AlexDooley

SOC460CaseStudyPortfolio
Dr.Allen
11December2014

SubtlyExplainingAwayStreetViolence:MediaFraminginChicagoShootings
OnSeptember23,2014theChicagoTribunereportedontenshootingsoccurringon
thesouthandwestsidesofthecityovertheweekend,includingonedeath.Oneofthe
shootingsinvolveda17yearoldboyfindinghimselfinthecrossfirebetweentwounknown
parties.AsdetailedbytheTribune:
About6:40p.m.,a17yearoldboywasshotinthejawon
the1500blockofEast62ndStreetintheWoodlawnneighborhoodontheSouthSide,
Lemmonsaid.Theteenwasstandingonthecorneratthatlocationwhenheheardshotsand
wasstruckinthejaw,Lemmonsaid.Theteen,whopolicesayisadocumentedgang
member,wastakentoUniversityofChicagoComerChildren'sHospitalingoodcondition,
policesaid.
ShootingsofthistypearereportedeveryweekendintheTribunenotmanypeople
wouldbesurprisedtolearnofashootinginLawndaleinvolvingaminor.Whileaschool
shootingorrandomactofviolenceinawhitesuburbhasagoodchanceofmakingthelocal
eveningnews,sometimesevennationalheadlines,shootingsindisadvantagedcommunities
areusuallyrelegatedtothebackpagesofthenextmorningspaper.Thissortofframingdone
bythenewsmediaservestoinformthepublicofwhattheyshouldbethinkingabout,thus
perpetuatingtheneglectofpoorblackneighborhoods.Onenoteworthythingtopointout
aboutthewaytheTribunechosetohandlethisstoryistheirnoteoftheboysstatusasa
documentedgangmember.Whilethisfactmaytechnicallybenewsworthyinthatithasthe
potentialtoaffectthesituationandcircumstancesurroundingtheshootinginwhichhewas
involved,noattentionisgiventoanyoftheactualdetailsofthesituation.Mentioninghisgang

activitywithoutclarifyingwhetherornottheshootingwasactuallygangrelatedorgoinginto
furtherdetailaboutthecaseitselfcreatesanavenueforreaderstoengageinvictimblaming,
whichalsocontributestotheongoingseeminglackofconcernforyoungmeninthesituation
oftheonecoveredinthisarticle.

Illnessvs.Evil:TheLinkBetweenTraumaandSerialMurderers
Oneofthemoredisturbingnewsstoriesoftheyearinvolvestheapprehendingof
suspectedserialkillerDarrenDeonVannofGary,Indiana,amanthoughttohavekilledas
manyassevenwomenoverthecourseofthelastfifteenmonths.Accordingtoaprofile
publishedbynewsoutletCNN,Vannhadseenplentyoftimebehindbarsinthetimeleading
uptohispresumedkillingspree.Hewasconvictedofandserved90daysforaclassDfelony
in2004shortlyafterbeingfiredfromatempagencyforwhomheworkedforthreateningto
burndownorblowupthehouseofthemanwhohebelievedwasshelteringhisgirlfriend
(Vannwasalsomarriedatthetime).In2007,Vannpleadedguiltytochargesofaggravated
sexualassaultafterattackinga25yearoldwomanrespondingtoaservicecallfromher
employerinahotelroom,repeatedlystrikingandeventuallyrapingher.Vannwasindictedby
agrandjuryandconvicted,sentencedto5yearsimprisonment,anditwasinthefifteen
monthsimmediatelyfollowinghisreleaseinJuly2013thatVannisthoughttohavecommitted
allsevenmurdersofwhichheissuspected.
EdwardMatlock,thesonofVannsformerwife,claimsthatthemomenteverything
wentdownhill,oratleaststartedgoingdownhill,forVannwashisfiringfromthetemp
agencyheworkedforin2004.TheguyisanutcaseheisclaimsMatlock,whodidnot
evenallowVanntobearoundhischildrenunsupervised.NotmuchisknownaboutVanns
childhood,norseveralyearsofhislifeintheintermediarybetweenhisbirthinIndianaandhis

eventualmovingbacktoGary,whereheisbelievedtohavecommittedthesesevenmurders.
Losingajobisadifficultthingtodealwithemotionally,butthefactthatVanntooksuchan
apparentlydrasticturnafterbeingfiredspeakstothelikelihoodofmoreunderlyingtraumain
hispersonallifeandpastexperiences.Thepsychologicalandemotionalturmoilthrough
whichonemustbegoinginordertosystematicallymurdersevenwomenfornoseemingly
logicalreasonmayverywellstemfromserious,undealtwithmentalillnessand/ortraumatic
circumstancesthesecircumstancesarenotlikelytohavebeenhelpedthroughVannspast
experiencesinprisonforhispastcrimesgiventhepenitentialsystemspropensitytodealwith
thesymptomofaproblemcrimeanddevianceratherthanaddressingtheproblemitself.

