Archye Leacock, executive director of the Institute for the Development of African American Youth, which administers Don't Fall Down in the Hood, said the heart of the problem of youth violence was lack of opportunities.It couldn't have anything to do with the possibility that some of these young worthies are not only unemployable due to lack of skills and motivation, but would be downright scary and lethally dangerous liabilities to have anywhere around, could it Archye?
Rec centers? Ones that need to be open 24 hours? Is this where we bust into the chorus from "Gee, Officer Krupke"?
I'd ask where the hell their parents are, but that's pretty obvious.
It's also pretty obvious that imposing "gun control" on people who aren't out bustin' a cap --that would be you and me--will have no effect on urban youth violence other than ensuring a disarmed victim pool.
"Lack of opportunities." There are plenty of people in this world who have had less, and they haven't turned into sociopaths. Keep blaming everything but individuals refusing to accept personal responsibility for their freedom because they've fallen for the siren song of socialist policies and become addicts to them, Archye. That's "the heart of the problem," combined with false leaders keeping them from understanding this truth, like you.
"Lack of opportunities."
ReplyDeleteAnd that is the crux of the problem that we see today. Most people sit still awaiting "opportunity" to come to them. Which, granted does occasionally happen. But, is by no means the rule, rather it is the exeption.
Most "opportunities" are sought for, or MADE. It is part of the old "seize the day" concept. A concept upon which America was built. And, which was widely employed well into the twentieth century. In other terms, it was known as Self-determination/sufficeincy/reliance, and innovation.
When the above qualities cease to be the norm. Especially in a society governed by Republican principles. Then the following happens by course of nature;
"The average age of the world's great civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith from spiritual faith to great courage from courage to liberty from liberty to abundance from abundance to selfishness from selfishness to complacency from complacency to apathy from apathy to dependency from dependency back to bondage." - Alexander Fraser Tytler
Using the excuse of prior suffering in order to justify being "kept down" or "held back". Will only result in being even further "kept down" or "held back". Only, the one that can rightfully be blamed for the latter scenario. Would be the one utilizing the excuse to justify inaction on their part.
Life isn't 'fair', never has been and never will be. Not in this present world anyways. Almost ALL species of human beings have been "oppressed" at one time or another. Chinese, Irish, Germans, Italians, Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Women, etc.
The trick is, if you get knocked down. Get back up, brush off your britches, and get back to the task at hand. That IS what builds the TRUE character of a person. Self-pity and resentment is a destoyer, and mostly to the one that bears it.
Or, in other words; Get over it!
I don't particularly have any good sentiment for that crap. When I was kid we lived in a slum because we couldn't afford the rent for the Projects. At least that's what Mama said.
ReplyDeleteWe had an icebox, no refrigerator, an icebox. We couldn't afford ice for it. Guess what? No big deal, we never had anything to put in the damn thing. I can remember a quart of sour/clabbered milk lasting my sister and I for nearly a week, and on more than one occassion.
But, if we had stolen or harmed someone to take what they had, Mama would have beaten us to death or close enough that it would have been a relief to die.
But more importantly she explained that only people who had no pride wouldn't earn their way. Poor but proud is a sorry cliche, but many a successful human being made it out of poverty because of pride.
Opportunity my ass, when I was 13 I took a job grown men wouldn't do, because it was too hard. I weighed all of 85 lbs. but I goddamn sure loaded and unloaded those 300 lb blocks of ice with only a chute and a pair of ice tongs. Don't f******** tell me about opportunity.
Crybabies and weak sisters sit on their asses and moan about "never had nothin', never got no chance". A quadriplegic has a legitimate claim and the mentally incapable get a pass. The others are just full of it and I will never give a damn what happens to them.
If everybody else helps them, ok. I reserve my aid for those that like and respect themselves enough to try.
Harsh? Naww, out of respect for the civilities I didn't say how I really feel.
In the words of Cole Younger, "Any damn fool can get shot, the real trick is gettin back up."
ReplyDeleteWhen asked about his 41 bullet wounds amassed during his lifetime, 26 of which he received during and after the Northfield, Mn raid.
He may have been an outlaw, but he was man to always get back up as long as he wasn't dead.