Attacks on the Homeless Rise, With Youths Mostly to Blame

[flashl]

Source: NY Times

CROSS CITY, Fla. — Warren Messner was 15 when he and some friends attacked a homeless man and left him for dead. Mr. Messner jumped on a log laid across the man’s ribs. He does not know why. He was high, does not remember much and wants to forget the rest.

...

“It was just a senseless crime.” he said, his eyes down, his shoulders slumped. “I wish it would have never happened. It made no sense. It was stupidity.”

Mr. Messner’s story is not unusual. Nationwide, violence against the homeless is soaring, and overwhelmingly the attackers are teenagers and young adults. In Florida the problem is so severe that the National Coalition for the Homeless is setting up speakers bureaus to address a culture that sees attacking the homeless as a sport. It is the first time the organization has singled out a particular state.

Of more than 142 unprovoked attacks on homeless people in 2007, the most — at least 32 — were in Florida, according to a preliminary count by the coalition and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. Nationwide, such attacks rose about 65 percent from 2005.

NY Times

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/us/15homeless.html?ref=us

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Is this teen behavior from kids sensing what adults call ‘business’ and other daily activities really translates to 1) survival of the fittest, 2) class ‘warfare’, 3) ‘Us’ versus ‘Them’ or other socially accepted predatory mentality?

[apnu]

1. Wow, shades of Clockwork Orange

Is that Alex I see?

[jojo54]

2. The key word here is "high".

Now, I'm no saint. I did my share in my younger years but the drugs are getting more potent and the kids, more stupid.

[Raster]

4. No, the key words here are "lack of ethical responsibility."

I've done just about every drug in the book in my druggie days, and NOT FUCKING ONCE did I want to assault an innocent person, homeless or otherwise. I do agree the drugs are getting more potent and HEARTILY agree that the kids are getting "more stupid." But as a rationale, justification or excuse for sadistic brutality? NO! That kid's character was flawed LONG BEFORE "the drugs."

[asolarski]

12. The key word here is not "high".

Like you I did my share as well. Who did you ever attack because of you were high? Drugs may help to release the inner demons from azzholes like this, but none of my friends ever resorted to violence because they were high. Don't give them this excuse.

[balantz]

3. Meth kills

[qanda]

5. The other day I saw a group of kids abusing a squirrel

The were beating it with a shovel, throwing it in the air and taking pictures of it with their cell phones. I just couldn't believe it. I called the police but the kids were gone by the time they arrived. I don't even want to think about who their next victim will be.

[Raster]

6. This type of behavior is a symptom of a sociopathic brutality fostered by our

"it's all about me" society, fueled by corporate media images of violence and brutality at every turn. Kids today ARE BEING CONDITIONED to be more violent, less empathetic, more brutal. Could this be any more apparent than in the "choice" of pResident this country has made. A cruel, sociopathic, arrogant, messianic, drug addicted, aging frat boy. And don't even get me started on cheney*, who in a sane society, would be institutionalized as a menace to society. Make no mistake, cheney* belongs in the padded cell next to Hannibal Lector. Gee-dumbya belongs in a bad remake of "Porky's."

[Buenaventura]

11. Following their leaders (*always* a bad idea!)

Precisely. These are simply the actions of GWB and his thugs on a smaller, less impersonal scale.

[weezy2736]

7. They need to get off the streets and into the caucuses.

[InkAddict]

8. Hmmm.....

1)America can forgive and rehab the druggies while covertly pumping more and better stuff into our communities; or legalize and control the out-of-control while covertly pumping more and better stuff into our communities; either way, there's profits from crime to be made.
2)America can educate the youngsters, at least just enough to at least follow orders, so they can join America's private and government-backed killing machines and info/spy corporations because they can't find other sustaining jobs and/or afford hobbies/activities (sports, arts) that enrich
3)America can slowly kill off the less fortunate while you watch distractions on FOX.
4)America can quickly kill off the less fortunate seeing they contribute so little to society; the fear factor considering and analyzing who will be next is great for business, witness reality TV.
5)America can seek solutions to homelessness and povery;

Seems as though all choices will cost a pretty penny and guess who pays -- whoever's left. Those at the bottom pay more as they are born/fall into the traps, or because it's in their interest to not to fall into one of the categories above.

The above is all just an amusement to those who believe they can't and won't be unseated from the top and they lose no sleep perpetuating their amusement. EVIL. NOW WATCH THIS DRIVE!

[knitter4democracy]

9. He doesn't know why? It's obvious--mob mentality and drugs.

Many drugs inhibit that little voice inside that stops us from acting on our impulses. Plus, it was a mini-mob, and humans can be far more evil in groups than one-on-one.