DoubleStandards,ImplicitBias,andNeedlessDeath:TheWorstWalMartTripofAll
Time
JohnCrawfordIIIwasbrowsingthesportinggoodssectionofaWalMartstorein
Beavercreek,OhioandpickedupanunpackagedairriflecapableofshootingBBsorpellets.
Concerned(white)citizenRonaldRitchieplacedacallto911,informingthedispatcherthat
therewasagentlemanwalkingaroundwithaguninthestoreandthathewaspointingitat
peoplewavingitbackandforth(amonthaftertheevent,RitchietoldTheGuardianinan
interviewthatCrawfordneveractuallypointedthegunatanybody).Asthepolicewereon
theirway,Crawfordcontinuedbrowsingthestorewhileonthephonewiththemotherofhis
twochildren.Surveillancevideoshowsthepoliceenterthesectionofthestoreinwhich
CrawfordstoodalonewiththegunpointingtowardthegroundandshootCrawfordwithin
meresecondsofconfrontinghim.Crawforddiedwithinshortlyaftertheshooting.Noneofthe
officersinvolvedintheshooting,whowereallwhite,wereindictedbyagrandjury.

Whilepartofthejobofapoliceofficeristomakedecisionsbasedonwhatthey
believetobethebestcourseofactionatthetime,gunningdownsomebodywalkingthrougha
WalMartwithanunloadedpelletgunseemstobeabitprematureeveniftheofficerhadno
wayofknowingwhetherornotthegunwasloaded,orevenwhatkindofgunitwas.Keeping
inmindthatnopoliceshootingsoccurredwhenanationalBringYourGuntoStarbucksday
wasorganizedby(mostlywhite)progunrightsactivistsinAugustof2013inresponseto
Starbucksannouncementthattheywouldadheretoopencarrypoliciesintheirstores,the
factthatacustomerwouldbeshotandkilledforshoppingseemstobeabitmorethan
coincidental.ThewhiteofficerwhoshotCrawfordmaynothavedonesoexplicitlybecauseof
thefactthathewasblack,norwasthewhitemalewhocalled911certainlymotivatedby
racialfactors,butthenarrativepaintedbythemediaandsocietyatlargeportraysblackmen
asdangerous,brutish,andworthyofsuspicion.Racismdoesnothavetoexistonan
individualleveltoaffectindividuallives.

BodyontheStreet=SkeletonsintheCloset:DehumanizingandJustifyingtheDeaths
ofBlackMen
InFebruaryof2012,unarmed17yearoldTrayvonMartinwasshotdeadinanactof
claimedselfdefensebyneighborhoodwatchmanGeorgeZimmerman.Martinwaswalkingat
nightintheSanford,FloridaneighborhoodwherehisfatherlivedwhenZimmermansawhim
andcalled911,suspectingtheyoungblackmaleofsuspiciousactivity.Zimmerman
disregardedtheinstructionsofthedispatchertoremaininhisvehicleandnotapproachMartin
andconfrontedtheyoungman,atwhichpointaconflictensued.Floridasstatelawallowsfor
theuseofdeadlyforcewhenfacedwithalifethreateningconflictZimmermanclaimstohave
fearedforhislifeandthusshotandkilledMartin.

SimilartothemorerecentpoliceshootingcasesofJohnCrawfordIIIandMichael
Brown,itisdifficulttoconvictZimmermanforhavingracistmotives,butthefactthathumans
donotexistinavacuum,separatefromtheinfluenceofthemediaandsociety,gives
reasonablecausetobelievethatGeorgeZimmermansawathreatnotbecauseTrayvon
Martinwasengaginginanysortofsuspiciousactivity,butratherbecausehewasablack
malewalkingaloneatnight.Alsoobjectivelymeasurableistheresponseofthemediatothe
eventualtrialofGeorgeZimmerman,throughoutwhichmanyoutletssoughttodiscreditthe
characterofTrayvonMartin,speakingofthefactthathemayhavedonedrugsorbeen
involvedinotherillegalactivity.Thisresponseissimilartotheresponsegivenbythemediato
manygangrelatedshootingsinpoorurbancentersemphasizingtheillegalordangerous
activitiesinwhichonemayhavebeeninvolvedcangivecausetojustifytheirdeathor
victimhoodinanactofviolence.

