Crime on the hill - Charles Allen has got to go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"In DC, uncivil behavior by black people in certain neighborhoods is very prevalent. If you don’t like it then don’t go to those neighborhoods. Similarly, in Philly uncivil behavior by white people in certain neighborhoods is also very prevalent and people that are wise also avoid those neighborhoods."

WTH??? American cities have "war zone" equivalents and if you don't like it, stay out?

The problem is that people will do exactly that. There will be more “white flight” when crime is left unchecked. And then people will be called racist for wanting to leave those crime ridden areas!

Newsflash: nobody cares what color their neighbor’s skin is. We do care a lot about crime. If you make certain neighborhoods synonymous with high crime because you refuse to prosecute and make the disproportionate incarceration rates ‘worse’ then don’t complain when the expected result happens.

“Caring about crime” is just a dog whistle for white racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"In DC, uncivil behavior by black people in certain neighborhoods is very prevalent. If you don’t like it then don’t go to those neighborhoods. Similarly, in Philly uncivil behavior by white people in certain neighborhoods is also very prevalent and people that are wise also avoid those neighborhoods."

WTH??? American cities have "war zone" equivalents and if you don't like it, stay out?

The problem is that people will do exactly that. There will be more “white flight” when crime is left unchecked. And then people will be called racist for wanting to leave those crime ridden areas!

Newsflash: nobody cares what color their neighbor’s skin is. We do care a lot about crime. If you make certain neighborhoods synonymous with high crime because you refuse to prosecute and make the disproportionate incarceration rates ‘worse’ then don’t complain when the expected result happens.

“Caring about crime” is just a dog whistle for white racism.

As is moving away from crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's about dehumanization. It's sociopathy. Incivility and violent crime share that common core and one can easily lead to the other.

I agree, but I also think it runs both ways. Black men in DC have been dehumanized by the system, as well as by their gentrifying white neighbors, for their entire lives. This is not an excuse but an explanation for how some of these men come to act. Poverty, limited educational options, the juvenile justice system (which takes angry young men and turns them into people with few choices outside criminal activity), racist economic policy, gentrification, etc. all combine to make these lives very hard to live. There are people who figure it out and rise above. But it isn't 100%, and some of those kids really never had a shot. I have spent some time with kids who are displaced do to domestic violence in DC, and I don't know what to tell you. There is nothing quite like talking to a 5 or 6 year old, who is every way just like every other 5 or 6 year old in the world, but who does not have a stable home, a consistent source of love and support, regular access to school, decent nutrition, opportunities to exercise, good examples for emotional regulation, and on and on. I grew up lacking a few of those things and while I'm not a criminal, there are times I really struggle. These kids don't have any of it. I know some of them grow up to commit the kinds of crimes that make our neighborhoods unsafe.

How do you help that 5 or 6 year old kid? You start by helping is parents. That means whatever you think of someone, you give them a hand because they have a child and you want to help the child. You have to address poverty, job access, housing. You need mental health services. You need healthcare. You need to stop using the police, the courts, and the jails to process every single thing that happens in these people's lives. They need some damn grace. They are people. They are human.

I detest violent crime and I am scared of what I see around this city right now. But you can't talk about the dehumanizing nature of crime without talking about the way we dehumanize so many people in this city every day and then expect them to turn around and live they way we want them to without a hand up.

It runs both ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about dehumanization. It's sociopathy. Incivility and violent crime share that common core and one can easily lead to the other.

I agree, but I also think it runs both ways. Black men in DC have been dehumanized by the system, as well as by their gentrifying white neighbors, for their entire lives. This is not an excuse but an explanation for how some of these men come to act. Poverty, limited educational options, the juvenile justice system (which takes angry young men and turns them into people with few choices outside criminal activity), racist economic policy, gentrification, etc. all combine to make these lives very hard to live. There are people who figure it out and rise above. But it isn't 100%, and some of those kids really never had a shot. I have spent some time with kids who are displaced do to domestic violence in DC, and I don't know what to tell you. There is nothing quite like talking to a 5 or 6 year old, who is every way just like every other 5 or 6 year old in the world, but who does not have a stable home, a consistent source of love and support, regular access to school, decent nutrition, opportunities to exercise, good examples for emotional regulation, and on and on. I grew up lacking a few of those things and while I'm not a criminal, there are times I really struggle. These kids don't have any of it. I know some of them grow up to commit the kinds of crimes that make our neighborhoods unsafe.

