Fri, 26 Aug 1994 13:03:14 -0700 for <socgrad@ucsd.edu>
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 1994 14:50:14 -0500 (CDT)
From: Michael Gibbons <mgibbons@cwis.unomaha.edu>
Subject: fear
To: socgrad <socgrad@UCSD.EDU>
hello

i don't know how many folks may have had the opportunity to see this, but
there was an excellent column in wednesday's op & ed section that was
referenced to the cox news service.
the editorial discussed the peculiar fear of crime that marks the american
horizon.  the column pointed out that most of our fears are bunk in
contrast to crime statistics.  most of the people who are most afraid,
buying security systems for their housesm, carrying their mace, are the
least likely to be harmed.  there was also reference to the racist nature
of both fear of crime and violence fact.  we, as happy middle and upper
class america most fear black males, even though we are most likely to be
harmed by another white, while the black male suffers rates of violence
that *would not be tolerated* were they white males.  IMHO i feel that our
society takes the stance, indeed i've heard it said, that as long as
they're killing each other, it's ok.  this is unaccpetable, but not
surprising.  

similarly, while we hide our daughters, sisters, and wives away far from
harm, frightening them with talk of stranger rape and abduction (without
of course trivializing these traumatic events to those that have hada to
endure them), they are more likely to be injured and killed in the
"safety" of their own home by those who are supposedly there to *protect*
them.  Statistically, they would be safer iun a dark parking lot downtown
than at home or on a date.  irony?  

so why is the crime bill they have passed not addressing these issues? 

michael

ps  isn't this what sociology is about?