Looking for Peace.....in the middle of a Cartel war.

Over the last few months Mexico has seen an enormous spike in violence in their Northern states due to some serious events.  One of the events was the action taken by the ATF ( Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Federal agency of the US) to smuggle in weapons into Mexico with the hopes of tracking the arms to Cartels throughout Mexico.  This is NOT the first time the US has pushed weapons across the border into Mexico in fact the US armed, what was back then, settlers in Mexican territory and advocated for them to fight against the Mexican government mostly based on entitlement issues these settlers had.  So as the news hit about the ATF the wheels of change started to turn slowly in Mexico.  I am sure that Cartel bosses started to look into how they got the weapons they got and made sure any connection between them and the weapon was erased.  But other things began to happen as well, bosses were getting picked up brought over to the US for prosecution and POOF! No one knows where these bosses are at!  They are not found on the Bureau of Prisons website which they should be due to the fact that everyone in Federal custody is on there and reports about their court appearances are rarely found.  Didn’t everyone know when John Gotti was going to court or even when Timothy McVeigh was in court and what correctional facility he was in?  I did because I looked him up back then and where he was and can still find his buddy Terry Nichols by the way he’s on the same unit as the Unabomber!  So why can I not find Edgar Valdez?  Who is he you ask?  He goes by the name “La Barbie” and was one of the most important catches for the Mexican government due to the fact that this man was born in the US from Mexican parents.  The reason I can’t find him is supposedly because Mexico has been working on his extradition to the US since Nov. 2010….really?!  All the other and lesser bosses were hopped right on over to the US within days and signed him over like lost baggage but why so long with Mr. Valdez?

Well Brothers and Sister it is simply because on our side of the fence there are too many “powerful” people that stand to lose a lot of money if this guy along with many others go down without a deal.  So a deal needs to be worked out first to make sure that the “powerful” on this side DO NOT suffer any consequences at all and dude gets to do as little time as possible and everyone walks away with their money…all of this while tens of thousands of people continue to die.  The US doesn’t care that thousands are dying just as long as it stays to the south of the Rio Grand.  BUT, there are thousands more dying HERE just at a slower pace than in Mexico so as long as it stays gradual Community Based Organizations can continue with their hopeless “stop the violence” campaigns while doing nothing at all…

Back on track…so how does this affect you?  Well it kind of doesn’t directly unless you do some sort of drug, have family in Mexico, bank at one of the institutions that bank role for the Cartels, vote for the politicians that won’t do anything about the drug problem in America, believe in capitalism, or live in the US.  Outside of that I guess it doesn’t affect you one bit!

The only reason Mexico is going through this Cartel war is ONLY because people in the US are addicted to drugs!  It has nothing to do with the Gangster Disciples or the Latin Kings selling the drugs it has everything to do with the fact that in this country it’s cool to get high and blasted regardless of economic status.  Hollywood is the biggest advocate for doing drugs everywhere from NOT incarcerating celebrities when caught with these drugs to making jokes about how if you haven’t been to rehab then you don’t belong in Hollywood.  It’s fun and games for them but it’s not for the parents of the youth that are killed for being a lookout for the local Cartel that is bringing you the Kilo of cocaine you need for your weekend party in the Hills above LA.  Every snort you take it cost at least three lives not including yours and you should be in civil court paying millions to the families that have lost loved ones due to your expensive habit!

America don’t look down at Mexico because they are suffering for your ignorance and one day that cycle will have to make a full circle and you will have to know what it’s like to lose randomly people around you. 

It is YOUR fault that people are dying.

Peace/AMOR

Gerardo

Looking for Peace.....in belief.

In building a relationship with an individual one tends to believe at the beginning that there will be hard times and good times and it’s expected but when things take an unexpected turn then your belief comes into doubt about that relationship.  See belief is very sacred to people because it defines who they are and how they want to be perceived by others.  Now that unexpected turn can be something out of the ordinary for you or for a whole society but what is important is how you respond to it.

