The Connection: "Boyz N the Hood" & Cigarettes

[coberst]

The Connection: “Boyz N the Hood” & Cigarettes

Recently I watched for the third time the movie “Boyz N the Hood”; Friday morning I read “Big Tobacco Lied to Public, Judge says” in the Washington Post; and, of course, illegal immigration is big in the news constantly.
A federal judge ruled that tobacco companies have violated civil racketeering laws for decades while deceiving the public about the dangers of their product.
“Boyz N the Hood” is a movie about a black urban community wherein a father is trying to raise his son to be a man while simultaneously trying to play the role of ‘Dutch Uncle’ to other ‘boyz N the hood’.

Illegal immigration is a problem often seen on TV lately. It is basically about the absurdity of the actions by Congress, the White House, and industry as practiced in the United States regarding matters of border security, illegal immigration, general immigration, and jobs. This absurd dance has been on-going for at least two decades.

What is the connection among these three situations? The connection is that throughout our society we face multiple ills that are not a result of sun shine and rain like the daises growing in the field but do result from the decisions made by people who have the power to dictate public policy.[b/]

I suspect that anyone with some detective skills can ‘follow the money’ and discover that all three situations are controlled by the same group. Despite the will of the people these situations go on unchecked for decades. And they will continue to go on until the citizens awaken and begin to comprehend reality beyond its exposed face.

I am convinced my analysis is correct. Do you have the detective skills necessary in order to comprehend my insight?

 

[Mojo]

There's already a thread about this in R&P.

 

[Mephisto]

I did manage to remember some of Laurence Fishbourne's tirade to his young audience and it did raise some interesting questions.

A. Why are there no liquor stores in rich neighborhoods?

B. Why are there no gun stores in rich neighborhoods?

C. Why are "gang-related" shootings business as usual, but an assault in a rich neighborhood will start a mass migration of journalists?

D. Why are young people in poverty-stricken areas so ready to buy into the "gangstas be cool," mentality?

I'm not sure about the connection between cigarettes and "the Hood," but I can certainly picture all these elements in control of a select few who aim to keep tensions in the ghetto/barrio from overflowing into Beverly Hills.

(edited to add) I guess the only real justice is the fact that rich yuppies (does anyone use that anymore) have to go into dangerous neighborhoods for their dope.

 

[coberst]

Mephisto

In the role as Dutch Uncle Fishbourn indicates the belief that the powerful, who shape public policy, keep the black neighborhoods well supplied with booze and guns with the hope that the black community will self-destruct.

These same powerful groups who control and shape this policy for that community are the same groups that have supplied the whole population with cigarettes and lies not to destroy but for profit.

 

[Mephisto]

Mephisto

In the role as Dutch Uncle Fishbourn indicates the belief that the powerful, who shape public policy, keep the black neighborhoods well supplied with booze and guns with the hope that the black community will self-destruct.

These same powerful groups who control and shape this policy for that community are the same groups that have supplied the whole population with cigarettes and lies not to destroy but for profit.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, but that shouldn't surprise anyone - I'm the resident race-baiter here. There are some here who believe I should be elevated to Master status.

Profit propels nearly everything in this world and considering that those who delve out public policy intend to remain (conservatively) in power it's no stretch of the imagination (especially to the paranoid like myself) to perceive a profit-hungry conspiracy.

Unfortunately, it's fairly easy to distract most people - simply wave a flag or a crucifix in their face, or tell them that they are in danger from something or someone.

 

[Rob Lister]

I did manage to remember some of Laurence Fishbourne's tirade to his young audience and it did raise some interesting questions.

A. Why are there no liquor stores in rich neighborhoods?

B. Why are there no gun stores in rich neighborhoods?

C. Why are "gang-related" shootings business as usual, but an assault in a rich neighborhood will start a mass migration of journalists?

D. Why are young people in poverty-stricken areas so ready to buy into the "gangstas be cool," mentality?

I'm not sure about the connection between cigarettes and "the Hood," but I can certainly picture all these elements in control of a select few who aim to keep tensions in the ghetto/barrio from overflowing into Beverly Hills.

(edited to add) I guess the only real justice is the fact that rich yuppies (does anyone use that anymore) have to go into dangerous neighborhoods for their dope.

A. Assuming it's true, I'd guess a combination of diluted populatation desity and exclusionary real estate prices. Add in the likelihood of reduced area consumption and it adds up to a failed business.

B. ibid

C. Man bites dog

D. Lack of home training/more chances for bad association/commonality.

Edited E. Actually, the smart 'yuppies' have it delivered.

 

[slingblade]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, but that shouldn't surprise anyone - I'm the resident race-baiter here. There are some here who believe I should be elevated to Master status.

Can I be your trusty sidekick, then? and are they suggesting you should be a master-baiter?

In the White Identities class I was fortunate enough to take (had never been offered before, and likely will never be offered again), we talked about how when the school shootings were becoming almost epidemic, you'd see story headlines screaming "Kids Killing Kids!" Prof pointed out that in the inner cities, minority kids had been killing each other at school for decades, but it wasn't news until white kids started doing it, and why did we think that might be?