ScratchingtheSurface:ARandomActofViolence?
TheChicagoTribunereportedontheOctober24shootinginSouthAustinwhichleft
DenzellFranklindeadandwoundedanunnamed24yearoldman.JermainePowelland
JoshuaGrayer,both19,havebeenchargedwithfirstdegreemurderandarebeingheld
withoutbail.AccordingtotheTribune:Thetwovictimswerestandinginacourtyardinthe
5500blockofWestCorcoranPlacewhensomeoneapproachedthemandfiredshotsalittle
after10p.m.Friday,ChicagopolicespokesmanOfficerHectorAlfarosaidsoonafterthe
shooting.The23yearold,lateridentifiedasFranklin,wasshotinthefaceandarmpitand
waspronounceddeadatthescene,Alfarosaid.TheCookCountymedicalexaminer'soffice
didnothaveinformationonFranklin'shomeaddress.Hewaspronounceddeadat10:45p.m.
atthescene,themedicalexaminer'sofficesaid.The24yearoldwaswoundedinthearm,

andhetransportedhimselftoWestSuburbanMedicalCenterinOakPark,wherehis
conditionwasstabilized.PoliceblockedoffaportionofWestCorcoranPlacebetweenNorth
CentralandNorthPineavenues,enclosingthesideofafourstoryredbrickbuildingandthe
entrancetoasmallcommercialplaza.Aboutadozenfamilymembersandfriendsoftheman
whodiedwerecomfortingeachotheratthescene.Somequietlyweptandshooktheirheads
astheyfoundoutthedetails.
Thelackofdetailssurroundingthiscase,aswellasthelackofdetailgiventomany
reportsofviolenceinvolvingthedeathofyoungmenofcolorinparticular,speaksnotonlyto
thefrequencyofdeathsinthesecommunitiesbutalsothesensationalisminwhichthemedia
engageswhenreportinginstancesofviolence.Whilethestorymaybeaboutthemurder,the
samestorywillonlycontinuetoplayitselfoutinthefutureiftheissuesunderlyingseemingly
randomactsofviolencesuchasthisarenotaddressed.Lackofaccesstoeconomicmobility
andthebroadersocialsystemthatservestosupportandprovideopportunityforthoseinthe
majorityoftendrivesandmotivatesadeviantsubcultureinwhichviolenceisseenasindeed,
inwhichviolencemayonlybethebestalternativetotheAmericanDream.Reportingthe
detailsofashootingmakesabetteroneanddonenewsreport,butdoesnotactuallyspeakto
therealissues.
UNConventiononGenocide:WorldwideViolenceAgainstMinorities
December9th,2014markedthe66thanniversaryofthesigningofthe1948Genocide
Convention.AdamaDieng,theUnitedNationsSecretaryGeneralsSpecialAdviseron
PreventionofGenocide,detailedsomeoftheprecursorystepstogenocideinspeakingabout
preventingfuturegenocideinourworldinaspeechcommemoratingtheConventions
anniversary.Diengnotesthatgenocidedoesnotstartwithoutwarningthesystematicethnic

