Letters to the Editor
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Gun Culture, Yes. But Also Our Culture of Not Being Nosy
I've just moved to England, and I have to tell you -- Americans don't get involved with one another half as much as the English. So many people have told me, "if Katrina had happened in our country, and so little had been done at this stage, there would be OUTRAGE. Marches in the street. SOMETHING"
It's true. THE ENGLISH LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER. It's evident in their welfare and health systems (not performing well right now, but everything ebbs and flows with time). It's evident because they have STRICT gun control (which yes is being broken... but it's still better than the States). They even have a term for the nosy neighbor -- "curtain twitcher" -- because over-involvement with one another is so common.
If someone had cared enough long ago to stay involved with this wretched person's welfare, to make the tough calls, this MAY not have happened. Believe me, I am in NO WAY blaming the persons who knew this kid -- he was so scary from all accounts that I don't think I would have befriended him myself.
But a CULTURE of being more involved with one another, with the government as well as individuals caring and offering ongoing FREE assistance to kids who fall through the cracks... with a culture where every person you meet is so damn nosy that they would actively TELL YOU how to get help if not TAKE YOU THERE....
It may lessen the numbers of these kids who finally get here.