Vandalism – A Loser’s Hobby

 

We can thank Ancient Rome for the term Vandalism.  It was used to describe uncivilised barbarians of the time of The Great Empire.  Vandalism is wilful or malicious destruction, injury, disfigurement or defacement of any public or private property. Vandalism comes in many forms and robs citizens of time, money and personal property.  Types of vandalism include:-

 

·         Wilful destruction of public buildings, such as schools and Village Halls.

·         Malicious damage of private property.

·         Damage to abandoned building or house under construction.

·         Everyday negligence including gum under seats, graffiti, carpet burns in public places, etc.

·         Unreasonable Halloween pranks.

·         Arson.

·         Road-sign repositioning.

 

My school, Our school, the Bishop Heber High School, has recently come under attack by vandals wielding that feared weapon of destruction – The Spray Can.  When the pupils of our beloved establishment woke up on Monday morning fresh from dreams of a heavenly week of mind expanding lessons they were not prepared for the horror that they were about to encounter.  Instead this dream was shattered by the demon that is Graffiti.  Written in the colour of the Devil himself, the seemingly random squirls, obscenities, insults and crude diagrams of sexual organs puzzled students and distressed them.  Nothing could have prepared them for the terror they were about to encounter.  Taunts of ‘2PAC’ and ‘Westlife’ still bring some close to tears.  The thought of their school being defaced is too much for some of us to handle. 

 

These inhumane acts of insanity plague society, causing unnecessary strife and upset.  Does  their selfish moment of glory and power justify the sorrowful emotions felt by the victims of these terrible crimes?  Some ‘easy-going’ people may argue that vandalism forms, like the cheeky snapping of the Tri-Star of their neighbour’s Mercedes Benz, is a humorous, harmless expression of the need to challenge corporate giants.  This may be well be true, but it cannot apply to all types.  The movement of road-signs cannot be considered legitimately comical for example, due to its extremely dangerous consequences.  The ‘SLOW BRIDGE IS OUT’ sign is essential in alerting a driver to the hazard that lies ahead.   But the consequences quite often do not cross the mind of the vandal, before or after their ‘achievements’.  For those that do realise, it is frequently a source of motivation. 

 

Vandalism is a problem faced by many on a daily basis, easy to do difficult to clean up and prevent, it is a hobby that needs wiping out for good.  Is vandalism a problem in your country/at your school?  The Motley Crew, that terrorised OUR school, MY school, the Bishop Heber High School have groups similar to them all over the world.  Lets hope they learn to control their emotions and feelings and learn to express themselves in a mature manner.

 

 

Email me Chris Mooney at:

 

christhesmoothbacon@fantasyhouse53376.freeserve.co.uk