In our last class meeting we identified a number of barriers to the message of Econocide. The following is a list of barriers to the message of Econocide that we identified in class:
• As a society we are not nurtured to nurture empathy.
• We look at poverty and those in the disadvantaged
classes as just part of the natural order of things.• It's hard to even think or see econocide when Over-the-Rhine has received so much new investment.
• When we see econocide we feel shame and guilt, and no one wants to feel guilty.
• As a nation the dominant ideology is that all people can pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
• Many feel that someone else will take care of those affected by econocide--that it is not my problem.
• We don't especially want to talk about such negative matters.
• We feel that poor people are just lazy; that if I worked hard to get a head in life, so can they.
For this Blog discussion, we would like you to post additional barriers to spreading the message of Econocide. What other obstacles stand in the way of effectively communicating the message of Econocide?
Try and come up with two or three barriers. In addition, in about 50 words, discuss how a possible class OTR Campaign project might address one or more of the barriers identified thus far.
We will use the list of barriers that our class develops to help us think through class projects during our next class meeting.
Additional barriers to spreading the message of Econocide are that maybe people do realize that Econocide is taking place but they themselves are struggling and they feel that they do no have enough as it is so how can they help someone else? People could also feel hopeless, In fact, as we talk in this class I began to feel hopeless because there is no simple solution and the topic can be overwhelming. I think spreading the word about it through an OTR campaign is a wonderful thing. Maybe we could set up some type of volunteer group that works towards collaborating with the people in the neighborhood and listening to their voice , then maybe we could be their voice and make the changes happen for them. Another barrier is the politics involved. The people in power are the main barriers. I feel that we have to work hard to get them to compromise and develop empathy towards those that are low-income/ middle class. To get the word out about Econocide maybe we could go on NPR radio station and talk about what is going on , connect with the local media and let it be heard and bring people from the neighborhood with us. With an issue so massive I feel we should think massive and big scale about how to get it across to people in order for people to listen and actually want to do something about it. Maybe we need to point out that in a way it is happening to everyone and that it affects us all. and show how it will eventually affect us all as a society.
ReplyDeleteEducation is one of (if not) the most important issues in our nation. Through education people can excel themselves far beyond the barriers of the norm. If we can find a way to educate the people of the neighborhood about econocide and how econocide is taking over their lives, we can really make a difference in the neighborhood. There is no reason for us, as outsiders to come into OTR and say, something is wrong here. The people of this place need to know that for themselves, only they can truly change what is going on here. Through our projects it would be interesting to some form of rally, or gathering. I always imagined some form of a freedom summer where everyone can come together and learn. Through their participation they can look through their differences, and discover that they are all here for the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteOne of the blockades to the message of Econocide, and similar messages of advocacy for the poor and criticism of the pitfalls of the capitalist structure is difficulty in marketing; what are we selling? We live in a visual, consumer-oriented culture, and there is no profit in poor people. To many citizens, their very presence is a blight, a reminder of reality that they'd rather not encounter on the way to the bar.
ReplyDeleteMoney is surely an issue in this context as well - those who advocate for the disadvantaged will always have less of it. This handicaps the messengers of the poor and homeless in that there are fewer accessible outlets with which to spread the message. Also, specifically to Cincinnati, there is a conservative bias in the various media - the Enquirer, 700 WLW, and the local newscasts either overtly or more subtly seek to minimize the advocacy message in favor of the ideology of capitalism: all development is good, and any of the "economic others" are surely to blame for their own plight. So it is a war on many fronts, and advocates are generally at a disadvantage because what we have to offer is the benefit of caring for humanity - which in this selfish, materialistic, increasingly atheistic culture, does not resonate as clearly as blame-shifting and scapegoating of the economically disadvantaged.
I keep thinking about the fact that people have the to power to ignore. It seems to me that people who have power tend to do things that will benefit them and make them more money. If people can, then they're going to and they don't really care what it means for other people. And I'm not necessarily talking about 3CDC, (I don't know if they make money or not because they're nonprofit or something?) I'm just talking about the nature of people in general. I think people are greedy. So if someone has power and another person tells them that they're doing something harmful to someone else, the person is most likely going to ignore them. Especially if they don't personally know the person being harmed. In a way I feel that our greedy/selfish nature is potentially a barrier to the message of econocide. I feel like even the people who don't have power are a barrier in this way. They may not care about these problems because they only care about themselves. And I'm not saying everyone is this way, but I feel that some people really are. It kind of goes with the "it's not my problem/someone else will handle it" barrier from class. It would be nice to come up with a project that could get people to care and not be selfish, but I think that would be difficult.