How do you help that 5 or 6 year old kid? You start by helping is parents. That means whatever you think of someone, you give them a hand because they have a child and you want to help the child. You have to address poverty, job access, housing. You need mental health services. You need healthcare. You need to stop using the police, the courts, and the jails to process every single thing that happens in these people's lives. They need some damn grace. They are people. They are human.

I detest violent crime and I am scared of what I see around this city right now. But you can't talk about the dehumanizing nature of crime without talking about the way we dehumanize so many people in this city every day and then expect them to turn around and live they way we want them to without a hand up.

It runs both ways.

But not by their gentrifying Black, Asian etc neighbors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"In DC, uncivil behavior by black people in certain neighborhoods is very prevalent. If you don’t like it then don’t go to those neighborhoods. Similarly, in Philly uncivil behavior by white people in certain neighborhoods is also very prevalent and people that are wise also avoid those neighborhoods."

WTH??? American cities have "war zone" equivalents and if you don't like it, stay out?

The problem is that people will do exactly that. There will be more “white flight” when crime is left unchecked. And then people will be called racist for wanting to leave those crime ridden areas!

Newsflash: nobody cares what color their neighbor’s skin is. We do care a lot about crime. If you make certain neighborhoods synonymous with high crime because you refuse to prosecute and make the disproportionate incarceration rates ‘worse’ then don’t complain when the expected result happens.

“Caring about crime” is just a dog whistle for white racism.

Nice trolling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about dehumanization. It's sociopathy. Incivility and violent crime share that common core and one can easily lead to the other.

I agree, but I also think it runs both ways. Black men in DC have been dehumanized by the system, as well as by their gentrifying white neighbors, for their entire lives. This is not an excuse but an explanation for how some of these men come to act. Poverty, limited educational options, the juvenile justice system (which takes angry young men and turns them into people with few choices outside criminal activity), racist economic policy, gentrification, etc. all combine to make these lives very hard to live. There are people who figure it out and rise above. But it isn't 100%, and some of those kids really never had a shot. I have spent some time with kids who are displaced do to domestic violence in DC, and I don't know what to tell you. There is nothing quite like talking to a 5 or 6 year old, who is every way just like every other 5 or 6 year old in the world, but who does not have a stable home, a consistent source of love and support, regular access to school, decent nutrition, opportunities to exercise, good examples for emotional regulation, and on and on. I grew up lacking a few of those things and while I'm not a criminal, there are times I really struggle. These kids don't have any of it. I know some of them grow up to commit the kinds of crimes that make our neighborhoods unsafe.

How do you help that 5 or 6 year old kid? You start by helping is parents. That means whatever you think of someone, you give them a hand because they have a child and you want to help the child. You have to address poverty, job access, housing. You need mental health services. You need healthcare. You need to stop using the police, the courts, and the jails to process every single thing that happens in these people's lives. They need some damn grace. They are people. They are human.

I detest violent crime and I am scared of what I see around this city right now. But you can't talk about the dehumanizing nature of crime without talking about the way we dehumanize so many people in this city every day and then expect them to turn around and live they way we want them to without a hand up.

It runs both ways.

I agree with all of this. And I am willing to pay higher taxes to support adults and children and families and try to combat all the underlying reasons for crime. But once you have made the choice to violently assault someone, carjack/kidnap a child or murder someone, there needs to be consequences. Charles Allen is entirely focused on the first half (and is not really DOING much) and is completely ignoring the second half. Crime is getting really alarming and his apologist attitude is really unhelpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"In DC, uncivil behavior by black people in certain neighborhoods is very prevalent. If you don’t like it then don’t go to those neighborhoods. Similarly, in Philly uncivil behavior by white people in certain neighborhoods is also very prevalent and people that are wise also avoid those neighborhoods."

WTH??? American cities have "war zone" equivalents and if you don't like it, stay out?

The problem is that people will do exactly that. There will be more “white flight” when crime is left unchecked. And then people will be called racist for wanting to leave those crime ridden areas!

Newsflash: nobody cares what color their neighbor’s skin is. We do care a lot about crime. If you make certain neighborhoods synonymous with high crime because you refuse to prosecute and make the disproportionate incarceration rates ‘worse’ then don’t complain when the expected result happens.

“Caring about crime” is just a dog whistle for white racism.

