The Responsibility of the Community

Many people from many different communities have a hands-off approach to their surroundings.  If someone is being harassed in public, some people just walk by.  If someone is beat up at school and the staff does not know about it, most of the students who spectated to do not alert authorities because its "Not my problem".  Is this pragmatic approach of not helping others with their problems justified? The short and simple answer is no.  To elaborate, we live where we do in society in order to help each other and improve both our lives and those of others.  That is the essence of what makes us a town, city, or country.  Paying taxes helps the government make improvements for everyone.  However, that won't help the victimized school kid nor the family of the town drunkard.  People have a responsibility to help others when they do not share the same problems in order to equalize their positions.  It is true that helping others is a group effort and that getting between fights can be dangerous, but it is also true that group efforts start with an individual to ignite them.  Another way to think of this is "No one has to do everything… but, everyone has to do something. We all can do our part to have each other’s backs." One person needs to take the initiative in order for others in a community to help their fellow residents.  The civilian-to-police ratio is hugely disproportionate and it is impossible for everyone to be completely safe as a result of police work alone.  Community members must help.  Also, police officers are still human, thus their righteousness is not guaranteed.  The only way a community can be truly safe, is if its members take an active interest in ensuring the safety of their fellow members.  The lack of this characteristic in Pecola's community one of the root causes of its current harshness.

No help from bystanders

Sources:
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
http://www.ihollaback.org/resources/responding-to-harassers/