ReplyDeleteA barrier I can see is the idea that there are "winners and losers" in every endeavor. We do not often see the middle way, or the compromises that can be made in favor of more than one class or group of people, and when we do, it might be too late to really establish any understanding between the conflicting parties. One could say the rich are the winners and the poor are the losers. Well segregation has not proven to solve any of these issues but only made them more prominent. Sometimes people are also afraid of helping others through legislation because of the mark socialism bears in our country. People misconstrue helping others as taking away from themselves. I do not think the elite understand how others have so helped them get to the top, sometimes. being able to examine our own lives and think about the privileges we have can sometimes be uncomfortable because it may cause guilt. But why not use that for something? We are an individualistic society, we have forgotten that everyone has something to offer. Offering of yourself does not take away, but enriches the life you are privileged to have. I think a great project could be showcasing how individuals who may be considered "losers" in society have been helped by those in privileged situations and not become a "burden" to them. I think there needs to be faces of the new and the old coming together working for each other, and breaking down the stereotype of winner and loser, and what it means to be successful in our society today (i.e. money or happiness, etc). Maybe some kind of side by side comparisons showcasing similarities as human beings and our experiences.
ReplyDeleteI think a big barrier to the message of Econocide is lack of education. A lack of education among the poor as to what services are available to them; a lack of education among the more wealthy people as to what gentrification is and what its effects are around them. I think that an increased awareness of what is really going on in OTR will be better for everyone. Even if no action is requested of the "new" residents of OTR, education at least makes them aware of what's going on and then they can do with that as they please. I believe that if people are equipped with the knowledge and the full truth, that they may make a choice to help invoke change.
ReplyDeleteSome other barriers might be
ReplyDelete- The belief that most of the lower classes problems stem from drug culture
- Another one might be that America’s middle class is having such a hard time, that they don’t have time to worry about other issues.
Where I’m from most poor people are categorized as being stupid with their time and money because they use drugs.
I honestly think that it is getting harder and harder for Americans to continue the middle class lifestyle. I think people do care about lower class issues; it has just become harder for people to live up to middle class standards. From experience, people in the middle worry about their image, and it can be socially damaging to them if they cannot afford to send their kids to privet school or have a nice house with a huge mortgage like their neighbors. Basically it’s expensive to be in the middle class and who has time to worry about other people when you are struggling yourself.
I agree with many of the barriers already brought into discussion. I think that overall these barriers come from the over-arching idea that there is a social divide and that divide is truly keeping others from stepping out of their class and helping the others. The social divide makes those in the upper class hesitant in a way. I believe that it is important for those of higher classes to realize the truth behind some of these poor communities and realize that the divide of class should not create a divide in people's interactions with each other. I believe that the projects that we are currently brainstorming in class will benefit the community on this issue of how certain social classes are treated and how they should be treated.
ReplyDeleteSome barriers that I have found most pervasive in any work with charity or homelessness is that people hold certain myths that deny any responsibility to others, such as: the money we give hasn't had any effect on poverty, or we have to completely eradicate poverty or why do anything at all. And the worst of them all, there is no serious poverty in the United States. All of these act as blameless reasons to refuse action and live in a mind-less way.
ReplyDeleteFor my project I will be working with the Econocide reading group to do some creative writing for the Zines. Also we are developing some public art projects that help make homelessness a more palpable reality. The latest idea that I hope we pursue is to give persons homeless mirrors instead of signs with catchy slogans such as, "Why can't you see yourself in me?" or other like comments. Suggestions would be great to help build this project!
As a nation the dominant ideology is that all people can pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
ReplyDelete^ I believe this to be a huge barrier in issues related to gentrification in the Over the Rhine area. I say this because as a nation we are extremely self-centered.
Just as life is challenging for us, life is challenging for others. I can honestly see why people have this mentality. Life is hard, we all have our own problems. It is okay in my eyes not to want to help others however it is not okay in my eyes to hurt others by pushing them out of the OTR area.
In the time that I have in this class I want to help others as much as possible. And I am excited for the opportunity to teach writing skills to those who want to learn. I think if we, as a nation, could somehow alleviate the feelings of fear that come with oppression then we will find the world in a much better state. We are all honestly in this together and like I said, I think it is fine if people do not want to help. However, it is not okay with me to add to the struggle of those who have less than we do.