Totally. It should just happen unabated. Anyone who complains should be shamed as a racist gentrifying pos. It’s also important to yell at these folks online and in the street. You need to tell: “take it to Arlington you new comer! We live in the city! It’s real here! If you can’t hang take your electric cargo bike and your fking comments on urban planning on GGW and get the fk out! We don’t want Starbucks! We like carjacking! It’s real! Sht is real! We need nothing to change for the better!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about dehumanization. It's sociopathy. Incivility and violent crime share that common core and one can easily lead to the other.

I agree, but I also think it runs both ways. Black men in DC have been dehumanized by the system, as well as by their gentrifying white neighbors, for their entire lives. This is not an excuse but an explanation for how some of these men come to act. Poverty, limited educational options, the juvenile justice system (which takes angry young men and turns them into people with few choices outside criminal activity), racist economic policy, gentrification, etc. all combine to make these lives very hard to live. There are people who figure it out and rise above. But it isn't 100%, and some of those kids really never had a shot. I have spent some time with kids who are displaced do to domestic violence in DC, and I don't know what to tell you. There is nothing quite like talking to a 5 or 6 year old, who is every way just like every other 5 or 6 year old in the world, but who does not have a stable home, a consistent source of love and support, regular access to school, decent nutrition, opportunities to exercise, good examples for emotional regulation, and on and on. I grew up lacking a few of those things and while I'm not a criminal, there are times I really struggle. These kids don't have any of it. I know some of them grow up to commit the kinds of crimes that make our neighborhoods unsafe.

How do you help that 5 or 6 year old kid? You start by helping is parents. That means whatever you think of someone, you give them a hand because they have a child and you want to help the child. You have to address poverty, job access, housing. You need mental health services. You need healthcare. You need to stop using the police, the courts, and the jails to process every single thing that happens in these people's lives. They need some damn grace. They are people. They are human.

I detest violent crime and I am scared of what I see around this city right now. But you can't talk about the dehumanizing nature of crime without talking about the way we dehumanize so many people in this city every day and then expect them to turn around and live they way we want them to without a hand up.

It runs both ways.

I think it’s funny you say they’ve been “dehumanized by their gentrifying white neighbors”. That’s peak SJW, soft bigotry of low expectations, endless grievance culture tripe. You should read John McWhorter’s work. Aren’t you ever tired of blaming all wrongdoings and crime problems on externalities beyond the control of the people actually committing the crimes? You sometimes people just rob and steal and murder and maybe it’s just self accountability that would help? Not in all situations, but really this entire country has lost any semblance that actual self accountability for one’s own behavior is an important consideration. If everyone is a victim and nothing is there fault then we are all fked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about dehumanization. It's sociopathy. Incivility and violent crime share that common core and one can easily lead to the other.

I agree, but I also think it runs both ways. Black men in DC have been dehumanized by the system, as well as by their gentrifying white neighbors, for their entire lives. This is not an excuse but an explanation for how some of these men come to act. Poverty, limited educational options, the juvenile justice system (which takes angry young men and turns them into people with few choices outside criminal activity), racist economic policy, gentrification, etc. all combine to make these lives very hard to live. There are people who figure it out and rise above. But it isn't 100%, and some of those kids really never had a shot. I have spent some time with kids who are displaced do to domestic violence in DC, and I don't know what to tell you. There is nothing quite like talking to a 5 or 6 year old, who is every way just like every other 5 or 6 year old in the world, but who does not have a stable home, a consistent source of love and support, regular access to school, decent nutrition, opportunities to exercise, good examples for emotional regulation, and on and on. I grew up lacking a few of those things and while I'm not a criminal, there are times I really struggle. These kids don't have any of it. I know some of them grow up to commit the kinds of crimes that make our neighborhoods unsafe.

How do you help that 5 or 6 year old kid? You start by helping is parents. That means whatever you think of someone, you give them a hand because they have a child and you want to help the child. You have to address poverty, job access, housing. You need mental health services. You need healthcare. You need to stop using the police, the courts, and the jails to process every single thing that happens in these people's lives. They need some damn grace. They are people. They are human.

I detest violent crime and I am scared of what I see around this city right now. But you can't talk about the dehumanizing nature of crime without talking about the way we dehumanize so many people in this city every day and then expect them to turn around and live they way we want them to without a hand up.

It runs both ways.

