It becomes a tricky situation when trying to propose a policy on this subject. The main focus of the video was on exercising, walking in particular. The simple spelled out notion that 30 minutes of walking daily can drastically reduce countless health issues. I do not know if a policy that makes us walk 30 minutes a day is even possible. However, I do think that a policy designed to create more bike/walking trails in the suburbs is. Also a policy that allows for free fitness centers in heavy populated urban areas with little real estate. Yes I truly believe that government should be promoting healthier habits! This should be a top priority for the government. This is something if done successfully can truly make a huge impact on peoples health and life. It was step banning soda and fast food from schools and the get moving program. However, more needs to be done!
This was a very powerful video on the crime and life style of living in the projects. While watching the video there was a moment when a young teen age boy was describing how the streets work. He was almost smiling as he was saying, It's ether be killed or kill. You have to watch your back, and protect yourself. That is just the way it is. I had to ask the question to my self out loud, "Why does it have to be like that"? Why is it not different? Why can't everyone get along and form together to help each other out? I could not understand why it had to be like that. I started to raise the question what if these areas were filled with poor white people, instead of poor African Americans? Would there still be all of the staggering statistics? The video had some solid approaches to preventing and handling crime. A few of my favorites are counseling, the church and the paster, and the job training program. One of the main factors that the streets are so bad has to do with single moms raising the family, and no father figure/roll model. The idea of counseling for the kids and young adults is something that should do wonders! The "crazy dads" is great! It is when groups of father figures go out to the streets at night and are there to be supportive. The paster also filled a father/role model for the much needed young kids. The job training class is also great! This is a great resource that can turn their whole life around. Police should handle neighborhoods with extreme violence with numbers and better patrolling. The only way to stop this violence is not to tolerate it, the "broken window" concept. Violence can be stopped if the government really wanted it to. The SB 1474 is not helping with the effort! Let's face it! It is a horrible and pointless! Guns do not belong in schools. I also think SB 1070 does not fully capture what causes crime. Crime maybe committed by latinos, but mainly this is not illegals but usually done by second or third generations,
Mike, thank you for your post. You asked whether the situation would be different if areas of concentrated poverty were predominantly white rather than largely black. This leads to me to think that you are asking if there are inherent behavioral differences between black people and white people. If so, the answer to your question is no. Race is a social construction - meaning there are no genetic differences that distinguish members of various races from each other.
ReplyDeleteThere many other theories about why individuals commit crimes, such as level of education, lack of access to economic opportunities, lack of social bonds, and the various inequalities in society.
If you’re interested in learning more about how race is a social construction, I think PBS has a good website about it: http://www.pbs.org/race/001_WhatIsRace/001_00-home.htm
I’d like to hear more about what you were thinking and continue this conversation as well.