Not funny Brian!
On Sep 14, 2011, at 11:24 PM, Brian Siano wrote:

> I'm so glad Glenn's taken the occasion of a woman's rape to remind us
> that the real evil is "upscale."
> 
> On 9/14/11, Glenn <[email protected]> wrote:
>> We must somehow figure out how to make our schools and our streets safe
>> so our young people can flourish. I don't have the answers.
>> 
>> Jo Ann,
>> 
>> There is extreme chronic fear and for good reason.  Many people, from
>> cradle to grave, are denied basic security in their lives.  When you
>> have no hope for your health care, education, food, etc; anyone can
>> easily become a primal animal capable of torture, lies, and violence.
>> Aren't those the values we represent around the world?  I know that
>> without my study of Buddhism, I would be capable of very intelligent
>> violence!
>> 
>> Why would we expect young people, who do not have middle class
>> securities, to ignore that all forms of violence and power are the way
>> of life?  It's not cute that we guarantee this message to hopeless young
>> people.  But that is what we do with corporate megalomania.
>> 
>> The answers aren't so far away.  We choose to turn our backs on our
>> neighbors because we beg and worship extreme power.  I'm not being
>> disrespectful or glib about any violent crimes happening now!  But if we
>> don't recognize the cleaner safer lies of our upscale paradise, how are
>> we going to get past this addiction stage called DENIAL?
>> 
>> Schools are underfunded and sabotaged.  Teachers and parents are
>> vilified in fake "research"  The poor are blamed as evil sub-human
>> creatures.
>> 
>> As I said to Joe, I'm surprised there is not more violence.  The middle
>> class answer has long been to abuse the poor and minority populations
>> more, so that the power of the parasite rulers is increased!  Let's stop
>> throwing in the towel, and start standing for truth and humanity!!!!!!
>> 
>> On 9/14/2011 9:45 PM, Jo Ann Fishburn wrote:
>>> Joe, I agree with all that you said. To add to that, over the years I
>>> realized that so much of young people's behavior in school and in the
>>> neighborhoods is in reaction to fear. Some neighborhoods, and
>>> unfortunately often schools, are so dangerous that a top priority of
>>> growing up is developing some way to cope with constant fear. Many
>>> believe, perhaps correctly, that they must project a tough, strong
>>> image to stay safe. Unfortunately, some extend that to victimizing and
>>> terrorizing others to maintain that appearance. We must somehow figure
>>> out how to make our schools and our streets safe so our young people
>>> can flourish. I don't have the answers.
>>> 
>>> Jo Ann Fishburn
>>> 
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> *From:* Joe Clarke <[email protected]>
>>> *To:* Glenn <[email protected]>
>>> *Cc:* Summer Still <[email protected]>; [email protected];
>>> [email protected]
>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 14, 2011 8:11 PM
>>> *Subject:* Re: [UC] Rape at Gunpoint, 900 block of 48th St., 10 pm
>>> Tuesday night
>>> 
>>> Glenn,  I hear you.  It's like the argument for not putting seat belts
>>> in cars: they might make the customer feel that driving is unsafe.
>>> Many in the neighborhood are long-time, resident home-owners, and need
>>> to do something immediately to protect their homes and families.
>>> There is a difference between treating the symptom and curing the
>>> disease.  The surge in personal crime may be caused by inequality, but
>>> the immediate and often life-threatening symptom needs to be dealt
>>> with immediately.
>>>   Most of the young men and women involved in these crimes are
>>> extremely dangerous; partly, because they have no sense of what the
>>> consequences are for their actions.  I don't think it's just
>>> economics: I think that there is a glorification of the gun/gangster
>>> culture that has been commod-ified by the entertainment industry and
>>> patronized by liberal society as being "cool". Having worked with
>>> young homeless people, the biggest challenge is the attitude that
>>> prevails among them, and  is largely nihilistic.  At a graduation in
>>> the shelter, many of the graduates were asked to select a favorite
>>> saying or slogan to live by.  Most chose: "It is what it is!".  No
>>> sense of future, goals.  We in the social services thought it was
>>> cute.  What seems cute to me - with a work history and two degrees -
>>> is disastrous for someone who has neither.
>>>  The crime needs to be dealt with swiftly and forcefully; the larger
>>> issue needs to be worked on as well, but it is a complex situation
>>> that has many facets - gun control, failing schools, no jobs,
>>> addiction, no parenting and the marketing of violent nihilism as a
>>> life style - set us all up for a long haul to change these destructive
>>> patterns.
>>> 
>>> Joe C.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 5:05 PM, Glenn <[email protected]
>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>    On 9/14/2011 11:24 AM, Joe Clarke wrote:
>>> 
>>>        It may be time again to organize a town watch for the
>>>        neighborhood(s), since town watch works the best when it is
>>>        localized in specific areas.
>>> 
>>>        Joe Clarke
>>> 
>>> 
>>>    Joe,
>>> 
>>>    I recall conversations with former town watch participants, when I
>>>    was first blowing the whistle about the real purposes of UCD and
>>>    the gentrification.  As I recall, supports were withdrawn from
>>>    town watch because high income consumers would be made cleaner and
>>>    safer through the gentrification.  If residents became dependent
>>>    on and obedient to the new saviors, there was supposedly no reason
>>>    for town watch anymore than the great culture that we created
>>>    ourselves.
>>> 
>>>    Crime is correlated to income inequality and not a simple lack of
>>>    material possessions.  I'm sure that increases in chronic stress,
>>>    desperation, and powerlessness would also predict increased crime.
>>>     The gentrification solutions that have been shoved down our
>>>    throats are not only fake, but actually increase the likelihood of
>>>    violent senseless crime.  Frankly, I'm surprised that there is not
>>>    more crime, but we've known for a long time that learned
>>>    helplessness defines the lives of most people in third world
>>>    America.  But violent crime shouldn't be surprising anyone in our
>>>    violent immoral society.
>>> 
>>> 
>>>    Joe, the work you are doing with a youth chess club is wonderful,
>>>    and is one small example of projects that make society a safer
>>>    place.  (I've taught chess before to gifted kids and I would love
>>>    to help you if I were in Philadelphia consistently).  I would make
>>>    chess part of the junior high curriculum for all kids.
>>> 
>>>    When we had a strong UNDIVIDED community, we had a great culture
>>>    and were much safer.  The police state does not make any of us
>>>    safer, while we lose our souls and freedom.  The University of
>>>    Plutocracy and their corporate cronies should be forced to pay
>>>    their fare share of taxes or payments for services in lieu of
>>>    taxes.  Then, we could support town watch, community driven
>>>    culture, and the compassionate/empowering interventions that will
>>>    help crime be reduced to a minimum.  (Boston University pays five
>>>    million a year to the city of Boston)
>>> 
>>>    Glenn
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> I think what weakens people most is fear of wasting their strength.
>>> Etty Hillesum
>>> <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/ettyhilles124704.html>
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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>>> 
>> 
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