Posted by: "charing ball" masafety@yahoo.com
Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:48 am (PST)
What can we do to reduce the number of crime incidents now and in the future?

Pay attention to the children.

Last weekend I had the pleasure to watch the entire 4th season of the popular HBO "The Wire." I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it all but I have to say that this show was dead on in its analysis of why are city, and country for that matter, is in big trouble. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about I'll give a brief description: this season show focuses on the lives of four young Baltimore friends who are in their 8th grade year of schooling. All of them attend public school in Baltimore and although good kids, are dealing with their own set of unique problem which get complicated even more by the absent of positive adult role models and the infiltration of adult problems in their lives. What was even more fascinating about this show was how it explain that the decision that are being made (from the streets, to the police, to the parents and all the up to the top political offices) have a direct effect of what ultimately happens to them.

Recently we had another break-in at the playground in which I sit as an advisory council member. They took our television that was just donated, our refrigerator, our computers and completely trash the place. Our five member council has been working hard to bring activities and funding to this playground and it angers me when things like this continue to happen. Forget the material stuff, that can and will be replace, but it just another example (along with the graffiti, broken beer bottles, and even good neighbors letting their dogs do their business where they play) of how little consideration anyone gives to what we do and how it effect the littlest among us who need us to protect them.

Let's just be frank here, these kids today are living complex and complicated lives. They have greater access to information, which means more questions. There living is drug and violent plagued environments and their angry because of it. And who can they go to? The overworked, overstressed parent who can't make time for their child but to appease their guilt buys them expensive clothing and places a PlayStation in their face. Maybe its the politician and other leaders who talk about the children and do things in their names in public but cuts school budgets and writes off vital programming for their benefit behind the scene. Maybe its the drug-addicted mother or the father who doesn't work and is more concerned about what's happening out on the street than whether or not their child has had any breaks fast this morning or clean clothes on their backs. Maybe its the burnt-out teacher who bleeding heart has turned cold after years of teaching standardize test in order
to make sure these schools maintain the little funding they have.

I Once heard someone say that there is something wrong with these kids today, their disrespectful and we should just lock them up. There's nothing wrong with these kids, there just doing whats in their little capacity to do in the circumstances which has been handed down to them. They didn't make these schools the way they are. They didn't bring these guns and drugs into the community. And we don't really believe in them because all we can think to say to them is how messed-up their generation is. Rarely are we teaching them that its okay to dream about being lawyers or doctors, so they settle for being paralegals and nurses assistants (that's if they even have a career goal). And if the only answer we can give them is to lock them up, than the reality is it something wrong with us.

And although laying the foundations for these children's lives begins at home, it does not exclude our society's total responsible for their growth. For every neighbor who has watched a child do something wrong and not step in OR only speaks to a child when their doing something that adversely affect them or their property, we at fault. For every teacher who passes children from grade to grade knowing full well that they can't read, write or count, we are at fault. For every budget cuts on schools, department of recreation and social services that we allow to happen and say or do nothing, we are all at fault. If we want these kids to respect us than let's become respectable adults.

Sorry for the soapbox and I know my thoughts are all over the place, but right now I'm very frustrated. As hard and frustrating it is sometimes, I am not ready to concede. And I'm asking everyone to join in. The new year is coming up, make a pledge to do something that will positively affect a child's life. Volunteer at rec and community center and teach them something new; host a teen-center block party in your community, join your home and school associations, say something positive to a child (besides the "GET OFF MY STEPS"). We have to encourage and inspire them to be bigger and better than their circumstances. And sometimes we have to step back and let them take the lead.

If we are really serious about doing something about crime, than lets let fight to cut the truancy rates and increase the high school graduation rates.

Thank you for listening,
Charing Ball