There are people without homes. On Sep 15, 2011, at 11:32 AM, Joe Clarke wrote:
> 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 >
