The New York Times reviews The Brave One (Jody Foster's new movie). This is a tale of a senseless urban crime that leads a city dweller (and city lover) to fear the very streets she once roamed with relish. It's interesting to me that though the reviewer references the past, he (Anthony O. Scott) never references Bernie Goetz. For many people Bernie Goetz probably epitomized the urban vigilate who acted on the fear and anxieties of early '80s New Yorkers. He was the ultimate urban avenger (which I'm not saying was a good thing since he shot four young men -not minors- on the subway [ I'm linking to the wikipedia site, but I don't think it is totally accurate]) and is clearly part of the inspiration for Foster's character. Of interest:
The New York State legal standard for the self defense justification use of deadly force shifted after rulings in the case. New York jurors are now told to consider a defendant's background and to consider whether a reasonable person would feel imperiled if that reasonable person was the defendant.
This quote comes from the Goetz wikipedia site. To the best of my knowledge jurors cannot generally consider a defendant's past unless the the reasonable person was aware of that past at the time. [but please don't take that as any authority, or leagal advice since I'm not qualified to give either]. I also do not know if the above iterration of NY's law is at all correct (in fact, I suspect that it is not). But, Bernie Goetz is worthy of mention because of his rather iconic status. Although Mr. Goetz faired quite well during his early court forays, this was not the case when he faced the court later for the same matter. This has sometimes been (accurately I think) attributed to the tremendous drop in crime in the interceding years. People no longer believed the subway (or the city) as a war zone, and so they could no longer identify with Mr. Goetz's actions. Perhaps desperation breeds desperation? Buy it? Now you can see the movie. Others not to miss:
Taxi Driver (I stil find this hard to watch)
Alphabet City (pulply, but still)
Smithereens pre-Desperately Seeking Susan (and better)
7th Street TMNT, 'nough said
Obviously there are tons more (many from Woody Allen, but...), if you have any can't misses that deal explicitly with the urban issues, as opposed to other stuff, let me know & I'll see what I can do (though I'm clearly asking for trouble here).
So how does this stuff fit in with DC's "urban condition" to you (specifically around here)?
6 comments:
It's not commonly known but Bernie Goetz is a punk record collector.
Falling Down?
Jody rules !!! I'm glad that she is moving out of the victim to killer roles.
ok... out on a limb here, but i grew up in sao paulo, brasil.
talk about paranoia. the big deal right now in s.p. are 'carros blindados'. these are basically cars with bulletproof windows.
i've had a gun pulled on me (in s.p.), but have never been robbed.
in brasil, it's called "the secret".
it's all about karma.
if you think you'll be robbed, you will be robbed, murdered, etc.
the 'secret' is to not believe that you'll succumb to the street violence. i know that sounds naive, but, but it works.
if you're vigilant, smart, and quick, you'll be fine. the deal is not to be paranoid.
being scared is like a virus. it makes other people scared, and creates a situation that becomes almost uncontrollable. that's why wars get started. people are so scared that someone else will hurt them, the "pre-empt" and try to destroy the threat.
i live right off H street. i've had plenty of rowdy folks accost me. if you just see them before they get to you, you're golden.
if they get to you first, you simply acknowledge their predicament.
iy's pretty basic. folks are really just looking for some form of respect.
when you're scared and stupid, it just breeds their confidence in what they are doing.
just my opinion, but....
if you're vigilant and not scared, you have a much better chance of coming out 'alive'.
i.e. guy on H street....
he goes "what time is it?" very aggresively, with his hand in his pocket - looking side to side.
i say, 'it's time to go home, if you're lucky enough to have a home'.
he stops and stares, and i say, 'we all have a home'.
i go on, in a nonchallant manner, and he just walks away.
not that he was going to rob me, but hey, you have to be a catalyst for change.
if you give an opportunity for a person to rob or kill you, they will.
the thing is to 'be the bigger person'.
it works.
it's true that fear breeds fear.
that's why you have to muster everything that you have to break the cycle.
it's that, or .... nothing.
speaking of which (non-tangential thinker here....)
has anyone come across this older white lady with a 'hump' on her back walking around the hood?
i stopped by some kids in the hood, and was chatting with them.
they called her the "cat lady".
she usually wears a scarf on her head. they said she's been around here forever.
also, there's a woman that totally covers herself in black attire... inclusive of a face mask. like she's allergic to the sun.
anyone know about her?
i think she lives on 3rd street. right by senate square, and often walks along K street.
they've been here for a while.
they walk all over our hood.
maybe we should ask them what they think.
Tell that crap to the guy who got jacked up on Friday, by 4 youths with a gun in the 1300 block of H, at 7:30pm.
By the way, the cops happened to see it, and actually caught two of the robbers.
ok- i think poo poo may have gobe a little far with some of his Jedi mindtrick thinking. But I do agree with some of it. I have lived in the city- wandered around in neighborhoods where a little lady like myself may not have had any business late at night by herself. My "secret" is to look at everyone in the eye and to walk with confidence. I really do believe it makes a difference.
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