If the whole is equal to the sum of its parts than our "whole" cannot be reached until our parts are gathered and acknowledged. This blog will act as a collection, a gallery that records our “parts and particles” (our particulars) in an effort to connect the dots; to endlessly connect the dots.
I believe that niggas dont have to any home training. They are non productive and are trying to be something they aren't. Also that when disrespected, more people respond with a gun than talking or fighting one on one. People feel that grabbing a gun is the only resort to solving a problem and for this the crime rates are high. I also belive that due to a lack of leadership in the communities these criminals have they resort to gangs and drugs as an way to prove they are not soft.
ReplyDeletei feel like the crime rate in chicago is getting ridiculous... idk wats going on with the youth of today but i feel like the youth is really angry towards something... dont know wat??? but they are angry...
ReplyDeletebeing able to wake and see another day is a true blessing to me bcuz tomorrow isn't promise...
i feel that your 15th birthday is more of a celebration then your 50th bday... and its sad bcuz the youth are dying so young and it seems like its only the youth thats getting killed...
everyday wen you turn on the television or read the newspaper you hear about a kid or teenager being killed... its like you cant even walk outside or just sit on the porch to enjoy your day instead you have to live in fear...
a wise old man once told me that..."if you destroy the seed... the tree will never grow..."
well wake up and look around, the youth is the seed and we are dying off one by one... we need the youngsters to keep the world turning, but at the rate we are going wit all the killings... we will only be limited... :.(
I think the crime rate is so high because teenagers and the people who commit these crimes dont have any common sense. They believe that its ok to commit a crime because they dont think they'll get caught, but eventually it catches up to them. They follow what others are doing and dont think for themselves. Most people are in gangs so they do it to please other gang members, which is stupid because what are they gonna do for you when you're locked away in prison? How bout nothin. The people that commit these crimes really upset me because I know that their parents did not raise them to become criminals. I wish there was something that I or someone could do to show these people that its not worth it.
ReplyDeleteWell naturally I am nervous and hesitate to go anywhere alone, especially at night. Being a girl and new at that, is overwhelming. You haven't learned what are the "bad" and "good" areas. But at the same time there is crime everywhere, it is impossible to avoid it. I don't completely understand why it tends to be higher in cities, is it the population size? or maybe the people that usually live in cities, or what about law enforcement? It is interesting comparing two places, such as a big city like Chicago to a small rural area, and seeing how much of a difference the attention from the law is. Its weird because you could either see cops in small towns jumping at the smallest thing and overacting because there might not be that much activity in the town or you can see a cop from a small town letting something go because they'd rather not disrupt the town. I guess what I'm saying sound much better in my head but, what do you think about the law enforcement in the city?
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that too. In the past year I've seen more crimes then I can Handle. Im from Chicago and I honestly have no excuse for why it is the way is except "ITS SAD". Its said that certain parts of chicago is worse than another but to me its all the same.
ReplyDeleteTo me its crazy how you can be friends with someone for so long and after awhile you find out they're in a gang or they're dead. I noticed the youth in chicago are more infulenced by gang culture more then anything. Its kind of like a follow the leader game and "being a product of your environment" is an excuse. At times i do understand the fact that there isnt any positive influences other then what is seen around them.
i simply look at this as a situation of circumstance. in critical times like this waiting or trying to do the "right" thing may not be an option for some ppl because of the challenges they face. more times than not its a matter of survival, and the attitude is eat or die
ReplyDeleteCrime happens all over the place and will always exist as long we live. Crime rates go up when the motivation goes up. When things like unemployment happen and incomes are low people get desperate. People will do whatever it takes to get what they need. Other factions play in to cause of crime though. I think crime anywhere has a great deal to do with prohibition. Not prohibition like the 1920's but the prohibiting of anything. When things like guns, drugs, alcohol and so on are banned they are put directly into the hands of people who we do not want to have them. History has backed up my point. Some may argue that people would use these things to harm themselves or others. But at what point do we eventually have to take responsibility for our actions? If I choose to use drugs every day and harm my own body, don't I have that right as a human being? As for harming others these illegal things would be regulated by professionals. I'm not saying that legalization and regulation would eliminate crime, because that is impossible but it would surely decrease it. Also like I said earlier crime and economy run parallel with each other. when one goes up the other goes down.
ReplyDeletei also agree with tequira that the crime rate in chicago is ridiculous..
ReplyDeleteAlthough i did hear on the news that crime went down from 943 murder to 460. Yes that is a big drop but that is still to many murders to be happening in this beautiful city that we all now live in.
It's unfortunately not that surprising. Crime is always going to be a present in a society that makes it the sole option for many people. However, the term "crime" is extremely broad in this regard. What are you referring to, Christian? Murder? Rape? Theft? Drugs? These crimes all have very different natures and very different reasons for their existence. I think specificity in this regard is essential to constructing a beneficial conversation.
ReplyDeleteAs student, what concerns you most? What statistic would be of most interest to you? This website is particularly helpful: http://chicago.everyblock.com/crime/
What can you do to effect this reality? To help? To simply stay safe?
