[Mb-civic] A Time for Action, Not Outrage - Colbert King - Washington Post

[William Swiggard]

A Time for Action, Not Outrage

By Colbert I. King
Saturday, September 3, 2005; Page A31

Mother Nature delivered her own version of "shock and awe" on Monday, 
leaving the Gulf Coast with the kind of death and destruction that only 
America's worst enemies could applaud. Without firing a shot or dropping 
a bomb, Hurricane Katrina pulverized Mississippi, Louisiana and parts of 
Alabama, wreaking havoc on the lives of hundreds of thousands, as well 
as the nation's economy, for months to come.

But Katrina did more than lay waste to lives and property. She also 
taught us a few things about ourselves.

We now know, if we ever needed reminding, that our ranks are filled with 
humanitarians. They were in evidence in New Orleans, lifting stranded 
residents off rooftops, ferrying others in boats, delivering 
life-sustaining supplies, comforting the despondent.

Katrina also brought us the faces of the detestable -- the rabble who 
tear through the rubble, feeding off the property and misery of others: 
those for whom a decent society has no use.

And it was the sight of the looting in New Orleans that prompted M.J. of 
Laurel to e-mail me on Wednesday with this message:

"Most people, especially non-blacks like me, cannot understand what 
makes black people want to go 'berserk' after a hurricane. Seems the 
media's cameras only show blacks looting Foot Lockers, Wal-Marts etc. Is 
that possible??? Is that something that only happens in poor black 
neighborhoods? Is it a race thing or a poverty thing? Why don't we see 
Asians, whites or other races doing this or is this something the media 
only shows when blacks do it???

"Either way, this sight disgusts most reasonable people . . . "

M.J. is hardly alone. Looting in the wake of Katrina was sickening. It 
wasn't the foraging for food, milk, diapers and toiletries that was 
upsetting. That part was understandable. It was the smashing of windows 
to steal watches, television sets, DVDs and guns that was despicable.

It all goes to show what happens when some people get it in their heads 
that they can take things that don't belong to them without getting 
caught. All it takes is a time and place where authority is absent. 
Bring on such a scene for those predators and opportunists always 
lurking in our midst and, bingo, you have your looters.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090202075.html?nav=hcmodule
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