In areas in which there are defined racial clusters (a clearly established "black neighborhood," or "Hispanic neighborhood," as opposed to the "white part of town" and so forth), it is commonplace for the non-whites to leave their neighborhoods to go to work in the white part, but rare for whites to go to work in the black/Hispanic/non-white part.

We also learned about the distribution factor being spoken of earlier. Cigarette billboards were/are common in poor white and non-white areas, and non-existent in the "rich" side of town. Same for the liquor stores, pawn and gun shops, etc.


It surprises me that so many critical thinkers can see so much that is "hidden" from the average person, yet have such a hard time shifting their gazes to see this.....

 

[Mycroft]

Mephisto

In the role as Dutch Uncle Fishbourn indicates the belief that the powerful, who shape public policy, keep the black neighborhoods well supplied with booze and guns with the hope that the black community will self-destruct.

These same powerful groups who control and shape this policy for that community are the same groups that have supplied the whole population with cigarettes and lies not to destroy but for profit.

Can you name this powerful group?

Can you describe the mechanisms by which they enact these terrible policies?

If it's done for profit, can you demonstrate that the same profits wouldn't be made with different products?

What exactly would be the motive for making the black community self-destruct?

 

[Mephisto]

Can I be your trusty sidekick, then?

Sorry, no sidekicks allowed! It's equal or nothing.

It surprises me that so many critical thinkers can see so much that is "hidden" from the average person, yet have such a hard time shifting their gazes to see this.....

Maybe they're too busy hurrying out of the neighborhood after work?

(edited to clarify) Maybe I should have said, after payday instead of after work, huh? Not everyone can afford delivery.

 

[Mephisto]

I guess I'm your huckleberry, Mycroft.

Can you name this powerful group?

Ummmmm, conservative and Republican businessmen?

Can you describe the mechanisms by which they enact these terrible policies?

Uhhhhh, hang on, . . . voting irregularities, scare tactics and insisting God is on their side?

If it's done for profit, can you demonstrate that the same profits wouldn't be made with different products?

Yeah, it's hard to sell crude oil in either the barrio or the ghetto, however if you give me a couple of hours I might be able to find someone to take it off your hands. It's hard to sell life-insurance on the wrong side of the tracks (or in trailer-parks), but not for the reasons you'd assume - people are barely surviving month to month, there is no future for them. You can, however sell lottery tickets, God or the belief that your government will take care of you on the poor side of town.

What exactly would be the motive for making the black community self-destruct?

I don't know if you've ever seen the movie, but Fishbourne was insisting that the point wasn't making them self-destruct, merely keep the more radical, easily influenced members in check.

 

[Rob Lister]

In the White Identities class I was fortunate enough to take (had never been offered before, and likely will never be offered again), we talked about how when the school shootings were becoming almost epidemic, you'd see story headlines screaming "Kids Killing Kids!"

There's probably a good, capitialist reason why the course was only offered once. A supply/demand thing, donnchaknow.

What else did you learn in this payed-for college course other than hate-whitey?

Don't tell, me, leeme guess...blame whitey?

 

[coberst]

Mycroft

CA (Corporate America) has developed a well-honed expertise in motivating the population to behave in a desired manner. Citizens as consumers are ample manifestation of that expertise. CA has accomplished this ability by careful study and implementation of the knowledge of the ways of human behavior. I suspect this same structure applies to most Western democracies.

A democratic form of government is one wherein the citizens have some voice in some policy decisions. The greater the voice of the citizens the better the democracy.

In America we have policy makers, decision makers, and citizens. The decision makers are our elected representatives and are, thus, under some control by the voting citizen. The policy makers are the leaders of CA; less than ten thousand individuals, according to those who study such matters. Policy makers exercise significant control od decision makers by controlling the financing of elections.

Policy makers customize and maintain the dominant ideology in order to control the political behavior of the citizens. This dominant ideology exercises the political control of the citizens in the same fashion as the consuming citizen is controlled by the same dominant ideology.

An enlightened citizen is the only means to gain more voice in more policy decisions. An enlightened citizen is much more than an informed citizen. Critical thinking is the only practical means to develop a more enlightened citizen. If, however, we wait until our CT trained grade-schoolers become adults I suspect all will be lost. This is why I think a massive effort must be made to convince today’s adults that they must train themselves in CT.


“Thomas R. Dye, Professor of Political Science at Florida State University, has published a series of books examining who and what institutions actually control and run America. to understand who is making the decisions that affect our lives, we also have to understand how societies structure themselves in general. Why the few always tend to share more power than the many and what this means in terms of both a society's evolution and our daily lives. they examined the other 11 institutions that exert just as powerful a shaping influence, although somewhat more subtle: The Industrial, Corporations, Utilities and Communications, Banking, Insurance Investment, Mass Media, Law, Education Foundation, Civic and Cultural Organizations, Government, and the Military.”
http://www.21stcenturyradio.com/12-dye.html

 

[slingblade]

There's probably a good, capitialist reason why the course was only offered once. A supply/demand thing, donnchaknow.