cleansingofapeoplegroupdoesnotoccurinavacuum,andthereareconsistencies
throughoutexamplesofgenocidethroughoutmodernhistory.Genocide,accordingtoDieng,
beginstofallwithintherealmofpossibilitywheneveronegroupbeginstodehumanize
anothergroupofpeopleandjustifytheirslaughterbasedsolelyonwhotheyare,notwhat
theyhavedone.TheHolocaustdidnotstartwiththegaschambersandtheRwandan
genocidedidnotstartwiththeslayingbothofthesestartedwiththedehumanizationofa
specificgroupofpersons.Weknowfromourexperiencethatgenocideisnotasingleevent
butaprocessthattakestime,planningandresourceswhichcouldbehaltedatanystage
wemustacceptthatthereisnopartoftheworldthatcanconsideritselfimmunefromtherisk
ofgenocideandallregionsandallStatesmustbuildresiliencetothesecrimes,Diengsays.
Itistruethatviolenceagainstanypeoplegroupatthehandofanotheralwaysinvolves
acertainlevelofdehumanization.ThisisobservablethroughtheobviousexampleofAfrican
enslavementintheUSAlawswereliterallywrittenintoournationsbooksdenyingblacks
recognitionashumans,whichalignsperfectlywiththemainthrustofDiengsargument.The
currenttreatmentofmanyurbanghettosanddisplacedindigenoustribesacrosstheUSAmay
notfallfarfromthespectrumdetailedbyDienginhisspeech.Giventherelativelyshort
lifespanandtheinordinatelyhighratesofdiseaseamongthelessfortunateamongus,it
couldbearguedthataformofraceandclassbaseddehumanizationisalreadytakingeffect
inourowncountry.Perhapsgenocideofanysortentailstheantithesisofpersonal
relationshipdetailedbyDr.Richin
WrongPlace,WrongTime
onlywhenonehasbeen
completelydehumanizedcantheybekilledbasedonanarbitrarybasiswithoutasecond
thought.Giventhisseemingeaseofdehumanization,nocountryorregionisimperviousto
genocide,includingtheUnitedStates.

ISISInNorthAfrica&theMiddleEast
TheGatestoneInstituteInternationalPolicyCouncil,apoliticallyconservativethink
tankofwhichJohnBoltonservesaschair,releasedanarticledetailingmanyoftheatrocities
committedbytheIslamicStateagainstreligiousminoritiesinthecountriestheyoccupy,
particularlyChristians.Oftengrislyandunfortunatelytruetoreality,thearticle,Rapingand
BeheadingtheFaithful,describesthesystematicattackbeingcarriedoutonthosewhostand
inthewayoftheadvancementoftheIslamicStateinAfricaandtheMiddleEast.Churches
havebeenburnttotheground,womenraped,Christianleadersexiled,imprisoned,and
executed,parentshaveattemptedmurderingtheirnewlyconvertedChristianchildrenthe
eventsoccurringarenotforthefaintofheart.Thesituationappearsdire,andtheGatestone
Instituteseemstosuggestthatareligiouscleansingoftheregionisathandpossiblyeven
beyondtheMiddleEast.
AsthecrisisintheMiddleEastgoeson,severalthingsareapparent.
First
,thereisa
harshdisconnectbetweenthetwomainfactionsinthisnarrative(MuslimsandChristians).
Regardlessofwhoisthemoreresponsiblepartyfortherelationalgapexistingbetweenthe
two,thefactthatparentsandchildrenaremortallypittedagainstoneanotherspeaksvolumes
tothesituationathand.Onlywhenaparenthascompletelydisattachedthemselvesfroma
childcantheyreachthepointwhentheyattempttomurdertheirownoffspringthefamilyties
haveclearlybeensevered,muchlessanyformofrelationalfondnessorcare.Whilethisis
obviouslyanextremeexampleoftheconsequencethatcomesfromdiscountingthehumanity
ofanotherperson,itissomethingthatmustbeconsideredbyallhumansregardlessof
whetherornottheyhaveanyparticularreligiousinclinationsthatmayleadthemtoslaughter
theirownchildrenandneighbors.Anyhumanhasthecapacitytocommitmurder,andsome
dosoinwaystheymightnotevenrealize(suchasperpetuatingdangerousstereotypesabout

minorities,failingtoimplementeffectiveandequitablepolicy,orturningablindeyeto
lifeshorteninginjusticeoccurringintheirowncity).
Additionally
,thecircumstancesthathave
leadtoanenvironmentinwhichChristiansaresohatedthattheyhavebecometargetsfor
religiousexterminationarenotassimpleassomemightmakethemouttobe.Whilethe
conceptofjihad(holywar)andthedesireforimplementationofaworldwideIslamicState
bothplaymajor,probablydominant,rolesintheeventsoccurringintheMiddleEast,the
ChristiannationoftheUSAhasnotbeenparticularlygoodtothatregionoftheworldover
thepastseveralyears.ThehundredsofthousandsofinnocentcivilianskilledinU.S.
operationssupposedlyaimedatdisposingofradicalmilitantscertainlyaggravatesand
provokespeoplewhomayotherwisehavenotbecomegenocidalorembitteredtowardthe
UnitedStatesorChristiansworldwidetojoinorsupporttheactivitiesofradicalgroupssuchas
BokoHaramandISIS.Whenciviliansaretreatedasmilitantthreatsandshotdownsimplyfor
lookingsimilartorealtargets,theyaresignificantlymoreapttobehaveassuch.The
complexityofthissituationcannotbeignoredifasolutionistobereached,norcangroupsof
peoplecontinuetreatingoneanotherasinherentlysubhumanbecauseofracialbackground
orreligiouspreference.

