No it's not how poor you are, or what area you live in - there seems to be no pattern to any of it, the kids come from all backgrounds, rich poor, nicer area's, well known bad areas, some turn out to be top lawyers despite the fact they live in a really bad area, others turn out to be hole digging, but honest decent human beings, the same applies to wealthier areas where gang culture is just as rife.
It just seems to be 'cool' to adopt this way of life, that and kids are terrified to turn down very quickly established gangs, I don't know what is going to be done about this, simply because they are now established, they just suddenly 'sprung up' - the wall of silence is there and the police can't bring anyone to justice without evidence, and none of these kids are going to give evidence against someone who is willing to kill an innocent 11 yr old in cold blood, what would you do in their place?
Guns are illegal and believe me the sentencing for anyone caught will be tough, really tough.
I don't think we blame rap or any other time of music, we tried that with the punk rockers and mods etc - most of them turned out okay despite their troubled teenhoods, it's time to look at society as a whole
1stly scrap the children's right charter, it has caused more harm thean good, kids spend their lives satying "you can't touch me, I'll sue you" this means they can hit, punch, swear, treat their parents, teachers, police or anyone else in authority how they please, knowing there is nothing these ppl can do to protect themselves because they are right, there is nothing we can do without ending up on an assault charge
we need to go back to basics!
this is JMO - families don't go out for the day together anymore and visit the zoo, kids dont go to army cadets or join chess club, they don't even sit down to eat together anymore, it's just not cool, they'd rather be hanging the streets with their friends smoking weed and putting a stamp on their status.
The devil - hmmm, do you know what I think the devil is? The internet......how many children only ever see the back of their parent's heads? with the odd mumble at them as they try to concentrate on their msn conversation? that's why i haven't been here very much, I wait until the kids are out paying, or in bed asleep, unles I'm working of course, then I set aside time for that which they know I have to do - in return I set aside time to go swimming or something they might enjoy
I'm nowhere near where I want to be with either of my boys, not even close, but for now, they are out of immediate danger of becoming gang members *Knocks on wood* and are beginning to realise it's not okay to continue their behaviour, they still do even though it's not okay but it's getting less & less thankfully and they are even considering their future careers etc, but i wouldn't say that would work for every kid either, it certainly hasn't worked for the eldest.
I don't have the answers, all I can say from personal experience is get to know your children for the poeple they are, not the people you want them to be has got to be the way to go - then draw on that
And you're right, I am still Exhausted - but I'll survive that one :wink: