Graffiti is symptom of greater problem

Respect for our fellow human beings is taught to our citizens from the day they are born. In Camarillo, as in many other towns, too few have truly assimilated the message to respect all people. Respecting people demands that we refrain from unnecessarily harming them. As such, respect requires us to address the real causes of social problems and to seek effective solutions to those problems.

Vandalism is a crime arising from feelings of alienation. The vandal gains nothing from the crime. . . except a sense of retribu- tion for having been alienated from society, and perhaps a sense of community with some alienated group within the community.

Holding boundaries to curtail behavior which harms another is a necessary and compassionate part of community-living. No one should hurt another . . . or cause another to work harder without compensation (such as removing graffiti). However, holding bound- aries does not mean building walls. An effort to curtail graffiti which focuses on identifying more youth to foist into the criminal justice system merely shepherds more youth toward prison life. How wasteful of life, terribly expensive and ultimately wrong-headed. The dismal state of our California cor- rections system is a testament to that.

How about assigning a full- time social worker to the streets to identify and work with our youth with mental health issues? How about working to get effective, evidence-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs for our youth? How about a sober living home for our youth struggling to make positive life changes? How about implementing social and work programs geared for these alienated and troubled youth?

Respect is a two-way street. As the adults in the relationship, let's hold the boundaries with our youth while working to address the real problems, of which graffiti is a mere symptom. Elizabeth Rice Camarillo