ViolenceintheFormofEmploymentDeficit
ThePacificNorthwest,alongwithmuchoftherestofthewestcoastoftheUnited
States,isexperiencingasortoftechnologicalrenaissance.Technologybasedcompanies
suchasMicrosoft,Amazon,andNintendoallhavenationalheadquartersinthisregionofthe
country,andopportunityseemstoproliferateformanywhoseektofindemploymentinthe
technologysector,yetminoritiesarestillunderrepresentedintheworkforceeveninthissort
ofgoldrushthatholdssomuchpotentialeconomicbenefit.Recently,TheSaltLakeTribune

reportedonaseriesofvisitstothePacificNorthwestbyTheReverendJesseJackson
respondingtoseveralcitiesprotestsoccurringinresponsetotheeventssurroundingthe
deathofMichaelBrownandnonindictmentofofficerDarrenWilsoninFerguson,MO.
Jacksoncallsfortechnologycompaniestoscaleupthehiringofminoritiesandthe
otherwiseunderprivilegedinsociety,sayingthattherootissueofviolenceisnotviolencein
andofitself,butratherracialandeconomicdisparities.
"Wedonothaveatechnologydeficit,
wehaveanopportunitydeficit,"saysJackson,whoishimselfashareholderinMicrosoft.The
mainthrustofJacksonsobservation,thatinequalityisagreatcontributortoviolenceand
servestoperpetuateinequitablesystems,isonealsomadebyDavidTrouttin
ThePriceof
Paradise
.Whendiscussingviolence,theprovisionofeconomicmobilitymustalsobe
addressedprovidingjobswillnotcompletelyaddress
all
theissuescontributingtothe
pervasivenessofviolentbehaviorinminoritycommunities,butfailingtorecognizeinequality
asbothacausalandsustainingfactorwilldoomanyefforttocurbviolencebeforeiteven
begins.

CIATorture:UnconstitutionalViolenceAgainstPresumedMilitants
ThereleaseofSenatefindingsonthepost9/11U.S.tortureprogramhassparked
shockandoutrageovertheCIAsabuses,andrenewedcallsfortheprosecutionofthe
officialswhoauthorizedandcarriedthemout.TheSenatereportdetailsalistoftorture
methodsusedonprisoners:waterboarding,sexualabusewithbroomsticks,"rectalfeeding"or
"rectalhydration."Prisonerswerethreatenedwithbuzzingpowerdrills.Somecaptiveswere
deprivedofsleepforupto180hours,attimeswiththeirhandsshackledabovetheirheads.
ThetorturewascarriedoutatblacksitesinAfghanistan,Lithuania,Romania,Poland,
Thailand,andasecretsiteontheGuantnamoNavalBaseknownasStrawberryFields.

SpeakingontheSenatefloor,thechairoftheSenateIntelligenceCommittee,Dianne
Feinstein,saidthereportforcestheUnitedStatestosay"neveragain."Thereportconcludes
theCIA
failedtodisruptasingleplot
despitetorturingalQaedaandothercaptivesinsecret
prisonsworldwidebetween2002and2006.CIAofficialswerealsofoundtohaveroutinely
misledthemedia,CongressandtheWhiteHouseonthetorturemethodsandtheir
ineffectiveness(DemocracyNow.org).
PerhapsthemoststrikingthingregardingtheentiredebacleinvolvingtheCIAtorturing
prisonersespeciallytheirhiding

