Why Vandalism? (1954)

this is vandalism in this case perhaps not too serious but wherever it happens vandalism may be the symptom of a sick in an unfriendly world these feelings may not show on the surface take Jeff Turner he doesn't seem odd and the care that most people would give to a pet as against it a typical gun every person is different with inner motivations of his own orphan not even known to himself in Jeff's hidden personality or many scars and many open wounds their causes are not easy to understand perhaps his home is at fault it's not that the dishes are dirty and the house is messy it's something much deeper perhaps the emptiness of a home that is lacking in love and affection but maybe Jeff Turner has become an outsider made so by complex circumstances which he himself can't fully control or understand even among others of his own age Jeff often feels left out in uncomfortable three outlets right all right somebody put him away I'll do it all right Jeff that's a gain of three ounces over the day before yesterday can anyone suggest the cause Wendy it could be to the fat in the diet mr. Cole yes yes it could be we have to consider that but what other causes might there be Jeff what have an idea uh I don't know well who can think about causes yes well maybe rightly or wrongly jeff has come to feel that everyone is against him outside Jeff just like any boy on the block but inside he is eaten away with resentment and a desperate urge to get even there are others at odds with the world but for different reasons here is done Cardiff not your call his folks have prodded and nagged at dawn until without knowing it he hates them and himself as well and EDD burger is a product of poverty made worse by the lack of family love and respect these are city boys but their's is not only a city problem nor all who get involved in vandalism necessarily deeply disturbed but wherever the natural warmth of human feeling has been turned to resentment by constant lack of affection and understanding there is danger of vandalism these boys are bored Amos mom what are you stalling for what's the hurry we ain't going anywhere let's be that you Fox a while what for these other jerks to listen to what the man er done got too much money I got two dollars two dollars maybe we can do something let's go to a movie or something what play and fun at all now what's differently than make let's do a movie hey maybe I can get my old man's car we can go for a ride can't get nobody to go with us what's a fun sure we can sure you get somebody like who I don't know somebody these are the seeds of vandalism boredom and inner resentment which lead to the destruction of property this is more than a simple matter of keeping the hands busy many people are nervous and fidgety but they seem to be able to control their actions so that they're not destructive in these boys feelings of resentment are too great to be controlled completely even when they themselves are not fully aware of their feelings although they have no plans at the moment these boys are headed trouble before the evening is over can this trouble be avoided how can brand ilysm be reduced can these boys be persuaded to take part in some community activity in order to help them get rid of boredom active boys clubs with strong leadership and community support might win their interest and keep them off the street the community has a responsibility here but so have the boys themselves they have to be able to meet the club halfway a club doesn't mean much if you won't join our schools tool in their after-hours activities as well as in the classrooms can do much in the fight against vandalism the sympathetic interest of good teachers and counselors can do wonders in making the world seem less cold and hostile what about the church a better understanding of right and wrong might steer these boys away from the direction they are heading but the key to the problem is in the family it is here that moral values are first implanting to be nurtured until they put down roots family friends community institutions all play their role in the complex process through which every personality develops into its own individual forum these boys many unhappy and painful experiences have come to feel resentful toward everyone hey there's a free movie the community center tonight ah those free movie yeah anyway it's always too crowded in there they're feeling isn't on the surface and therefore it's hard to overcome even when the community makes the effort oh the see the film tonight poets you know I work kind of busy tonight but a little basketball no you got planned well come in anytime yeah sure mr. gore look at that looks more like a prison in a school yeah Hey look look at that window go how about that take a look around it might be fun huh better not be too bad they catch us are you scared come on I can't hurt anything let's go but God walking by now might save these boys from doing things they'll be sorry for later but gods can't solve the real problem how to keep inner feelings from building up until they burst out in unexpected acts of destruction even so small a thing is an unlocked window may trigger an act of vandalism so what there's a rabbit in here Oh white bread come on my heck it's a lot hey wait a minute my house key it's almost all the doors in school let me try there any abuse feel fila talk to you oh I had my vows they're kind of dumb he likes me see see how he puts his nose up against me I wasn't sure carriers something I'm sure the song Hey look past papers your paper in your chest wait yeah I probably plum say how about that greater than everything yeah well we can fix that there goes old test hey cut it out why we're just helping jeff pants with that hey hey let me know well you stay there boy will miss it cold and sore when he sees it this is how vandalism usually starts not planned nothing to be gained or achieved destruction has boiled up out of hidden resentments and strikes out blindly against everything in its path hey Jeff look my rabbits my rabbits gone we better get I hear over my rabbit Morales ladakh Jeff without red fire what's going on here dead dead before the law you and you alone are responsible for the shocking appalling waste you've caused but we know today there's more to it than that you parents must share the responsibility for somewhere along the line you have failed your son you have failed to teach them moral value and by denying them the love security and the sensible longer which is important to every living being you have hurt them as surely as though you had denied them food I know that there are other factors to the school the church and the community all share in this important problem but the basic fact remains that you three boys are yourselves responsible for your abs perhaps our doctors our social workers and others on our staff can help you overcome the fear and hate which has brought two before this court help you learn how to live a happy and normal life nevertheless I have no choice but to sentence so ends another Active plan disease an act of needless waste and destruction