I believe that Gay couples should be able to marry...there's that unexpected turn...

Rene Girard has a whole theory around violence and how the Bible is related to it and I find it interesting that people do not know his theory better.  I won’t go into it because this will end up being a whole book but I have my own version of what he talks about.

For many years I spent my time out on the streets mostly late afternoon into the very late night and I saw, heard, and participated in a lot of things that really would be frowned upon if I went into detail.  Your first thought has been “oh geez what did he do!?” and it’s that very first thought that becomes the foundation of response to what is being said.  Some of you have strong religious backgrounds and some of you would burn down a church if you could get away with it but the Bible would play a big role in this discussion based on the fact that I believe in the Almighty God and that I did certain things that are not very Christian like.  I could defend myself and go into detail about the “why’s” for what I did but then it would get nasty and I would have to be honest and say that the church gave me permission to do what I did.  GASP! Can it be true?  YES! It is true based on this short story:

Some years ago my cousin told me that at his church on one Sunday a gang leader had given his life to Christ and that it was a beautiful thing and the church rejoiced at this saving!  I was glad to hear of someone coming to some sort of realization of self and we went on talking about something else.  A few years later I realize that at my cousins church there was a man that looked very familiar from the hood and yes he was part of the hood a very long time ago and we knew some of the same people.  A couple more years go by and I start knowing someone that is a gang leader and we had to deal with something’s and as we developed our relationship he mentions a church on the Northside of Chicago.  It’s the same church my cousin went to…the gang leader then tells me that he gave himself to Christ one Sunday and tells me the story in detail and it was the same story my cousin had told me.  I didn’t say anything to him because I was confused by his actions of that day and his proclamation of his “born again” status.  As we got to know each other some more I heard a lot of hateful talk about homosexuals and how they going to hell.  Then that man from the hood that was part of my cousins church comes into the picture and starts sending everyone that is, knows, or talks to a homosexual to HELL! He says it with some much conviction that for a second there I thought to myself “this dude didn’t give his life to Christ he just found a new gang that gave him the authority to kill based on the Bible!” Now I know things about him and I know that he has not paid his dues as he should have so his allegiance to the church is out of fear nothing else.  But the thought that he thinks and teaches others to think that they have the right to send someone to hell based on their love for someone else is appalling!

What you may not understand is that these Brothers out on the street have a genuine anger towards each other and justify it with gang names, colors, and hoods and we look down on them for it.  But when a preacher comes around and pleads for them to find forgiveness in their hearts these same Brothers will think about it.  So these Brothers go into the church one day and they hear the preacher talk about how certain people are going to hell FOR SURE without a doubt in his mind and holds the Bible up while he says it, what do you think crosses these Brothers minds?  It’s been said to me that they think hate is OK just as long as you hate the right people.  I asked, who are the right people? And the Brothers will say “them homos!” Is that what we want these Brothers to think?!  Do we really want to shift their gun slinging into the Gay community? Wouldn't we want to teach them that hate is bad no matter what and gun slinging towards anyone is WRONG!?   It may not be your church but the institution of church has made hate OK and these Brothers see them all the same.

This brother that had given his life to Christ said to me one day that he believes that God punishes those that do wrong but if you didn’t have a vice and wasn’t a homo then all was well!  Then he went on to say that the reason Jesus was crucified was because Jesus did too much good…so yea go figure what he is being taught and what is been being enforced in this guy’s mind and heart!

The violence out on the streets have plenty to do with how the church teaches Right from Wrong because if there’s one thing the Brothers and Sisters respect out there is the church.  I know it is hard to believe but ask anyone that knows about the streets. 

It is the JOB of each and every one of us, whether we believe in the same God or not all, to make sure people are not hurt for being who they are regardless of what we are comfortable with.  Traditional marriages are not preferred by me because tradition has had its foot on my neck and the necks of my ancestors for a very long time. 

