De Bandit Mentality- Us and the Other

            Take a good long look at this picture*. It certainly seems bleak doesn't it, with the dilapidated buildings taking the forefront, and the promise of majestic high rise buildings behind showing promise of development. This picture* encompasses many different facets of urban cities, most of which is inequality. However, what i wanted to describe is something that may have escaped your look from the start, and which would be a key concept in the construction of the we vs. them, us vs. the other mentality which is fueled by vast inequalities in urban conditions. The FENCE. Often we take such things as security for granted, view it as a necessity, to protect us from a whole number of things. In Trinidad and Tobago, urbanites alike will echo the same sentiment, "We protect what is ours". Just by taking a walk in wealthy urban areas such as St. Joseph will exemplify the lengths to which we as human beings who need security go about to achieve it. I have personally seen houses with more burglar proofing than walls (will try to get a picture), and the variety of security measures abound (think broken glass atop walls, fences, fences with barbed wire, walls higher than the house, house with windows that cannot open because of burglar proof, with windows that show nothing because burglar proof block it up completely, video cameras, watch-dogs, watch-cats, watch-parrots etc. etc.). How many of us have seen huge " Bad dog keep out signs" on gates, when we know by experience that the old tanty there never once petted a dog much less to have one as a deterrent to the criminal element.

       Certainly, crime is everywhere, and consequent crime fighting measures are everywhere. Barrett and Hall describe and outline gated cities which are formulated with a primary focus on ensuring the safety of the inhabitants.  However, in urban cities, such a phenomenon is exacerbated, and often romanticized. The idea of a criminal element is one which is perceived by higher status and  higher income urban dwellers to be of a certain type of person (often homeless) , regardless of that person's back story or true motives. Homeless people have been subjected to a wide variety of counter homeless security measures (broken glass, fences, cameras, spotlights, curved benches etc.) just to stop their very presence in an area. So much fuss is made about the other and keeping the other out that we tend to forget the one nation mentality and focus more not on assisting these people (who are often forced into these "abnormalities" by conditions imposed over history) but instead on making absolutely sure they do not affect or threaten us.


     Therefore, even as security is becoming a necessity (sometimes not to deter direct threats but instead to offer some piece of mind), we cannot allow the security measures that we put in place override fixing the actual criminal element within urban areas. What are we to do; Live in a bunker as crime increases, or instead make an attempt to solve the crime situation for the better? Surely some of us must have heard about "back in the days" when doors were left open during the night; maybe impractical but it represents a type of security (i.e. no security) which was afforded to persons. With the dawn of urbanization and the affluence attributed to urbanization, urban buildings and the inhabitants, it has become a problem as these areas are specifically targeted, but is increased security the solution? If we continue to think it is, the time will come when we as actors in this play of who has what and who wants what, will be hindered and negatively affected by the strict security measures that will have to be imposed.

Security of Mind 

Jane closed her car door, and stepped into the porch of her newly bought house. She fidgeted with her jacket pocket, trembling, fingers grasping the keys numerous times and releasing them in nervous bouts. A noise, "tick tock" from behind,  caused her to produce the keys in an instant, with a hurried glance back at the supposed bandit, her mind racing,  a feverish nightmare of dread. The key slipped as it found itself slowly towards the first lock of the burglar-proof, her hand growing sweaty, breath coming in quick bursts as the noise grew in tone, as the footsteps fell nearer and nearer to her. Finally! The click as the burglar proof gave way, swinging open and offering a welcome reprieve. "Who in their right mind told her to buy a house here?", she thought. A grand house, in the middle of an urban slum, surrounded by thieves, ruffians, bandits and badjohns! Jane had never once met these people, never even so much of a glance, but in her heart, she knew, knew that these others were up to no good, and they presented a threat to both herself and her possessions. That was why she had insisted on the burglar proof, which cost as much as a computer to install, never mind the security cameras, which dotted the house and captured every angle. So much money, but all for a worthy cause. She rushed into the space between the burglar proof gate and the door, swinging and shutting the burglar proof behind her. "Idiot! Now i'm trapped like a bird in a cage, i've still to open the door!". The man approached with a cautious tap on the iron monstrosity, "Good day madam, We as the neighbourhood association welcome you with a gift of a tasty cake!". Her breathing slowed, from a feverish pitch to something in between that and normality, and her cheeks showed her embarrassment. Surely this was a plot to get entrance to her home? But no, it was not, for with all the security of mind that her house promised, it served to only exacerbate her fears; She realized:

"Too much security can be a bad thing, as it restricts persons from experiencing the world in its entirety, and can construct perceptions and fears about people that are completely irrational and unfounded. Caution, yes, but with rationality"











*Thanks Hannah.