Re: Some provocative thoughts about looting in Iraq

In a message dated 4/15/2003 8:08:15 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
spectors@netnitco.net writes:

> But I would like to pose some provocative thoughts. Many of the looters may 
>have been motivated by nihilism; many may be criminals. Maybe. But many were 
>motivated by the possibility of getting some money. It is easy to sit here and 
>condemn someone as "greedy" because they break into a museum and steal a gold 
>cup, but from their point of view, if they can sell that cup for $50, it might 
>feed their family for a month or buy 
> antibiotics to save the lives of their children.

I don't think this is particularly controversial.  In a system of inequality 
based on private property, when control breaks down, people seize all kinds of 
stuff.  What is striking is that after making promises to museum officials 
about protecting this heritage the US simply let looters run wild in the 
museum.  It seems the US has not learned much about the pyscho-cultural effects 
its actions might have since it planted troops in the holy land of Mecca.

Steven Sherman