I'm uneducated on the matter but I think crime generally spawns from harder times, being that we're post-recession. But with Chicago in particular I think it could possibly stem from basic neglect from higher-ups, maybe including budget mismanagement and the lack of promoting awareness, rising drug use, and institutions lacking funding etc, creating less communication and cohesion in the community. The rates make me upset and worried about the capacity of Chicago's governmental duties, by nature they should be obligated to make change. And I sympathize with those who have to live in that world
ReplyDeleteWho knows why the crime in Chicago is high only the people who comment them know.
ReplyDeleteJayVon--explain to me what you mean with your comment to a particular type of individual. Who are you categorizing?
ReplyDeleteTequira--what a lovely memory of someone telling you something profound. I am glad to see you apply the "idea" to the particular. We can all learn from this kind of writing and thinking how to develop and expand symbols. You could, of course, go further: What about the soil and water needed for the seed? Do we have good soil (foundation, the past, learning, parents) to let the seed grow? And is that seed nurtured with water?
Jaymee: since you are assuming that the parents raised children with "good" morals, what do you think is interferring with the common sense and the development of common sense? Is common sense contextual? Does it vary based on who you are and what your circumstances are? For instance, I grew up on a farm where it was "common sense" to eat the eggs your chickens gave you. When I moved to Venezuala, it was common sense to eat the chicken you had on your roof. When I lived in New York City I became a vegan because it was common sense not to eat food from a grocery store without knowing how it was grown or who grew it. Everything changed with regards to what "made sense."
Abby brings up a great point about law enforcement--does this contribute to violence or help to stop violence. We'll talk about this next class.
Adilla, does it change your perspective of someone when you find out this information?
Kyrin, if it's a matter of survival, can we change this? Should it be accepted and assumed that in certain places and in certain areas there is violence? How are we accountable and how can we seek change?
Domenic, I really like your string of questions. I like that you have resisted closure and refused to accept easy answers--or even A answer. Sure, the economy has contributed to the increase in violence, but there has been violence in human history. I know people like to refer to a "human nature" argument, but there are "untouched" groups of people that do not have violence or people who have chosen to have no violence (Mennonites for example). It seems we can CHOOSE this part of our "nature."
Brittany, that drop is huge. However, the issue rests in what crimes are "reported" too. Pay attention to how media portrays crime and what neighborhoods crimes get more or less press. There is a lot behind this kind of reporting.
Jeffrey brings up a GREAT point. Some crimes are not necessarily done with ill intent: defending your own property can be misinterpreted; what if someone is defending his/her neighborhood and that becomes a crime? There is so much grey area unless we seek to define what we mean by the word crime itself.
Charlie, do you see class system as a major contribution to crime and crime rates?
Terrel, I need to know a little more about why you think it's just a personal decision by the person who made the decision. If this is simply an individual choice, it seems like it's accurate to say that the person deserves punishment. However, most of your peers seem to think there is more "context" to this matter. How would you respond to their thinking?
I agree with Jeffs comment that crime is an enormous subject! so many different forms of crime. Crime will be and has always been a part of any society. especially when you have 3 million different kinds of people living in a confined space.
ReplyDeleteThis goes back to what kris was saying in class about nationalistic attitudes. Just this time on a personal level so it would be considered self pride. if each one of us were a country with our own cultures and necessities that would be like 3 MILLION COUNTRIES shoulder to shoulder in a space the size of chicago with our own nationalistic (self pride) attitudes. crime is inevitable. Some advice to reduce crime is lead by example and hope for the best in the next generation.
Clarence had a hard time signing on last class, but here are his comments:
ReplyDelete"I feel that there is a high crime rate in Chicago because there are not enough activities for the youth that they can afford. Chicago is a great city with many things to do, but most time it is not for the poor. Those who can't go to Navy Pier or Great America have to make their own entertainment and most times that turns out to be violent. More parks should have activities and jobs for the teenagers.
Once again, Chicago is a great place to live, but it has its faults. We as a community have to do better to protect our community."
Kris, Im not really assuming that parents raise their children with good morals but more than likely they have. What their parents have taught them might be washed away by outside influences such as, friends, television, and other things. They might have been taught good morals but they may not use them with their peers or whoever is trying to persuade them to do wrong because they want to impress them or feel accepted.
ReplyDeletei am catergorizing young black males. These are the ones commiting most of the crimes lately and to me they are under that category because they act as so. I don't mean it in a bad way and i admit i could have used a better word but seeing how one of my closest friends just died to this violence for no reason i feel strongly about it
ReplyDeleteJayVon, I'm sorry to hear about your loss, but this is still an interesting assessment of a group of people. "Young black males" is a broad category, right? It's interesting to see us make categories and to determine who goes into what category and why.
ReplyDeleteJaymee, is it an issue of peer pressure? Doesn't the individual, then, hold full accountability?
Yeahh well...yea they are accountable unless they ar like forced. Like in some gangs you have to commit the crime otherwise there will consequences so that is still peer pressure.
ReplyDelete