and spilt over into how they decide to treat others. Often they might punish innocent third parties for the violence which they received as children. Being confused inside, they may not be aware that they have ended up being violent for reasons way back in their personal histories. So some are effectively punishing their victims for the family love which they never received. Love is the answer – to crime. Inside them they are desperate. They want to be accepted by their peers like all of us, so they carry out crimes and boast about how bold and brave they were to take such risks. Inside they are insecure. And greedy, of course. But they can change. They risk themselves in crime to help themselves up the ladder of social esteem. Another way out for them of course is to say “fuck the ladder” – accept that they don’t need to be held in high esteem by anybody else, so long as they know inside themselves that they are being what they want to be. But where in their stories was there anybody to tell them how to have inner strength?
Gangster rappers. Hmm. A lot of show. If you’re truly strong inside, then there is no reason to brag about it to anyone. The showing off is a sure sign of inner weakness, it gives the whole game away. If you know for certain, that you are what you want to be, it isn’t necessary to show your guns off to the cameras. Good role models eh? Hmm. And all those misguided youngsters take it all in like it’s the truth. The consequences of those in situations of power, such as famous musicians, have not often been fully thought through. They should apply their status more responsibly, and get across the message that violence is weakness. And yes, young people do emulate what they see - remember the “ultra-violence” incidents which followed the release of Stanley Kubrik’s film A Clockwork Orange.
And when they get criticised for their life of crime, what happens? Like all of us we hate to be criticised, and we think that to own up and say “actually I think you have a point, my behaviour has been really weak and hurtful. I’ll take your good advise and change my ways” – that would appear to be weak to all around them, and the fear of dropping down the social scale of kudos is enough to make them carry on. It’s the other way round – to risk going down the scale of social esteem is a greater fear – and those who take on board good advice and choose to change risk their status – and actually that means they are more courageous because they are willing to risk something that they hold so valuable. Like Blair invading Iraq – it was his weakness as Bush’s poodle that made him do it – not his inner strength. So weak people fight, strong people (usually) choose not to. Most instances of violent confrontation are not necessary, so if one can actually carry on quite happily – in fact happier – then where’s the sense in letting someone else drag you into a fight? Fight if necessary, but almost every single time it isn’t.
So, rather than let their social esteem slip, criminals will resort to denial. They’ll read this and come up with a way to destroy the message. Anything. Seek council from another crim’ who they know for certain is as dodgy as they are, so they know their wrong opinion will be backed up – and the other crim’ who carries out exactly the same activities will say “it’s ok Al’, I think you’re alright, after all, you did slash that guys face the other week didn’t you?” Right. Both weak. Too weak to