"Action is the antidote to despair. - Joan Baez"
In my last post, I mentioned that I would revisit the topic of protest. This revisit came faster than I thought. This time, it's not about land assets and perceived lack of government transparency. The subject hits a bit closer to home. I used to think of crime as a bit of an abstract concept. I've never been the victim of a violent crime (knock on wood), and so I used to think that if I did certain things, it was easily avoidable. The unfortunate truth is, sometimes you can do everything right and yet suffer the consequences of someone else's choices.
While most people think about crime in this way, the truth is that it affects all of us directly and indirectly. The effect of crime is pretty obvious but what about the rest of us? Well, when “crime waves”* occur, the immediate response from the public is fear leading to altered behaviour. We avoid certain areas and staying out late, maybe going out at all, if we can help it. We are more vigilant, watching every stranger closely. In extreme cases, the government may have to step in with increased policing. This may seem like an acceptable action for criminals but the effect is disproportionate on the rest of society. As the saying goes, "Peter pays for Paul and Paul pays for all".
Recently, this country has been concerned and alarmed at the recent spate of violent crime. It seems that almost every day, the headlines or WhatsApp messages report a murder, shooting, robbery, or some other criminal act. It is heavy and distressing to see the statistics, to be honest. So, what do ordinary citizens do to feel some measure of control in the chaos? Well, some took to the streets on a warm Saturday morning to bring some awareness to the issue. This felt especially personal when mothers who lost children to gun violence spoke along the route. I got chills listening to them speak and telling their stories.
I guess there are a few questions that remain. First, how did we get here? Second, is this just an anomalous spike in the crime rate following the COVID 19 years? Time will tell, I guess. And finally, will the protests solve anything? I cannot predict what the future holds, but maybe it's better to try something rather than to just sit back and accept the inevitable.
Camera and equipment details:
Camera: Nikon D7200
Mobile Phone: Samsung A21S
Lenses: Nikon 50mm F1.8 G Auto Focus-S
Lighting: Natural Light
Software: Adobe Photoshop 2019
Until next time...stay engaged.
*Crime Wave - An increase, or perception of an increase, in crime in a particular period and place.