I think it’s funny you say they’ve been “dehumanized by their gentrifying white neighbors”. That’s peak SJW, soft bigotry of low expectations, endless grievance culture tripe. You should read John McWhorter’s work. Aren’t you ever tired of blaming all wrongdoings and crime problems on externalities beyond the control of the people actually committing the crimes? You sometimes people just rob and steal and murder and maybe it’s just self accountability that would help? Not in all situations, but really this entire country has lost any semblance that actual self accountability for one’s own behavior is an important consideration. If everyone is a victim and nothing is there fault then we are all fked.

Further, your infantilism of adults is pathetic. Gentrifiers, as you call them, don’t dehumanize anyone. They’re the same as anyone else. They want to live close in. You malign so many people with your apologist, weak commentary. You malign the brave gay man and women who moved into super unsafe neighborhoods in the 70’s and 80’s in DC and helped beautify them. You basically insinuate whole groups of people aren’t qualified to better an area. Your attitude is so prevalent these days and it’s really pathetic. Luckily, development interests have historically won out. I like living in a safe city. I’m sorry you hate new restaurants and being able to walk from the metro without getting jumped. I think it’s fking awesome. People who can’t afford it can move where they can, like everyone else in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"In DC, uncivil behavior by black people in certain neighborhoods is very prevalent. If you don’t like it then don’t go to those neighborhoods. Similarly, in Philly uncivil behavior by white people in certain neighborhoods is also very prevalent and people that are wise also avoid those neighborhoods."

WTH??? American cities have "war zone" equivalents and if you don't like it, stay out?

The problem is that people will do exactly that. There will be more “white flight” when crime is left unchecked. And then people will be called racist for wanting to leave those crime ridden areas!

Newsflash: nobody cares what color their neighbor’s skin is. We do care a lot about crime. If you make certain neighborhoods synonymous with high crime because you refuse to prosecute and make the disproportionate incarceration rates ‘worse’ then don’t complain when the expected result happens.

“Caring about crime” is just a dog whistle for white racism.

Can one not care what race commits the crime? It's only a dog whistle if there's a suggestion that only blacks commit crime, or worse yet, that crime is somehow inherent to being black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, just because someone is a POC that does not at all mean they can't be uncivil and even racist - including to other POCs.

As examples, in my life, I've witnessed...
- UMC suburban blacks denigrating poor inner city blacks
- AA Blacks denigrating black immigrants
- Light skinned and dark skinned blacks denigrating each other
- Urban blacks denigrating rural blacks
...and in most cases these also involved invoking racist language and stereotypes.

This is incredible. White people are something else, abusing the term racism to the point that it’s lost all meaning.

How is it abusing the term "racist?" It's incredible that some people have abused the term "racist" to the point where they suggest it's impossible for POCs to be racist even as they are attacking someone over their race or screaming racist epithets. For example, the spate of racist attacks on Asians, with several committed by blacks. Sorry but "racist" does NOT get defined strictly by "majority in power." That's institutional racism. There is also personal racism separate from institutional racism, but it is still racism nonetheless. Nobody is absolved of racism at any level, including POCs. Nobody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, just because someone is a POC that does not at all mean they can't be uncivil and even racist - including to other POCs.

As examples, in my life, I've witnessed...
- UMC suburban blacks denigrating poor inner city blacks
- AA Blacks denigrating black immigrants
- Light skinned and dark skinned blacks denigrating each other
- Urban blacks denigrating rural blacks
...and in most cases these also involved invoking racist language and stereotypes.

This is incredible. White people are something else, abusing the term racism to the point that it’s lost all meaning.

How is it abusing the term "racist?" It's incredible that some people have abused the term "racist" to the point where they suggest it's impossible for POCs to be racist even as they are attacking someone over their race or screaming racist epithets. For example, the spate of racist attacks on Asians, with several committed by blacks. Sorry but "racist" does NOT get defined strictly by "majority in power." That's institutional racism. There is also personal racism separate from institutional racism, but it is still racism nonetheless. Nobody is absolved of racism at any level, including POCs. Nobody.

I'll also add, you made a bad assumption about 'white people' are something else. Just because someone is calling out racism by POCs does not make them white. Horrific behavior is horrific behavior no matter what race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, just because someone is a POC that does not at all mean they can't be uncivil and even racist - including to other POCs.

As examples, in my life, I've witnessed...
- UMC suburban blacks denigrating poor inner city blacks
- AA Blacks denigrating black immigrants
- Light skinned and dark skinned blacks denigrating each other
- Urban blacks denigrating rural blacks
...and in most cases these also involved invoking racist language and stereotypes.