For Christian pastors to come out against Gay marriage in hateful ways then want to talk about “stop the violence” is like asking the Black Panthers to help open up a new chapter of the KKK!  

Think about it…

Peace/AMOR

Gerardo

Looking for Peace.....in your reflection.

When YOU look at yourself each morning who do you see?  Some people say that they see “what they do” rather than the actual person.  This image we have of ourselves can sometimes dictate how we act towards people or how we expect to be treated.  Here’s an example: if someone is used to having the same person open the door for them based on a title that they have the day it’s not opened that person will take offensive over it.  Depending on whom the person is they can act out in various ways but it always starts at the childish level.  Remember when you were in first grade and the first friend you made meant that you spent all of your time together in class and on the playground.  Then one day a new student comes into the class and one of the friends connects with the new student and now you’re not spending all of your time together…jealousy settles in and you give birth to the idea of getting back at someone.

How does this play out as adults?  It can play out in many ways and it’s not always about getting back at someone but sometimes it’s to show them that they always knew they were superior to you no matter if you even called yourselves Brothers.   So when these things happen how do YOU see yourself?  In my life I have, what main stream society would see as, the two extremes of “good” and “bad.”  On the “good” side I have plenty of pastor type friends from Anglican to Pentecostal and UCC to Lutherans.  On the “bad” side I have my Brothers and Sisters that belong to various street organizations better known as “street gangs.”  Up close these two groups are very similar and I have the advantage to see that because I am up and close and live in these two worlds.  What I find interesting is that the “bad” would rather not get into it with someone and avoid conflict but the “good” side loves to take jabs and treat people like shit freely without worry.  It’s abusive for the “good” side to act that way because they do it freely knowing that no one will take a shot at them or confront them in a hostile manner because it wouldn’t be seen as appropriate.  So as the “bad” side sits and watches the “good” side act like assholes the “bad” side asks themselves “so why is it that I am bad in your eyes?” 

Back in 2001 I found myself in a spot that I needed to make a decision about what side I would stand on and since the “good” side didn’t have the heart to withstand tough times I returned to my former “bad” side.  I was stoned by the “good” side when they found out because I was sliding back into the “old” me and it’s the same “old” me that they loved when I was around them so that they could feel important around other pastor types.  I sometimes wonder how many ego erections I gave to some of these pastor types when they could introduce me to their “pastor” friends and let them know WHO I WAS out on the streets.  So how do these “pastor” types of people around me REALLY see me as?  I guess we would have to ask them and for those of you that know me personally I invite you to freely ask those same “pastor” types that we know and see if they have the heart to give an honest answer.

So I guess the question now is how does Gerardo see himself?  It is a complicated question because for so many years I hid from my family and coworkers my dual and sometimes triple identity because I had to navigate through people’s ignorance.  So needless to say every morning I look into the mirror and I wonder who I will have to be that day.  Do I have to be the Brother/son to my family that keeps everyone laughing?  Do I have to be the protector for some ungrateful individual that only thinks of themselves?  Do I have to be the advocate coworker that fights for employees rights at the job I have? Do I have to be the Reverend that cusses to educated people on reality?  Do I have to be the Brother from the “bad” side that forgives endlessly the errors of my Nation to show it unconditional AMOR? It is not a dance that I created but the dance that people require because they cannot deal with the realities of life.  So what does this all mean?

In my mind I think that when the “good” side takes advantage of people they ought to have some sort of consequences because more often than not the “good” side gets away with being horrible people at everyone else’s expense.  Many of us “bad” side people have been treated horribly by the “good” side everywhere from not being treated equally to being lied to and used for their own benefit even if it’s for a moment.  Many times I have been asked to lie or keep a secret from people on the “good” side and sometimes I tell these people “Why keep it a secret?  Fuck it if they find out so what let them say something to you!”  All I get is dead silence due to their obvious fear because they want to think they can play on the “bad” side but they don’t want to go to hell.  It is like the stupid personal ads that say “looking for hot bad boy but without the bad boy issues I don’t need any problems in my life but want to know that you can kick someone’s ass or that you’ve gotten away with something illegal” That’s what some of these “pastor” types remind me of some insecure individual that wants to act, look, and sometimes talk tough but cannot deal with the realities of life.  So they seek out someone from the “bad” side so that they can be somewhat close to it but not have to deal with the reality of a hard life.

