The entire Times editorial by David Brooks is well worth reading.

About half of it recounts groundless, hysteria-based rumors that followed earlier disasters.

Before we compare 2005 to 1927, we should remember that in 1927 N.O., like many Southern and some Midwestern cities, was essentially controlled by Klansmen. They didn't much care about those "middle-class areas" because so many of them were occupied by Italian and Irish Americans, almost as much anathema to the KKK as were the Africans.

Eighty years ago. America has come a long way, in my view.