Comments on: Criminalization of Urban Space and Formation of Identity http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/criminalization-of-urban-space-and-formation-of-identity/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:24:20 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Taesang Kim http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/criminalization-of-urban-space-and-formation-of-identity/#comment-807 Taesang Kim Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:33:18 +0000 http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/?p=1051#comment-807 After reading Mr. Christopher N. Magno's article above, I realized that the image of society is extremely important for lives of those who live in that society. That is, impression on an individual from other people's point of view can vary, which his or her background takes a large portion of it. A social background is not the one which an individual cannot determine. It can be a positive stimulant for one to dream for better life and social status but he or she has to bear biased people's viewpoints. It is nobody's fault but the problem is based on unfair and false social structure. In the article, a society which is regarded as a community surrounded by crime is well described. "All of the people who live in the community lack security of housing, 70% have no health care and, and 30% of the children ages 5-16 are illiterate. Among the unemployed, the most common modes of survival include prostitution, pick-pocketing in the nearby mall, stealing, drug dealing, and illegal gambling games such as jueteng." Some people might argue that members in that community have potential to be criminals and background is more important than anything to determine one's personality or ability. However, background is a given factor for those who belong to the community. It is not entirely an individual's responsibility on committing a crime under desperate circumstances and it is a government and society's duty to provide consideration and solutions on their hardships. There is also another interesting point which Chris mentions in his article - although people like researchers, medical students, professors, seminarians, religious and corporate organizations, NGOs, and politicians receive compensation on their service to the community, the situation of the community remains the same. Its residents remain poor, squatters, and stigmatized as dangerous and criminal. There is a gap which people in that community cannot overcome the current situation by themselves. It is a social problem. Under capitalism, many people now enjoy improved livelihood and pursue for more wealth and happiness. As every individual on these days has a right to pursue for better life, a situation given to the "criminal community" as referring to Chris's expression in his article should be considered as a social problem and crime. Receiving limited opportunity compared to others only be his or her background is not justifiable and should be eliminated. Unfortunately, we still observe cases above on these days in many parts of the world. The article is familiar to me as well since the case above still exists in Korea, too. Such biased viewpoints of others toward a "criminal community" cannot be changed easily without having more comprehensive understanding on people who live in that community. After reading Mr. Christopher N. Magno’s article above, I realized that the image of society is extremely important for lives of those who live in that society. That is, impression on an individual from other people’s point of view can vary, which his or her background takes a large portion of it. A social background is not the one which an individual cannot determine. It can be a positive stimulant for one to dream for better life and social status but he or she has to bear biased people’s viewpoints. It is nobody’s fault but the problem is based on unfair and false social structure.
In the article, a society which is regarded as a community surrounded by crime is well described. “All of the people who live in the community lack security of housing, 70% have no health care and, and 30% of the children ages 5-16 are illiterate. Among the unemployed, the most common modes of survival include prostitution, pick-pocketing in the nearby mall, stealing, drug dealing, and illegal gambling games such as jueteng.” Some people might argue that members in that community have potential to be criminals and background is more important than anything to determine one’s personality or ability. However, background is a given factor for those who belong to the community. It is not entirely an individual’s responsibility on committing a crime under desperate circumstances and it is a government and society’s duty to provide consideration and solutions on their hardships.
There is also another interesting point which Chris mentions in his article – although people like researchers, medical students, professors, seminarians, religious and corporate organizations, NGOs, and politicians receive compensation on their service to the community, the situation of the community remains the same. Its residents remain poor, squatters, and stigmatized as dangerous and criminal. There is a gap which people in that community cannot overcome the current situation by themselves. It is a social problem. Under capitalism, many people now enjoy improved livelihood and pursue for more wealth and happiness. As every individual on these days has a right to pursue for better life, a situation given to the “criminal community” as referring to Chris’s expression in his article should be considered as a social problem and crime.
Receiving limited opportunity compared to others only be his or her background is not justifiable and should be eliminated. Unfortunately, we still observe cases above on these days in many parts of the world. The article is familiar to me as well since the case above still exists in Korea, too. Such biased viewpoints of others toward a “criminal community” cannot be changed easily without having more comprehensive understanding on people who live in that community.