My life is far from being hard in terms of food and housing but I do share some equal concern around what may be coming down the pipeline.  I know that sounds vague and it’s not to sound mysterious on purpose but if you read all that I have written over the last few months I hope you can see what I am talking about.   

It’s easy to get lost in yourself because if you wake up and look into the mirror and smile without a concern in your life then it must be a painting of glory because our society is being torn apart from lies and hatred that it’s hard NOT to be affected in some way.  I know some people have concerns about their jobs right now others are worried about how to pay bills because their income is not what it used to be.  Family members might be sick right now and might have something that is hard to see a possibility of recovery.  A relationship may be in doubt, parents getting divorced, partner cheating on you, pastor is an asshole, there are many more…I’m not saying that you need to be sad every morning what I am saying is that you need to be realistic when you look at yourself. 

You are HERE right now with the ability to change what is around you and if you can find someone else that is feeling the same then the possibilities become bigger.  Every time someone had passed away in the hood be it a Brother or someone’s family member and there wasn’t enough to pay for the funeral someone was appointed to collect.  This individual would drive around the hood and talk to everyone and let them know that someone needs to be buried and we needed help and the money would flow in.  Sometimes other parts of the city would come by and drop off some money because they had heard about the sad news and within hours a collection of well over $5000.00 would be collected because it was needed.  Go to some of these places were the “good” people meet at and they got all sort of excuses as to why they can’t help right then and there for a good cause or they’ll say something like “why didn’t you tell me before!” with an expression of surprise!

Does “good” always look good?

Does “bad” always look bad?

So who do YOU see in the morning?  Are you the actual person you are looking at or are you the person that is worried about what someone might really see in you?

Peace/AMOR

Gerardo

Looking for Peace.....in $15million!?

I want to start off by apologizing to Pastor Corey Brooks for a misunderstanding, I did not in any way want you or anyone else to think that the cause you are working on was the problem.  The problem is in the obvious, two similar projects from the same city for the same cause from two people that met before but only one remembers the conversation.  I am not mad at you but I feel like there are some things hiding in the dark and if you stand back a bit from the issue your Political Science degree should kick in and see what I am talking about.  Mind you that I am NOT the only one that sees it that way because I have been asked by many people what was going on and their first question was, “did he call you to join you?” 

Let’s talk about people reaching out for a second…I was truly waiting for you to reach out since my previous attempts went unanswered and you were always unavailable to see me when you were on the roof top. You could have peeked over the edge and said Hi and told me when to call you but instead it was via one of your guys on the sidewalk through a phone call he made to you.  Why would you call other people about what I wrote?  Did you honestly think that making THAT phone call was going to silence me?  Did I ever say that I moved on the command of someone else?   

Just as easily you made that phone call you could have gone to my website:

( www.walkingtopeace.com ) and done the same thing if what I wrote really bothered you. I was prepared to publicly apologize if needed because as a man of God I am always able to stand correction.  So when I sat down with some of my closest people and told them what had happened they all asked, “Why hasn’t he called you?” Then one of them said “well he must be hiding something if he is unwilling to talk about it with you!”  I’m not going to accuse you of hiding anything but will say that you must have not researched very well and that does happen.  The significance in that is when one is doing something like this you don't want to hinder someone else by doing the same thing.  I searched for 12 hours before I bought the website 2 years ago and started planning and since then I keep my eye open for others doing similar things so I could reach out to them...maybe I'm the only one with a conscious...

