Heroism in Katrina's wake

An incredible shot of a Coast Guard helicopter rescue in the New Orleans area.

It's not all looting. Whatever else is going on down in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast and in far worse ways in faraway places like Iraq and Darfur and North Korea, and whatever else may dampen our faith in humanity, there is real heroism to be found in Katrina's wake, with "the largest relief effort since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks".

Difficult times may call for difficult measures and extraordinary sacrifices, but they also seem to bring out the very best in humanity.