From a reader:
Taking food (especially food that is going to spoil anyway), water, and
diapers is not looting. That is not only forgivable but expected during a
disaster. I would do the same without any guilty whatsoever. I would also
go back to that store after the disaster and pay for what I took (but that’s
me).
Breaking into stores and taking property such as TVs, jewlery, etc. is
unforgivable. That’s looting. I heard Brian Williams justify it by saying
“people who have very little are starting to take property.” Ok, I don’t
expect namby pamby Brian William to call it as it is (given his property is
not being looted) and say: “There’re some looting scum, let’s hope the
National Guard shoots them.” But it would be nice if he didn’t try to
justify what they were doing based on class.