words have power. call someone a desparate victim, and we feel sorry for him. call him a shameless looter, and even if he is stealing food to feed his family, we shoot him on site and feel we did the right thing.

i'm not saying the murderers and rapists are great guys, but most of these people have lived together for years - some their entire lives - without this behaviour. it's easy to simply write them off because they are guilty of heinous behaviour, yet new orleans hasn't been awash in massive rapes and murders.

there is something going on with some of those people that we don't necessarily understand, but at least some of them are victims even as they victimize. panic and starvation is hard to understand as most likely none of us here has ever been 3 days without food or water, trapped in sweltering heat and knowing we will NEVER go home again.

and some are fucking wannabe gansters who want to take over, and should probably be locked up for life.