Richard, et al. "Homeless" simply means without steady and secure lodging. In that sense it does not describe anyone's character. Poverty and violence do create a low-brow, value deficient, "urban desperado"- type, whose greatest value is "respect" - but respect in the Mafia sense, where you retaliate if you don't get it. Violations of this are meted out with deadly violence - the stuff of the 5 o'clock news. Even parents (and communities) are afraid to intervene because they could be the next one to be targeted. The ready availability of deadly force, escalates the problem.
I listened to the report on NBC10 and thought that it was telling that the younger robber (without the gun) was telling the older to stop and not hurt the people. The younger knew that a greater evil was being committed and wanted no part in it. The older was described by one of the victims to be "experienced: he knew what he was doing." So here you have the crime in all its ambiguity. You have one who is cold and ruthless and the other who has yet to be hardened to that point. I pray we are able to reach those younger ones, who posses more complexity of thought in their moral deliberations than, "it is what it is" (please don't try to make this statement a Zen or Yoda thing) - what moral responsibility is taken there? Joe Clarke PS: There is a sobering documentary playing at the Ritz called the Interrupters. About former gang and "urban desperadoes" who become Intervener's into this deadly cycle to try and stop it. On Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 12:26 AM, Richard Conrad <[email protected]>wrote: > >> I think the financial squeezing by parasitic economics has increased the > plight of all especially those of poor people and those dependent on seizing > as their way of coping with economics, do you disagree? > On Sep 14, 2011, at 11:52 PM, Richard Conrad wrote: > > > 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> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> No virus found in this incoming message. > >>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > >>>> Version: 9.0.914 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3897 - Release Date: > 09/14/11 > >>>> 14:34:00 > >>>> > >>> > >> ---- > >> You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > >> list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > >> <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > > > > ---- > > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > > ---- > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > -- I think what weakens people most is fear of wasting their strength. Etty Hillesum<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/ettyhilles124704.html>
