disasters as head of the Center for Disaster Research and Education at Millersville University of Pennsylvania.

...yeah that "ute" with the flat screen TV he's haulin to eat can make money on some reality show.
..perhaps the "ute" who was told to either dump the 8 boxes of sneakers, or wait for the next rescue copter would be able to explain his basic instinct, or fetish for the taste of nylon...


Doogle

Doogle
53 posted on 09/01/2005 5:39:29 PM PDT by Doogle (8th AF...4077thTFW....408MMS....Ubon Thailand "69"..Night Line Delivery ..AMMO)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wesley_windam-price

The looting brings to my mind an incident which happened to my uncle years ago. He was an old and somewhat odd man and for whatever reason had some cash (probably $1000) in the trunk of his car. Anyways, one day he was driving along and was hit pretty hard by another car. The car sped off but the trunk of his car popped open and the cash was strewn about the ground. He was sitting in the car, stunned and bleeding a bit and meanwhile a fairly large gathering of people had started collecting the money and putting into their pockets. None of these people bothered to help him. Eventually another motorist stopped and gave him assistance while the other people were pocketing the last of the cash.

My thorough indoctrination into political correctness prevents me from categorizing any of these people into ethnic/racial groups but feel free to use your imagination. Suffice it to say that what my uncle experienced that day and what New Orleans is experiencing right now is, in my opinion, a direct result of the ideology of victimhood which teaches that people don't have to be reponsible for their actions or their problems. It appears that so called compassionate policies have very efficiently achieved what slavery and racism were not able to.


54 posted on 09/01/2005 5:39:43 PM PDT by Avenger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WorkingClassFilth
Looting in the aftermath of a natural disaster is especially dispicable because it is taking advantage of people when they are at their most vulnerable. It also effects a descent into barbarism and lawlessness precisely when society is in most need of civility and rule of law. It is a crime against civilization, if you will.
55 posted on 09/01/2005 5:40:50 PM PDT by curiosity (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Birdsbane

Just trophies, perhaps. Even though useless. Their idea of having gotten one up on "the man."


56 posted on 09/01/2005 5:40:55 PM PDT by The Red Zone (Florida, the sun-shame state, and Illinois the chicken injun.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: sarasota

That's right. They are just behaving the same way they did before the hurricane. New Orleans is murder capital of the U.S., mostly with blacks killing blacks, often over drugs. It's been that way for years and years, long before this hurricane.

Why rebuild this city? What private citizen or corporation in their right mind would invest money to rebuild below sea level, hoping that the "dike" doesn't break?


57 posted on 09/01/2005 5:41:00 PM PDT by foofoopowder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: wesley_windam-price

New Orleans is a crime ridden city every day of the week. This is no different except the world is watching.


58 posted on 09/01/2005 5:41:16 PM PDT by msnimje
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wesley_windam-price

bump to read later.


59 posted on 09/01/2005 5:41:47 PM PDT by Aliska
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wesley_windam-price


This is such a crock, those are the same people you see driving the expensive cars from all the drug money. They should actually take a drive thru the projects in this Country and see the expensive cars, jewerly, and electronics.

It's the mentality of taking what you want without working, be it someone elses goods or a welfare check.


60 posted on 09/01/2005 5:42:31 PM PDT by SouthernFreebird
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-132 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson