Originally posted by allhailIndia
I am referring to those who can get a gun easier than they can get a notebook ( not a phenomenon unique to the US mind you), I am talking about those whose parents spent most of their time in an alcoholic and/or drug induced haze and could'nt care less, if their kids lived or died.
Yep, and its just as easy for two white kids in a nice Colorado community to do the same. As well as anyone else with the will, can get a gun without much of a problem. Those two white boys in Colorado were not from "poor neighborhoods" mind you. They had "good" parents, and everything "seemed okay" at the time. It was only hindsight that people saw what the "little clues" these boys were exhibiting. Crime is not only for the "poor". Therefore my statement, The poor are not the only ones who can "go bad". Being poor is just a good excuse, for when that time comes that you stand in front of the judge and say "forgive me all my wrong doings, I was a poor black kid in a poor neighborhood, with parents that didn't care, didn't know any other way, I deserve a second chance" Only to have them returned to society to start right back where they left off.
I am talking about those whose schools shut down because of no funding and no facilites.
Yes, I'm afraid this is all too true, yet no one wants to stand up, take notice AND do something about it.
I am talking about those whose morning started with the words, "Thank God I am not dead!"
Well I can't say I ever woke up to that feeling. But then I came from a "middle class" family, so you were expecting that. But you want to know what I did say each morning from the time I was 12, and up until about 3 years ago (yep,
18 years )? "God, why aren't I dead?" Its not only the poor kids that go through pain, anger, trials, feeling alone and helpless, not knowing where to turn. Believe me I was there for 18 YEARS! Yet, I found the strength to go on, not give in! It is in everyone! Wether or not they are poor, rich, white, black or purple. Its there if they take time enough to look for it. But the mindset is already in place, its been there for decades. "Its not my fault I did these crimes, my childhood was hell, I didn't know any better." Well I'll tell you what, my childhood was not heaven for me, that does not give me a warrent to go out and commit any crime without penalty.
It is very, very easy to sit in a reasonably comfortable home, in a reasonably safe environment, where police sirens are the exception rather than the norm and talk about how poor, black kids should raise themselves out of poverty. I also lay the blame squarely on that portion of the black community, which has access to wealth and power, yet does little for those much , much less privileged.
You are correct on a few things but before you consider me sitting in a nice high scale neighborhood, maybe you should find out more about me. "Luckily" for me and my family are "Lower middle class"! Yep, not "rich" not even "Upper middle class"! This still gives me know warrant to go and steal some CD, just because, I'm "hungry and can't afford it." <sigh>I've been hungry before, trust me on this one, but I never felt the need to steal from anyone because of it. Also, in no way am I saying its only the poor black boys, there are pleanty poor other boys out there in the same situation. But those white boys do get to use that "I'm just a poor white boy" excuse, for some reason they are not allowed to use it, it never sticks! The mindset is cast! And they are using it for all its worth!
As an example, in South India, when the backward caste movement began, the previously maligned untouchables did not sit back and wait for the govt. to do something. Those among them who had wealth and status, did not forget their roots, but went back and set up colleges and hostels for youth and primary schools for children. Even today, most of these institutions prefer those of the backward castes for admission as against any other caste. Result: All South Indian state have literacy rates well above the national average and the politics here, is not the monopoly of the high castes. Similarly, crime levels in the four South Indian states and their larger cities are much below the national average as is life expectancy. Kerala, even has life expectancy figures, near those of European countries and the USA.
I agree with you on this one. There are those out there that sit and moan about it, yet do nothing! Therefore the reason I said we need someone (preferably with power, if I did it people would laugh at me and keep on walking) to stand up, take notice and DO SOMETHING!
She took to crime to avenge her humiliation and deprivation.
And these kids take to crime because they are "poor" I'm sorry but that doesn't convince me of a good reason.
It is arrogant to say that just because they get charity, they have no right to complain.
NEVER did I say they didn't have the right to complain, NEVER. But to sit and dwell on it day in and day out, to be taught the phrase "its not your fault your poor" from day one is an entirely different thing. But I will tell you, those moms that bring their kids into the shelter for food and a bed, ALWAYS say thank you, over and over again, and they are told "you're welcome" and "no problem" all the time! Yet the minute they step outside the shelter they get ribbed and made fun of by the same people who share their situation, who refuse to seek help because it makes them seem weak. The excuse breeds in some unfortunately.
These kids also want dignity and power, and if a gun is going to bring it about, then so be it.
Yes some do turn to violence. But there are also the ones that go down to the YMCA and play basketball. It all plays into how oneself is made out to be by others. And you are right, the parents and community are the ones most at fault.
Just filling up the jails with them isnt going to solve the problem anytime soon.
No its not the answer. There is soooo much that needs to change. But to let these kids get off with a slap on the hand because they use the "I'm a poor black child" defense irritates me to the bone!
