Comments on: How do we help children exposed to criminal violence?

By: Brett Nortje

Brett Nortje — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:34:02 +0000

Glynis, Charlene picked this fight – not I.

If I had the magic wand we would not see the little children with thousand-yard stares (like the Bosnian refugees we used to see on CNN 15 years ago) on Carte Blanche regularly.

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Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:07:27 +0000

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By: Plonked

Plonked — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:53:51 +0000

@Rory

Governments are a reflection of the collective consciousness of the people. The people of this country need to develop a ‘solution consciousness’ otherwise these horrendous crimes will just continue as they are or get worse. In fact we cannot wait for governments to do things, we citizens have to look for solutions and lobby governments to implement them, otherwise nothing happens, look at climate change, whether you are in an industialised democracy or the third world, governments most places do the absolute minimum.

By: Plonked

Plonked — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:46:33 +0000

Hi Charlene

Maybe you did not read my post properly. I supplied a link to research on a 23% drop in violent crime in Washington DC. If that were implemented in SA it would be good. The research was conducted in 1993 and published in “Social Science Indicators’.

I am not saying that is the only solution, but as a journalist writing about violent crime you should be researching potential solutions for your readers, otherwise we are either just marking time or sliding downhill.

By: Paul S

Paul S — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:51:35 +0000

What a sickening read – absolutely made my skin crawl. I know you do this with the best intentions, but all I can think is THANK GOD I NO LONGER LIVE IN THAT PITIFUL COUNTRY.

By: mj

mj — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:48:31 +0000

Our children in this country are not only expose to the criminal violence but also to our role models from the old school who are aggressive,
violent,practice bigotry,racists,……..etc
I am afraid to say our psychological problems
are much more greater..
14 years into our democracy it has not improved at all…
In Pretoria it is common to find these types of
personalities even in professions eg legal,medical
and clergy.

By: Glynis Smith

Glynis Smith — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:28:24 +0000

Brett
You read an article full of compassion and humanity and all you can see is a warning that gun ownership may make you a target?
Words fail me

By: Rory Short

Rory Short — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:43:02 +0000

@plonked two things:
1. These awful events are happening and the survivors need to be lifted up. This contribution of Charlene is about doing that.
2. Governments are elected, and paid by the citizens, with the purpose of ensuring the safety of all citizens. Unfortunately the present government does not appear to be able to do that very effectively. It would be great if it could carry out all its responsibilities as effectively as it has managed to do in bringing the tax system in to order.

By: Peter Pumkin Eater

Peter Pumkin Eater — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:03:21 +0000

Until we speak to sociologists and criminologists about solutions, ranting about crime or moaning about the cops and government will not help.

By: Charlene Smith

Charlene Smith — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:02:02 +0000

* Plonked – I have yet to hear a solution from you, let’s hear them.
* Brett Nortje – Brett, the minute they come in they ask for guns, I’m pretty certain if I had had one it would have been used on me. Do what you believe is best. They do this all the time, I hope you can succesfully take out a gang of 4 with guns. Lots of those I deal with have guns, none have been able to use them – including highly trained cops & specialist military guys – in every instance the criminals have taken them – to use on others. We’re all big with advice until it happens to us