andlyingaboutthefactthattheyweredoingsoisthe
complete,utterineffectivenessoftheentireprograminaccomplishinganythingofuse.As
notedbysome,eveniftheCIAweretohaveextractedinformationfromasubjectbeing
tortured,thereisnoguaranteethattheinformationwouldbeaccurateorusefulpeoplewill
saymanythingsinordertopreventbeingmutilatedwithapowerdrill,whetherthosethings
aretrueornot.ThepowerdynamicestablishedbetweentheprisonersandtheCIAinthis
situationisoneofcompletedominationandsubservience.Giventhatmanyoftheprisoners
wereconvictedorsuspectedterrorists,manyofwhomwerelikelytohavebeenwillingtogive
uptheirentirelivesforthesakeofcarryingouttheirmission,itisfarfetchedtobelievethat
torturewouldbeaneffectivemethodofinterrogationandthedataagreewiththisargument.
Thisviolenceagainstanenemycombatantaftertheirhavingbeenneutralized,regardlessof
theirinitialintenttodestroyordisrupt,exhibitsdehumanizationanddevaluingofbasichuman
dignitythesamebasicchargesleviedagainstthosewhomtheytortureagainstalleged
enemiesatthehandoftheUnitedStates.IfagenciessuchastheCIAdesiretomaximize
theirefficacyininterrogationandpromotingthesafetyandhumanityofallhumans,theymay
wanttofindadifferentwaythanphysical,psychological,andemotionaltortureto"enhance"
theirmethods.


SexualViolenceinBurma:RapeasanIntimidationFactor
AreportbytheWomensLeagueofBurma(WLB)saystheuseofsexualviolenceis
sowidespreadinethnicminorityareasthatabusesmayconstitutewarcrimesandcrimes
againsthumanityunderinternationalcriminallaw.TheWLBreportsthattheBurmesearmy
systematicallyusessexualviolenceagainstwomenincludinggangrapebysoldiersto
demoraliseanddestroythefabricofethnic[minority]communitiesandestablishcontrolover
resourcerichareas.Highlighting118incidencesofrape,gangrapeandsexualassaultin
bothceasefireandnonceasefireareasatthehandsofBurmasarmedforcessince2010,the
reportprovidesdamningevidenceformajorhumanrightsviolationsbutnotesthatthese
figuresarelikelytobeafractionofthenumberofabusesactuallytakingplaceduetoa
prevailingcultureofimpunityandintimidationpreventingwomenfromreportingthecrimesor
seekingredress.Thearmyarenotinterestedinaccountabilityforsexualviolenceorhuman
rightsabuses,theLahuWomensOrganisationsaysinthereport.Ifacaptainorcommander
commitsrape,theywillgotothesurvivorshousetoapologise,andoffersomecompensation.
Eventhehighestrankingofficersaredoingthis.Ifagangrapecommittedbyagroupof
soldiersismadepublic,theywillquicklybemovedtoanotherbasebeforetheycanbeheldto
account(TheGuardian).
Rapeisdehumanizinganddegradingbydefinitiontakinganotherpersonasanobject
againsttheirwillforthepurposeofexploitingandintimidatingthemdeniesanotherpersonof
theirdignityandrighttocontroltheirownsexualactivity.Wheneverabuseofthissort
happensatthehandofagovernmentparty,however,theactmaybeevenmoreheinous.De
factosanctionedrapeoccurringatthehandoftheBurmesearmyisadirectattackonthe
humanityandworthofethnicminoritycommunitiesinwhichitoccurs,anddehumanizationis

oneofthefirststepstomasskillingsandgenocide.Giventheresourcefulrichnessofthe
areassomeofthesecrimesarehappening,itcouldverywellbethatoneofthenextstepsin
thenaturaltrajectoryofdehumanization,intimidation,abuse,andrapeisslaughterona
massivescale.Onceacommunityhasbeendevaluedtothepointofpermittingrapewithout
consequence,howmuchfurthermustthingsprogressbeforetakinglivesisokay?Stepsmust
betakeninthissituationtoholdthesoldiersaccountableforanypastactionsandtrainfuture
militarypersonnelinthesociologicalaspectsofenforcinglegitimized,earnedcontrolovera
territory.Rapeasanintimidationorscaretacticdoesnot,attheend,leadtotrueloyaltyor
respectamongcitizens.

