The past few weeks for me have been really hard emotionally for me to get through. Not because of anything personal, but because of the things that my job and my community have exposed me to. I never realized just how lucky I was until these past few weeks.
Working with parents and families in the community, I have a new definition of poverty. There is not having money and then there is flat out being poor in every sense of the word. No money, no food, no transportation, no spiritual beliefs, no support system, no education. There have been times that we’ve been down to pennies in our checking account with just enough gas to make it through the next paycheck… but we have always had some type of food in our cupboards, two cars to get us to work, a God who loves us no matter what and watches out for us and two amazing families who love us dearly and would help as soon as we ask. We have far more than a majority of the families in our communities do. And that is a hard pill for me to swallow. I’m trying to make a difference, but we have so many factors to go up against. There are those parents who work two jobs who don’t have time to be involved. There are the parents who don’t have the transportation to be involved. There are the parents who don’t care enough to be involved. And there are the parents who aren’t educated enough to feel that they are capable of being involved. And because the parents aren’t involved, the students get the message that school really isn’t all that important. ARGH. Our ninth grade class starts out 400 deep and by the time they get to their senior year, they are lucky to graduate with 200. WE LOSE THAT MANY KIDS! There has got to be something that we can do… if we don’t start working on a solution in the community, it is just going to keep going in a downward spiral.
Last night, the mister and I went to bed. Of course as soon as my head hits the pillow, I am dead to the world. But the loving and protective hubby heard sirens and made me aware of them. For about twenty minutes, we heard police and fire trucks going by our house. I knew something was up, but there really isn’t a way to find out since we don’t have a daily newspaper. Well this morning at work, a fellow tells me what happens and it ripped my heart into 100 pieces. Three blocks from our house, there was a drive by shooting that killed three people and injured five others. A family just sitting in their yard playing cards and visiting with each other was shot because someone felt the need to “represent”. A 20 month old girl died. A 21 year old boy… dead. A 45 year old man… dead. Absolutely senseless. It is being reported as gang activity, but I really hope that is not the case. I at least hope there was a motive in this... but I doubt it.
Its not that I am not familiar with gangs – they were in my old community and they are surely in this one. I just don't undersatnd them. People demand respect… and they think they can get it from carrying a gun around and taking other’s lives. They THINK people respect them, but in reality, people are fearful of them because of the gun. Well maybe I’m just way off the rocker, but I’m pretty sure that is where I lose respect for someone. If they have no respect for another person’s life, why would someone respect their life? Ralph Waldo Emerson said that "Men are only respectable as they respect"
Gangs don't appear very often in thriving communities. They usually take root in disadvantaged neighborhoods... communities that are failing. The whole community. Not just the parents who aren't supervising their kids. The community that offers no center for students to spend their free time in. The community that has no appealing jobs for those old enough to work. The churches who look the other way. The school that isn't effectively getting through to these kids. Gang members are usually not students who excel. They aren't successful in school, so they are looking for another outlet that they can fit into. We've got to figure out a better way... help them "fit in".
Okay, so obviously this all bothers me. I am saddened, fearful, and really at a loss. I want to make an impact, but I really don’t even know where to start… It is time to address it. We can't sweep it under the rug. This community is made out to be a sweet little southern community. Let's face our problems... admit that there is a gang problem and do something about it before another tragedy occurs!
Guess I just have to take one day at a time and ask God for the strength and wisdom to make a difference!
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