Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/09/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Look. I've discussed English literature with unemployed folks in Turkey. I've dined in the homes of un or underemployed former govt. workers in Ukraine (also, a now a largely criminal culture). Here in the US, we have a multi-generational, violent, pretty well armed and mostly ethnic permanent underclass (black and hispanic, for the most part). Simple comparisons to the poor in other countries don't help to explain why our underclass is the way it is - namely well armed, pissed off and in any case, rather violent. And neither does the word "spoiled." We had riots in Georgetown and Adams Morgan here in Wash, DC back in '90 or 91', presumably because it was just too darned hot. Go figure. Whatever. Why might El Salvadoran imigrants in parts of the US behave more violently than poor El Salvodaran's in their own country? Don't know, I'm no demographer or sociologist. But it seems to be very much the case. And we need to get a handle on it, and do something about it, or doom ourselves to watch re-runs of "Cops" for the rest of our lives. As much as anyone, I'd like to see the US's apparently unique underclass disappear from our landscape - demographic, political and criminal. How to make that happen, I haven't the chutzpah to hazard a guess. To put it back on topic, somewhat, maybe, like Eugene Richards, shooting them on film may help elucidate the situation. Don't really know. Scott Tina Manley wrote: > At 08:02 PM 9/1/2005, you wrote: > >> This isn't news to anyone who lives here in the US. I don't think >> the word >> "spoiled" accurately or helpfully characterizes the unique >> conditions, "plight" if >> one is generous, of this underclass. >> Scott > > > What unique conditions? No money, no job, no education, no > infrastructure? All of that is present in rural Honduras and most > developing countries. The poor in the US are the most privileged poor > in the world. I have seen families with absolutely nothing, who, > through the strength of their work ethic, have managed to get ahead > and support themselves and their extended families. I don't think > anybody who hasn't worked in developing countries can possibly > understand the obstacles that those people overcome. There are people > who care and work to succeed and there are people who depend on others > to rescue them when they inevitably fail. So far, what I've seen in > New Orleans are the latter. I'm sure there are plenty of the former, > too, but they are not being covered by the media. From what I've > seen, I'd bet on rural Honduras any day. In fact, I'm looking for > land there now! > > Tina > > Tina Manley, ASMP > www.tinamanley.com > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information