What else have these boys done? Thrown rocks off overpasses? Abused and killed animals? Killed other people? Sick, sick, sick.

As our society devolves into mob rule, the least of these, the destitute and poor will keep being target practice for the sickos running the mob. They're easy targets, and it's easy to convince a mob high on drugs or power that no one will care about that person. Then, they'll get their jollies acting out all their fantasies of power and violence they've ever seen in movies and video games or doodled in their notebooks. And good people will die because of it.

It's time to ask ourselves what kind of country we want to be and work to keep our kids safe from propaganda and programming and get our homeless into homes.

[peace13]

10. Well to the kids doing this I say....

This is your destiny so be very careful. If you are lucky enough to live your chances of being on the street one day are very good. 'Higher' than any other generation. I suggest we round them up and put them in a camp and let them beat the *ell out of each other. Problem solved. I know it doesn't sound very 'peaceful' but I have had my fill! Peace, kim PS, I may have let my own bad day bleed over into this thread, apologies.

[ladywnch]

13. it's those fundamental christian values

you know, compassion for the poor, helping your fellow man, love thy neighbor.

they're helping those poor souls shuffle off this mortal coil and find their eternal reward....kinda advance rapture cause god won't be able to find them for the rapture with them all living out on the streets and such. They're performing a compassionate service. ahhhhhh how lovely


and in case it is lost on some here.........:sarcasm:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. So many factors can produce this kind of appalling behavior:

1. Abusive home situations. Kids either act out their anger at being abused by tormenting someone more vulnerable than they OR they witness abuse and grow up thinking that that's how you treat anyone who can't fight back.

2. Toxic societal attitudes towards the poor. How many right-wing media types have railed against the homeless and poor and called them lazy drug addicts who are living high off the hardworking taxpayer? (How someone can be "living high off the hardworking taxpayer" and still be homeless...Oh, well. Logic was never part of the right-wing mindset.) How many kids hear their parents repeat these attitudes? Kids with sadistic streaks get the message that the poor are safe outlets for their inclinations.

3. Lack of guidance in the home. You aren't born with consideration for others. It has to be reinforced by your family and society. Take a kid whose family uses TV as a babysitter and are themselves pretty deficient in the ethics and morals department. The kid sees a lot of violence, and gets the idea that it's cool to beat people up.

4. The people at the top set the tone. Is a kid like this necessarily aware of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo? Maybe not. But the attitude that it's all right to abuse people trickles down to law enforcement (witness some of the disturbing incidents that have happened in the past few months), schools, and other authorities. Then the kid gets the idea that it's all right to torment someone you find personally offensive.

[Robbien]

16. You just about covered it all

and the ending result is heartbreaking.

[Heywood J]

15. Ship them to Iraq.

They want to fight people, let them. Put them in the worst of the worst neighborhoods, where they're guaranteed a gun-battle or ten to take out their issues. Make sure they do ten tours or so, at least the same length as they would have done in prison.

At least in the army, they stand a chance at learning some kind of a skill and potentially learn discipline. In prison, they'd just rot and come out worse in the end.

[KamaAina]

18. That's how we ended up with Abu Ghraib

:scared:

[Heywood J]

19. Oh, don't send them out in charge of other people.

No, it would be stupid to let someone like that do prison guard duty or house-to-house sweeps. Nothing they can ever be in a position to abuse others or be in power over others. Permanent private rank until the sentence has been discharged.

Just send them out as grunts on the ground, escorting convoys, guarding checkpoints, patrolling routes, shooting at the Taliban, etc. Peeling potatoes for the mess, if necessary. Somewhere they can learn the discipline they obviously don't have now.

[grilled onions]

17. Behavior Starts At Home

If they were part of a "normal" family it means they often heard their elders speak trash about the homeless,the poor, those under their own station in life. These punks grew up to think they were and are better then most and those living on the street are little more then trash to be swept away where no one has to look at them. They grow up with little respect for human life, animals are for amusement(even their own pets can often be found neglected or ignored). They often seem to develope little love but a lot of hate even though they seem to have lived charmed lives. Many don't seem to have to work,get much of what they want handed to them but they are always bored,always looking for "excitement". Where are the parents? Often in their own little world. Love,communication get pushed aside and giving them money and electronic games and gadgets seem to be a poor substitute but that's what they get. We are seeing the first generations brought up by everyone elese but parents. Kids start at a very early age going to daycare,preschool etc where they find few rules but many rulers. Parents feeling guilt about not being around the kiddies much give and give until the kids get everything they can possibly want except rules,love and time. It's not the only problem,for sure, but it's a good place to start.