Looting is a moral act: Yesterday NPR reported that the death toll in the Phillipines Super-Typhoon had risen into the thousands, and that two large islands had lost all power and potable water supplies. Trucks and ferries which normally brought supplies were not able to bring them, and that meant that many thousands of people were without drinking water or food. Looting has been reported. That got me to thinking about what looting is. The image we have in mind when we hear the word is of young, probably dark-skinned, youth running through the the streets, breaking shop windows and taking expensive luxury goods. That is obviously NOT what is happening on these islands... people on these islands are breaking into stores that have food and bottled drinks because they and their children are hungry and thirsty. Our moral understanding of looting is based on the Biblical commandment not to covet our neighbors property or steal it, but even in the Old Testament there is a clear understanding that we really are our brothers keeper and that worldly goods MUST be shared with the poor and needy. Private property and the market economy are really not sacred at all, and they are certainly less sacred than the obligation of those who have more than the rest to make sure nobody suffers. This is a rule found in all religions and all moral codes. Ownership is a temporary arrangement, but social cohesion is essential to human survival. It is the right of people affected by the giant storm to call on their neighbors for assistance and, if they cant locate these neighbors, to assume they will cheerfully obey this ancient moral law and let them take the goods they need to make it through the next few days.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 19:47:37 +0000
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