As someone who is white and have been assaulted/mugged/beaten up/robbed/et cetera by criminals of various races, creeds, genders, or other persuasions over my lifetime (especially in my youth)I feel somewhat qualified to say that one of the problems we face in dealing with the criminal element and delinquency we have to stop dissecting everything by race and social class and stop making excuses from them. I have lived in the Inner City ghetto and housing projects growing up as have millions of others. Claiming the the lack of economic opportunity is the cause of crime is INSULTING to the millions of us who were raised in such and often worse conditions that have and are still pulling ourselves by our bootstraps. Millions of us would rather work than be dependent on government handouts. We do not go out committing crimes or inciting riots. The overwhelming majority of us have always had good, positive with relations with the law enforcement community. It is not an Us versus Them conflict. There is no conflict with anyone other than the criminal element and those of us who want to see our communities improve.
The point I am trying to make rather unpithily (the opposite of pithy) is that social scientists, social engineers, and most importantly social commentators need to stop making excuses. Every one of these criminals...yes, I said criminals for that is what they are...have had the same opportunities as anyone else in similar circumstances. For whatever reason they have failed to take advantage of them. Some opportunities are readily available. Others have to be worked for and earned. Regardless of circumstance they are there. We choose which opportunities we want to partake of all them time. It is time to stop making excuses and start telling the criminals among us that their behavior will not be tolerated. PERIOD!
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