Submitted by Prentice Vann:
Poverty equaling crime is a debate to many, not a fact. Some think that crime is committed by choice and not circumstance. Their argument is that poverty doesn't make one commit racist murders and rapes. Rapes would make a good argument against poverty breeding criminal activity. Does poverty create rape? Does poverty create showing off at events or for the opposite sex at events? At the same time, does poverty breed drug dealing or robberies? It probably depends on the individual. We3 can debate all day but both points of views can make a point in our society.
In these first two videos, the view of crime being of one's intentions is expressed. The two individuals, a white person from America and a black person from Africa, agree that crimes committed by people are of the nature of the individual. People commit crimes because they want to, so they say. The African says that it's due to respect. We know of a certain level of crimes in the US due to respect. An example would be the murder of someone approaching your lover, knowing that you two are together. Also, physical harm done to someone disrespecting your mother, spouse, or child in any matter.
Others say that (some) crime is brought about by circumstance. The rent needs to be paid and the children, and self, need to be fed. Would someone that would not commit murder commit murder in self-defense? How about if her/his children are there? The government even judges crimes by their purpose. A premeditated murder would result in giving out more prison time than manslaughter. The individual in the video on the right mentions the need of money as a reasonable reason to sell drugs. He also expresses he feelings toward over doing it. He basically say that if one does what he/she does to get what they need, or achieve a level of advancement, they should stop their crimes. One thing that we all should agree on is that our children need to be fed. That would be most of our breaking points. 
Prentice, I think you choose a very good topic that we can argue about all day. But the question that really makes me wonder is “Does Poverty really create rape?” Well, in my opinion, Poverty creates everything, not just rape. It creates a lot of bad things that people undergo especially hunger which leads them to become criminals, thieves, robbers and drug dealers. I would not blame the people who live in poverty and who become one of those people who start to kill others in order to get food, who steal money or material things in order to get money, and finally who sell drugs in order to put food on the table.
ReplyDeleteI think that each person who lives in poverty has a certain circumstance where they are forced to commit a crime. But that is not always the case. Like you mentioned in the videos you posted, the American guy said that people commit crimes because they want to, but the African said that it was due to respect. So, what that means is that each culture thinks in a different way where they have their own traditions and customs.
Like you also mentioned, people do not always want to commit crimes but they are forced to. The example you gave was very interesting which was the murder of someone approaching your lover when that person knows you two are together. I think this is a good example because I do not think anyone would want to let that happen. If it was me, I would really do something about it because I would not want anyone to do such a thing to my lover.
Another great point that you agreed upon is that our children need to be fed. I think that is very true but we need to know the right way in getting them food. For example, some people think it is fine to go and steal money from somewhere where others would not do such a thing unless they work in a job that pays them for their hard work.
I think it is also important to reconsider that poverty is a harsh thing where it is difficult to become richer in a short period of time. People really suffer who go through their everyday lives without having food or money. This way of life forces them to go out and try their best to get any kind of help but there are not many people who help today. We should all consider becoming a member of some organization in order to help those people who go through all of the suffering and hopefully it will help decrease the rate of crimes today.