]]> By: Marlon F. http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/criminalization-of-urban-space-and-formation-of-identity/#comment-756 Marlon F. Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:34:14 +0000 http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/?p=1051#comment-756 Brad, The article reminds me of our "expeditions" during the preliminary researches we did during the KHF days. I am proud that gave me the opportunity to be a humble part of this extravagant work. The article reminds me also of the same question I have been asking for decades now. What constitute criminality and urban delinqency. are they culturally-laden, based from the lifestyle of the people that live in a community or are they structurally made, spawning from the roots of certain social systems that tolerates criminality in its strictest sense. Nevertheless, the article substitutes a certain degree of analysis on how the urban poor makes use of these levels of criminality: against other (horizontal violence) or for the benefit of thier end. Marlon Brad,

The article reminds me of our “expeditions” during the preliminary researches we did during the KHF days. I am proud that gave me the opportunity to be a humble part of this extravagant work.

The article reminds me also of the same question I have been asking for decades now. What constitute criminality and urban delinqency. are they culturally-laden, based from the lifestyle of the people that live in a community or are they structurally made, spawning from the roots of certain social systems that tolerates criminality in its strictest sense.

Nevertheless, the article substitutes a certain degree of analysis on how the urban poor makes use of these levels of criminality: against other (horizontal violence) or for the benefit of thier end.

Marlon

]]> By: Yale http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/criminalization-of-urban-space-and-formation-of-identity/#comment-750 Yale Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:39:23 +0000 http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/?p=1051#comment-750 One question I wonder about is how much better life in this neighborhood than in prison? Under conditions that miserable, when stigma makes escaping that difficult, crime becomes a viable alternative. If you get caught and go to jail, are you that much worse off? There is no possibility of fighting crime without fighting poverty first. And poverty is not always a result of bad luck or personal failings. Jobs and resources are deliberately removed from poor neighborhood. Corporations need a destitute population willing to work the lowest possible wages, especially in third world countries. Yale One question I wonder about is how much better life in this neighborhood than in prison? Under conditions that miserable, when stigma makes escaping that difficult, crime becomes a viable alternative. If you get caught and go to jail, are you that much worse off? There is no possibility of fighting crime without fighting poverty first. And poverty is not always a result of bad luck or personal failings. Jobs and resources are deliberately removed from poor neighborhood. Corporations need a destitute population willing to work the lowest possible wages, especially in third world countries.
Yale

]]> By: Hal Pepinsky http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/criminalization-of-urban-space-and-formation-of-identity/#comment-749 Hal Pepinsky Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:19:12 +0000 http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/?p=1051#comment-749 As soon as I met Chris during his orientation into IU's doctoral program, I invited him to describe his own experiences in the Philippines. I retired this spring after teaching criminal justice 39 years in all, 33 of them at IU. He took over the class I have taught since 1977, on "alternative social control systems." I was honored to have a chance to guest lecture for him a couple of times. When I hear Chris use a word I have long since chosen for myself, "radical," I retire with a smile on my face, and with gratitude to Chris for having taught me and my students so very very much. Thanks Chris, and blessings to Tat and Papuri As soon as I met Chris during his orientation into IU’s doctoral program, I invited him to describe his own experiences in the Philippines.
I retired this spring after teaching criminal justice 39 years in all, 33 of them at IU. He took over the class I have taught since 1977, on “alternative social control systems.” I was honored to have a chance to guest lecture for him a couple of times. When I hear Chris use a word I have long since chosen for myself, “radical,” I retire with a smile on my face, and with gratitude to Chris for having taught me and my students so very very much. Thanks Chris, and blessings to Tat and Papuri

]]> By: Carl S. http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/criminalization-of-urban-space-and-formation-of-identity/#comment-748 Carl S. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:13:59 +0000 http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/?p=1051#comment-748 Chris, your post gives us insight once again into the sad fact that stereotypes remain highly toxic-everywhere-and how the negative ones especially still shape and ruin lives. The more we read about such things (and the more writers write about this, as Bob suggests), the more the word will spread that stereotypes do not make the the person. Chris, your post gives us insight once again into the sad fact that stereotypes remain highly toxic-everywhere-and how the negative ones especially still shape and ruin lives. The more we read about such things (and the more writers write about this, as Bob suggests), the more the word will spread that stereotypes do not make the the person.

]]> By: bob http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/criminalization-of-urban-space-and-formation-of-identity/#comment-747 bob Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:32:27 +0000 http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/?p=1051#comment-747 Chris: Interesting and important research. Thanks for telling us about it. As you suggest, the naming process shapes identity. One reason we need good writers and good researchers. Keep up the good work. Chris: Interesting and important research. Thanks for telling us about it. As you suggest, the naming process shapes identity. One reason we need good writers and good researchers. Keep up the good work.

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