ViolentDiscriminationAgainstReligiousMinoritiesinIndonesia
ReligiousminoritiesinIndonesiaarehopingtheactionsofPresidentJokoWidodo's
administrationwillhaveapositiveimpactonthesituationofreligiousminoritiesinthecountry
withtheworld'smostMuslims.Aseniorpoliceofficialpledgedtotoughenthestanceagainst
religiousintolerance,whichhumanrightsgroupssaywereignoredundertheadministrationof
formerPresidentSusiloBambangYudhoyono."Theprotectionforminoritygroups,beit
religiousgroups,tribesorracesmustbeconductedoptimally,"saidpolicerepresentative
RonnySompieinaninterviewwiththeJakartaGlobenewspaper.Duringthedecadelongrule
ofYudhoyono,rightsactivistssayhefailedtoprotectminoritiesinIndonesia,asviolence
againstthemrosesteadily.IndonesiaistryingtoreininthesentimentsoftheSunniMuslim
majority,whohavebeenaccusedastheperpetratorsofthreatsandviolentattacksagainst
religiousminorities.SomegroupsofSunnishavealsobeenaccusedoftrumpingup
blasphemychargesagainstleadersofminoritygroups.

Dividingpowerandprivilegeunevenlyamongracial,gender,religious,oranyother
demographiclinesleadstothedominantgrouptakingadvantageofthesubservientgroup.
Thishasbeendemonstratedthroughoutworldhistoryinmanyways,notonlyagainstreligious
minoritiesinIndonesiabutalsowithblacksacrosstheUSAfromJamestownColonyon
throughuntiltoday,occupiedPalestiniansintheWestBankandtheGazaStrip,anda
multitudeofotherexamples.Onlywhenactivemeasuresaretakentopromoteandprotectthe
rightsofminoritygroupscanminoritiesexperienceanythingclosetothesamerightsasthe
majority.MaybetheWidodoadministrationwilldosomethingtomeasurablyimprovethe
situationinIndonesia.Itisclearthat,sincetherightsofminoritieswerenotprotectedunder
Yudhoyono,awideninginequalityhasprogressedoverthelasttenyears.Changingasystem
neverhappensquickly,nordoesithappenovernightittakestime,butifactivemeasures
areputinplacetopromotetruetoleranceandrespectandenforcedbythosewhoholdpower,
opportunitywillincreaseforthosefromtheoutsidetogainaccesstothestructuresthathave
oppressedthemforsolong.

NorthsideViolenceinChicago
ABC7NewsinChicagorecentlyreportedonafatalaltercationinvolvingMokaram
Rauf,whowaswalkingwithhisbrother,Muhatir,whentheywerejumpedinRogersPark.
Muhatir,a23yearoldpremedstudentatnearbyLoyolaUniversityandrecentNorthwestern
Universitygraduate,wasfatallyshotduringtheattemptedrobberyFriday,December5th.
Whenwetalkaboutmovingon,itisnotaboutplayingtheblamegame.It'snotaboutcatching
theperpetratorsandlettingthatbetheonlything.It'saboutunderstandingwhythis
happened,MokaramRaufsaid.Weseethisbrutalactasbeingsymptomaticofagreater
epidemicofpovertyandviolencepervadingChicago.ChicagopolicesaidMuhatirbelieved

thegunwasn'trealandgrabbeditfromtheoffender.Itwentoffduringtheirstruggleandhe
wasshotintheheadandchest,policesaid.Noonehasbeenchargedinthemurder.The
Rauffamilysaiditisseekingpeace,notvengeance.AmemorialservicewasheldTuesdayat
LoyolaUniversity(ABC7Chicago).
ThisarticlebyABC7isperhapsthemostimpressivearticleIhavecomeacrossinall
myresearchforthesecasestudies.Mokaram,thebrotherofthemanslaininthisrobbery,
hasoneofthemostwelldevelopedperspectivesonthecomplexityofviolenceandits
multiplecauses.Ratherthanstrictlyexpressingoutrageatthefactthathisbrotherhadbeen
shotandkilledbynofaultofhisown,whichistragic,Mokaramspeaksdirectlyofthegreater
epidemicof
poverty
asbeingoneofthegreatercausesofviolenceratherthanmyopically
focusingonviolenceastheprobleminandofitself.Giventhatmostmediaaccounts
sensationallyfocusonthe
murder
orthe
shooting
orwhatevertheactofviolencehappenedto
bewithoutevenpretendingtoaddressthecomplexnatureofwhyviolenceoccurs,thiswasa
refreshingperspectivetoseeexhibitedinamajorchannelofthemedia.Beforethegeneral
public,particularlythewhitemajority,isinformedenoughtoengageanddialoguewiththese
issuesonanintelligentlevel,themedianeedstofollowthispatternofreportingnewsstories
relatedtoviolenceinminoritycommunitiesthelatterwillnothappenwithouttheformer.