Oh, no, that wasn't the reason. I'd ask you to guess again, but talking to some folks is like trying to teach pigs to sing.

What else did you learn in this payed-for college course other than hate-whitey?

Don't tell, me, leeme guess...blame whitey?

That's what I mean. Supposed critical thinkers whipping strawmen and other fallacies out of their shorts faster than Ron Jeremy at an orgy.

 

[Rob Lister]

Oh, no, that wasn't the reason. I'd ask you to guess again, but talking to some folks is like trying to teach pigs to sing.

Yea, whitey probably put him down.

 

[Mephisto]

That's what I mean. Supposed critical thinkers whipping strawmen and other fallacies out of their shorts faster than Ron Jeremy at an orgy.

OH MY GOD! You're a teacher and you know who Ron Jeremy is? I'm shocked! What about the children?

 

[Rob Lister]

OH MY GOD! You're a teacher and you know who Ron Jeremy is? I'm shocked! What about the children?

Perhaps she took a course on it in college.

 

[Tony]

In the White Identities class I was fortunate enough to take (had never been offered before, and likely will never be offered again), we talked about how when the school shootings were becoming almost epidemic, you'd see story headlines screaming "Kids Killing Kids!" Prof pointed out that in the inner cities, minority kids had been killing each other at school for decades, but it wasn't news until white kids started doing it, and why did we think that might be?

There could be many factors. Automatically jumping on the race bandwagon is simplistic and ill-thought. What does the evidence indicate?

In areas in which there are defined racial clusters (a clearly established "black neighborhood," or "Hispanic neighborhood," as opposed to the "white part of town" and so forth)

Because, as we've been told many times, it's racist for there to be a "white part of town" but perfectly acceptable for there to be a "black community".

it is commonplace for the non-whites to leave their neighborhoods to go to work in the white part, but rare for whites to go to work in the black/Hispanic/non-white part.

Now this is just bizarre.

Cigarette billboards were/are common in poor white and non-white areas, and non-existent in the "rich" side of town. Same for the liquor stores, pawn and gun shops, etc.

Because the rich can afford and exert pressure to keep that kind of stuff out of their hood. This isn't a black/white thing, but a poor/rich thing. That said, there are liquor and gun stores in the rich parts of town. Atleast there are in Houston . Do you think rich white high school kids drive to the ghetto to buy their booze? I never did.

It surprises me that so many critical thinkers can see so much that is "hidden" from the average person, yet have such a hard time shifting their gazes to see this.....

I'm surprised that critical thinkers are so quick to blame stuff of a racist conspiracy theory. Your main evidence appears to be resting on the notion that correlation is causation.

 

[slingblade]

There could be many factors. Automatically jumping on the race bandwagon is simplistic and ill-thought. What does the evidence indicate?

Hon, I've played that before, and no one seems to bother to look at what I cite.

Because, as we've been told many times, it's racist for there to be a "white part of town" but perfectly acceptable for there to be a "black community".

The way I hear it is just the opposite.

Now this is just bizarre.

If you say so.

Because the rich can afford and exert pressure to keep that kind of stuff out of their hood. This isn't a black/white thing, but a poor/rich thing. That said, there are liquor and gun stores in the rich parts of town. Atleast there are in Houston . Do you think rich white high school kids drive to the ghetto to buy their booze? I never did.

Funny thing, how whenever I cite one example, people seem to think I'm saying it's the ONLY reason, or the SOLE cause, instead of what I'm really saying, which is it's one cause/reason of many.

I'm surprised that critical thinkers are so quick to blame stuff of a racist conspiracy theory. Your main evidence appears to be resting on the notion that correlation is causation.

And here we go again with the red herring/strawman/insert preferred fallacy here.

You're making assumptions you can't back up with quotes from me, because I never used those words or even hinted at them. I'm not a CTer.

And you don't know what my evidence relies on, because you've obviously never looked at anything I've ever cited.

 

[slingblade]

OH MY GOD! You're a teacher and you know who Ron Jeremy is? I'm shocked! What about the children?

Darlin', you'd be surprised at who I know.

 

[Tony]

Hon, I've played that before, and no one seems to bother to look at what I cite.

No one? I've looked at all your citiations I've come across.

The way I hear it is just the opposite.

I'm shocked, SHOCKED!!! Everything is racism to you. It's racist if there is a white part of town, it's racist if there are black/brown parts of town and it's racist if you go the color-blind route and ignore race.

If you say so.

Can you support that assertion?

Funny thing, how whenever I cite one example, people seem to think I'm saying it's the ONLY reason, or the SOLE cause, instead of what I'm really saying, which is it's one cause/reason of many.

I was talking about the many reasons you cited in that post. Billboards, gun stoles, liquor stores and pawn shops.

You're making assumptions you can't back up with quotes from me, because I never used those words or even hinted at them.

What assumptions? Are not attributing those things you list to racism?

And you don't know what my evidence relies on

I said it appears that you're relying on the idea that correlation is causation. You haven't presented any evidence for your positions on this thread so far so how would I know. I invite you to present some evidence, some hard data, anything.