Godfathers And Gangstas: The hypocrisy of how we view criminals

Everybody loved "The Sopranos". The Mafia crime drama that captured the imagination of millions. Mind you, it was a well written drama with superb acting, and well rounded characters, and was good entertainment for those that chose to watch it. People couldn't wait to see the escapades of Tony Soprano, and revel in what sort of chaotic scenarios he and his crew were going to get into involving violence, extortion, secrecy, and other aspects that The Mafia lends itself to on a day to day basis. People began to like Tony Soprano as a character, and loved his henchmen within the family, and his tortured soul as he sought psychological help for his turmoil within. Women thought the men were hot, and men thought their activities, and how they carried themselves were cool to emulate. This is a complete carry over from "The Godfather" days of cinema where some of the most violent twisted minds and activities on film mirrored the actual members of the Mob, and their brutal activities were given life to the big screen. A funny thing has happened in both instances. There is some very strange romanticism about characters of organized crime that is almost borderline love and admiration. In real life, In the 1980's, Gambino Mafia Boss John Gotti was loved and revered by millions, and was almost a media star. He was dapper, cocky, wore the best expensive suits, quick witted, and slick..And the public loved him. But here is the problem: He was a murderer, extortionist, a thief of the highest order, and ran an empire of illegal activities that made millions off of the backs of innocent people. Someone who would make your stomach twist... But the public couldn't get enough of him. And in a way, that is sick.

Criminal behavior is nothing new in our society, and often criminals do things and hide in the shadows until they are caught. Most times the ones caught are the ones who either got greedy, or who were not smart. The most heinous acts are perceived as physical hands on brutality where there is bodily harm, or even murder involved. Where these acts occur is primarily in the poor urban neighborhoods and performed by violent folks who are desperate, and desensitized to the extreme conditions around them. Kids in gangs, "Gangsta wannabes" jacking cars, robbing people, and stealing items while conducting low level turf wars, and drug deals. There is no romanticizing these folks in the public eye. They are considered the lowest forms of humans on the earth. The urban jungle is their wasteland, and without them, most in our society say that life in America would be much better. Funny..They are doing exactly what the Mob does, but only on the ground level, and with less desire to look like legitimate businessmen in the process. Car jacking, murder, and physical robbery, are the exact same things as racketeering , whacking someone, and extortion. But without the romantic aspects of honor involved. Widespread drug distribution across state lines ordered by a Don in a suit is perceived to be less heinous than small time drug distribution within neighborhoods perpetuated by thugs in hoods. They are exactly parallel.  Strange? Or are few and far between giving this issue thought?

There is somehow some weird noble aspect of organized crime that people want to be close to, or are fascinated to watch. I myself am a big reader of Mafia history, because I am fascinated with history in general, but there are people who admire this aspect of psychopathic criminal behavior because once again there is an aspect of the perception of class, and ethnicity involved. No one wants to point that out but I will. An Italian member of the Mob, despite all of the investments into illegal activities, physical threats to people, engaging in and conducting themselves within a system that is designed to make illegal money, is considered a possibly honorable individual. Why? Because of the illusion of honor. Someone has to get "made", someone has to take an oath to the "Family", and there is a bond of loyalty subscribed to..it's an illusion because it's crime in $700.00 suits, and not crime in $150.00 sneakers. The only difference between "Organized" crime, and "street" crime whereas acts are concerned, is that the orders given from the top down, to the actual deeds in organized crime, are a much longer chain of command. In Street crimes, one or two are making a decision to commit a crime. a Black kid in the ghetto has no "La Cosa Nostra" that kisses him on the cheek for making the cut. No "Family" name that he becomes affiliated with that has a history. No house that he runs his operation out of as his wife takes care of kids, and no mistress that he sees and pays for, while supplementing her lifestyle. He steals, he may murder, has no empathy for others, and doesn't care about anything but himself. But the strange thing is that exact mentality and those actions take place in the organized arena. The Big shot fantasy is reserved for crime on a higher perception scale, and many people don't even realize that they are perpetuating that fantasy. Yes, there are the funny jokes about someone Italian being in the Mafia, or friends coming to break kneecaps, but that is in jest. I am talking about the bigger picture of crime as it is in our culture, and how it is viewed by the people who view it, and what the attitudes are toward the people that are perceived to commit it.

This twisted way of looking at crime, and criminals has a negative result. It once again puts in the minds of people that organized people in suits are wonderful, and their crimes hurt no one, and are actually productive members of society in some sense, who happen to be complex people with values. And yet some poverty stricken people in rough neighborhoods are the problems and bane of America. It divides crime in our society, and someone who is a "Business man" can't be touched, while jails are stuffed to the gills with small time flunkeys.Truth is that there are complex people living in the streets also with tortured minds and who can't get out of their own way. Because they are poor, and the crime is dirty and street level, they are deemed dangerous. Which they may be, but just as dangerous as the wonderful Italian man that loves his mother, and engages in racketeering, and extortion.
 The most heinous damaging thievery acts of the 21st century so far, was committed by members on Wall Street wallowing in their own greed. Millions of people were affected by their irresponsible actions, and our romanticism with power, and our twisted perception of who commits crimes that are dangerous, has allowed them to go untouched. That is the total problem with the view of "Godfathers, and Gangstas". It is not a level playing field of perception, and the Mafia is in our lexicon of culture, where Capone is cool, The Godfather is an American dramatic achievement, and the Sopranos are a portrait of an American family that people like to see, and can identify with.Greed is perceived as good, and to have money, and power is the American way. There is no identification with "Gangstas". The general public reviles them, and incarcerates them in their perceptions, and eventually physically. My point in this is that the same thing needs to be done with criminals in suits whether it be on some drama, or in real life. These are criminals also who given the chance will murder, steal, and engorge themselves in expensive things illegally gotten at the expense of others. That is a fact, and just because they are 'Organized" doesn't make what they do less heinous.

This is once again a testament to how race and class are at the forefront of how people feel about other people. The criminals that have things are perceived as not really criminals, and they "earned". The criminals that have not, are that way because they don't want to work. A white individual driving an expensive car, and in a suit is perceived as a businessman, and has probably earned his assets. A Black kid from a poor neighborhood wearing sneakers and a sweat suit, and driving the same thing, is perceived as having stole something somewhere along the line.This is the romanticism result, where class conflicts with perceptions of crime.This is how a great deal of America thinks, and it is dangerous in a land where the truly biggest thieves are actually the best dressed, and considered the least dangerous. There is nothing wrong with enjoying good drama, or even having these aspects within the lexicon of our culture. the problem is when one doesn't understand just what they are romanticizing, nor the reasons for doing so. A criminal is a criminal. Whether it be at the corporate level, within the hierarchy of the mob, or if  it is on the streets of some urban jungle. That is the bottom line, and should be acknowledged as such. Understand just what you are romanticizing about, and who you are demonizing, and don't try to justify one over the other. To fantasize about a lifestyle of crime, enjoy seeing it portrayed, or look forward to a show that depicts it, is just that. A fantasy, and acceptance of crime, as it pertains to power, and status. Then to turn around and say that some street kid in a gang on TV or in real life is setting a bad example, is not only hypocritical but laughable.
The two items are the exact same thing. Both bad examples. One is just held to a higher standard than the other. And that is not only hypocrisy, but a crime in itself.