Note from Leonard Ira Morgenbesser on Youth Violence
Dear HumanDHS network friends
Please find below a note from Leonard Ira Morgenbesser on Youth Violence.
Kind regards
Brian Ward
FROM THE DESK OF LEONARD IRA MORGENBESSER PHD
INDEPENDENT SCHOLAR ALBANY, NEW YORK 12208 USA
15 September 2008
Dear Colleague Professor Doctor Evelin Lindner
Dear Colleague Professor Doctor Linda Hartling
Peaceful greetings of Shalom/Peace from Albany, New York, USA, the Capital
City of the State of New York.
Many apologies for falling out of contact here. I did not thank G-d fall off of a cliff
as the phrase goes, I have just been preoccupied. I continue in various roles.
On August 29 I entered into my 34th consecutive, continuous year of service
in research and Federal Grants development with NY State DOCS (Dept of Correctional
Services), this State’s adult correctional system of institutions. I continue to teach
part time M.A. grad students via distance learning at State University of New York,
and I am also an advocate against violence urging its recognition as a profound public health concern, not solely a police concern
There is much suffering here in the City of Albany and throughout the USA.
I am speaking here of violence including but not limited to gun violence.
During calendar Year 2008 (Jan-Sept 15) from media sourcing, we have in this City
a total of 22 shootings, including 31 civilians (non-police) hit by gunfire.
Of the 31 hit by gunfire—five were hit fatally and 26 were hit non-fatally
The five gun homicide victims include ten year old Kathina Thomas, a young immigrant
to the USA from Guyana whose family came to the USA for a better life. Young Kathina was playing on her front step one evening in late May 2008 as the sun was setting in the sky.
Down a long block, a 15 or 16 year old running with some other youths, took a socalled “community” gun out of his pocket and fired at a rival group of youths. The gunfire “accidentally” hit young Kathina and attempts to save Kathina at Albany Medical Center Hospital failed.
Yet another life was lost to gunfire. Yesterday a 20 year old in the inner city of nearby Schenectady died from gunfire this weekend in which he was shot in the head.
About a week ago here in Albany, a 17 year old young Hispanic male was stabbed to death by a 21 year old male from nearby Rensselaer NY.
Is some of this violence due to gang rivalries, including whatever component of humiliation may be involved in terms of possible “diss” (disrespect shown to one individual by another, with the subsequent unleashing of violence in response to such “diss”?)
Might this entire cluster of issues around violence, gang rivalries, “diss” etc
be a suitable chapter in the book you note that is seeking contributors
the book by Dan Christie? In this regard, might Humiliation Studies hold
a partial key to understanding this terrible continuing saga of violence
including youth violence?
Incidentally the concept of community gun is explained to me as a gun
shared by various youth which is stashed in a hiding place in the community.
And why are 15 and 16 year old youths, and some times people younger in age,
running wildy with lethal instruments known as illegally possessed handguns
in the Cities of this USA?
There are currently many questions and few if any answers.
I do believe that Humiliation Studies may hold the key.
I look forward to continued fruitful communication interchanges and
especially to worldwide collaboration on these major issues of significance
to our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
Shalom/Peace to all of my friends within the Humiliation Studies Community wordwide
Respectfully
LEONARD IRA MORGENBESSER PHD