Zen question about looting and starving and being poor

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

A lot of people seem to act as if people are starving after one day, that all their homes have been flooded, and they had no food to begin with hence the looting. And because they MUST be poor, it is acceptable to them.

Yet there are other countries where people go hungry for weeks, and are grateful for even the smallest bit of nutrition or sip of water. They know what true starvation and hunger is. They know the pain of really having to survive without sustinance. They don't have the comfort of even a loaf of bread or a jug of milk in the fridge. They have to wait for grain and water to be doled out to everyone in their village or family before they can have even a small taste.

Does that mean that even the poor in this country are spoiled?

[ret5hd]

1. Zen answer...

i guess we could shoot all those we catch looting, and ask the rest after a few weeks.

[CitrusLib]

2. No. It means

The poor in this country live in closer proximity to wealth than the poor in other nations. Do they have 7/11s in Sudanese villages and refugee camps?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. I'm sick of this goddamned fucking starving cannard

A bunch of people posting comfortably from their cozy homes sitting in judgement of people who MAY be hungry (I get hungry about every 6-8 hours) but not starving.

SO THE FUCK WHAT!

It's fucking 90 degrees with equal humidity...if people are taking essentials then SO THE FUCK WHAT???

Really??? What skin is it off your computer gazing navel?

[kick-ass-bob]

6. I agree, NSMA, and add that

if they don't get food now - when will they get it?
Even they don't know, so you should probably get some while you still can.

[SpiralHawk]

4. What is the sound of teeth chewing pretzels?

This is the MEDITATION our pResident is undertaking in these days of National Catastrophe.

Please do not disturb him.

When the moment is right, the Master will appear with a full retinue of Propagandytes.

Have faith, grasshopper.

[Book Lover]

5. Let me ask you a question back

If I see that there are stores of supplies in one place, and I know there will be no replenishment of those supplies, where is the wisdom in waiting for hunger and deprivation? I am NOT condoning looting; in my opinion municipalities and counties in flood plains should have post-disaster supply plans in place that work to prevent the need to loot (that is, preclude the opportunistic looter. Plans and laws such as these will not stop the thief).

[Bridget Burke]

8. Usually, the National Guard watches for looters.

But most of them are elsewhere right now.

Looting is always a problem after a disaster & it's not just for food & diapers.

[mondo joe]

7. If I were trapped I'dbe first in line to take food. But I'd also be

first in line to pay for it when order is restored.

And I have not one bit of respect or pity for people stealing money, jewelry, electronics, etc.

[NorCalDem]

9. Looting is wrong, no matter what you're taking!

Also, the looting has nothing to do with being poor (at least in the economic sense). Those that are looting are poor in a moral sense, they've lived in poverty near rich people, they're a**holes, whatever reasons you can come up with. The point is that the situation could/should have been handled A LOT better than it was/is, and that is why we're getting looting.

I'm sure there are quite a few looters out there that already have much of what they're taking, but in our society more is always better!

[Cassandra]

10. If you go to a store willing to buy something...

and the store is closed, you may not know when it will reopen, you're concerned that if you don't get what you need now, there may not be anything later, the water is rising and you don't see those people who may be able to help you, would you just turn around and go home, saying to yourself, "Well, the store's closed."? I have no problem with people taking necessities in those circumstances. Necessities are food, water, diapers, soap, candles, batteries. TVs, clothing, furniture, sneakers, etc do not fall into that category.