This is incredible. White people are something else, abusing the term racism to the point that it’s lost all meaning.

How is it abusing the term "racist?" It's incredible that some people have abused the term "racist" to the point where they suggest it's impossible for POCs to be racist even as they are attacking someone over their race or screaming racist epithets. For example, the spate of racist attacks on Asians, with several committed by blacks. Sorry but "racist" does NOT get defined strictly by "majority in power." That's institutional racism. There is also personal racism separate from institutional racism, but it is still racism nonetheless. Nobody is absolved of racism at any level, including POCs. Nobody.

I'll also add, you made a bad assumption about 'white people' are something else. Just because someone is calling out racism by POCs does not make them white. Horrific behavior is horrific behavior no matter what race.

If the shoe fits. You are who you are. You should just accept it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, just because someone is a POC that does not at all mean they can't be uncivil and even racist - including to other POCs.

As examples, in my life, I've witnessed...
- UMC suburban blacks denigrating poor inner city blacks
- AA Blacks denigrating black immigrants
- Light skinned and dark skinned blacks denigrating each other
- Urban blacks denigrating rural blacks
...and in most cases these also involved invoking racist language and stereotypes.

This is incredible. White people are something else, abusing the term racism to the point that it’s lost all meaning.

How is it abusing the term "racist?" It's incredible that some people have abused the term "racist" to the point where they suggest it's impossible for POCs to be racist even as they are attacking someone over their race or screaming racist epithets. For example, the spate of racist attacks on Asians, with several committed by blacks. Sorry but "racist" does NOT get defined strictly by "majority in power." That's institutional racism. There is also personal racism separate from institutional racism, but it is still racism nonetheless. Nobody is absolved of racism at any level, including POCs. Nobody.

I'll also add, you made a bad assumption about 'white people' are something else. Just because someone is calling out racism by POCs does not make them white. Horrific behavior is horrific behavior no matter what race.

If the shoe fits. You are who you are. You should just accept it.

Accept what? You're the one who missed the mark.

Again, can you actually address this?

How is it abusing the term "racist?" It's incredible that some people have abused the term "racist" to the point where they suggest it's impossible for POCs to be racist even as they are attacking someone over their race or screaming racist epithets. For example, the spate of racist attacks on Asians, with several committed by blacks. Sorry but "racist" does NOT get defined strictly by "majority in power." That's institutional racism. There is also personal racism separate from institutional racism, but it is still racism nonetheless. Nobody is absolved of racism at any level, including POCs. Nobody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, just because someone is a POC that does not at all mean they can't be uncivil and even racist - including to other POCs.

As examples, in my life, I've witnessed...
- UMC suburban blacks denigrating poor inner city blacks
- AA Blacks denigrating black immigrants
- Light skinned and dark skinned blacks denigrating each other
- Urban blacks denigrating rural blacks
...and in most cases these also involved invoking racist language and stereotypes.

This is incredible. White people are something else, abusing the term racism to the point that it’s lost all meaning.

How is it abusing the term "racist?" It's incredible that some people have abused the term "racist" to the point where they suggest it's impossible for POCs to be racist even as they are attacking someone over their race or screaming racist epithets. For example, the spate of racist attacks on Asians, with several committed by blacks. Sorry but "racist" does NOT get defined strictly by "majority in power." That's institutional racism. There is also personal racism separate from institutional racism, but it is still racism nonetheless. Nobody is absolved of racism at any level, including POCs. Nobody.

I'll also add, you made a bad assumption about 'white people' are something else. Just because someone is calling out racism by POCs does not make them white. Horrific behavior is horrific behavior no matter what race.

If the shoe fits. You are who you are. You should just accept it.

Accept what? You're the one who missed the mark.

Again, can you actually address this?

How is it abusing the term "racist?" It's incredible that some people have abused the term "racist" to the point where they suggest it's impossible for POCs to be racist even as they are attacking someone over their race or screaming racist epithets. For example, the spate of racist attacks on Asians, with several committed by blacks. Sorry but "racist" does NOT get defined strictly by "majority in power." That's institutional racism. There is also personal racism separate from institutional racism, but it is still racism nonetheless. Nobody is absolved of racism at any level, including POCs. Nobody.

Have you discussed these ideas with your family, friends and colleagues yet? What was their response?