I was dismayed to read Rex Rhoades’ editorial “Looters exploit misery” in the Sept. 2 Sun Journal. I don’t disagree regarding looting. Taking advantage of the helpless is evil. What saddened me is the lack of compassion toward the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The emphasis, rather than Rhoades’ ideas, is disheartening. A better emphasis would be a call for a generous, loving and open hand, rather than a “harsh hand.”

The situation needs caring, not shooting people on sight. An outcry for an unprecedented outpouring of generosity from government and from organizations and individuals to assist the victims of this immense tragedy is needed. People need to be more generous than they have ever been before. In addition to generosity with resources, we need generosity of spirit. A “harsh hand” advances no good purpose. Please, if we make mistakes, err on the side of generosity.

To the editors, please inspire people for good, and to the public, please find a way to be part of the help. I don’t know what I might do if I were without a home and my baby was starving in the heat of New Orleans with no one there to help. I think I would hope that people would be moved more by the image of my baby than by any picture of a looter carrying a television set, and that someone would do something before I lost all hope and my baby.

Pat Flewelling, Leeds