So now let’s talk about the building you are looking to put right across the street from your church…$15million!  WOW!  I know of some buildings not far from downtown that go for less so why $15million what makes it that price?  See what I am trying to get at is that how is it that ANOTHER building is going to be the model to “end violence” in Chicago?  I love research so I did some of the area around your church and here is what I found:  

On a basic search on Google for churches in the area I found within a 1.7 mile area from your church 71 places of worship…71!

Since 2007just within 1 square mile of your church there have been 66 homicides here’s the link:  http://homicides.redeyechicago.com/search/?d=1&address=6600+S.+King+drive That is just shy of FIVE people to make it one person per church in the area!  Do you not find that disturbing?  How is it that there are so many places of worship and most likely in buildings and with all of those buildings violence has not ended?  Is the power of gangs and drugs bigger than God Himself!?  We got people that pray in tongues and shout to the Lord but all of that has not touched on the pulse of violence within the community?  I’m not making fun of how people worship but I have had a couple of pastors that say people that do that worship the right way.  What is it about this $15million building that ONE church is unable to do with the Power and Faith in God?  I’m sure there’s a great political answer to this and I could even come up with one but then I would be lying and showing the world that No with Jesus NOT everything is possible unless you have a $15million building sitting across the street from your church. 

There are two elementary schools within blocks of your church and one does better than the other but they both have asbestos issues…how could $15 million affect that? Here are links to the info in case you might want to address the issue: 

http://www.cps.edu/Schools/Pages/school.aspx?id=610065

http://schoolreports.cps.edu/AsbestosInspectionReport_2010/24441-Emmet%20til_McCosh%20Annex.pdf

http://www.cps.edu/Schools/Pages/school.aspx?id=609813

http://schoolreports.cps.edu/6MonthAsbestosSurvey/22361.pdf

Within your zip code the percentage of vacant housing units is 13.51% that’s 3389 potential places of crime, drug houses, etc…  If you were to take $15 million and invest into half of these property’s (which is1695) you would be placing about $8850 into each home.  The average property value in the area falls within $50,000 to $99,000 and considering that these properties are vacant possibly due to the housing crisis you might get them for cheaper.  Wouldn’t you think reducing the vacant properties by half in a community is more effective than building ONE $15 million building?

Park Way community Center is located at 500 East 67^th street about 2 blocks away from your church.  This center was part of Jane Addams Hull House and as all of Chicago knows that place closed its doors recently.  Here’s a thought, rather than letting another building just sit there indefinitely why not figure out how you can obtain that building and you won’t need the $15 million! Isn’t that a great idea?

Here’s my point, you will not end violence by building a $15 million dollar building and it is not a lack of faith on my part but more of a lack of faith for those that believe $15million is the answer.

Pastor Brooks I am challenging you because when we met you admitted that all of this was new to you and all you wanted to do was the right thing.  I still believe that somewhere in you that is alive and one thing I told was that there are plenty of pastors in Chicago with empty lots but never do anything.  How did they get them? Because they did a favor of standing behind the mayor at a news conference and they were blessed with buying a city lot for $1 dollar and I said don’t be one of those pastors… 

You are an educated man and you know as well as I do that another building is NOT the answer to violence.  If the building has the sole purpose of giving affordable housing or opening a day care center to replace the shutdown of Park way center then it is just that but to say you will end violence by using this building as a model is just another story that many of us out on the streets have heard before.  You want to create change that will affect the community to deal with our society’s ills? Why not build a healthy grocery store that buys from local farmers and build a roof top garden to teach youth in the area the importance of eating right so they can pass that along to their families?  These ideas I’m offering to you and would hope that you could acknowledge that I am not mad at you just disappointed that you fumbled what could have been.  

At this point I do not expect you to reach out because you might have people around you telling you not to in fact I'm sure she's telling you that and you know who I mean.

Pastor Brooks I wish you well in your journey and I truly hope that you look deep down inside and think about what I am saying here. I have my past as well and it is rooted on the streets and I do not shy away from that.  I also have a deep spiritual background and have been in church my whole life so when I speak I use the fact I can find and write from my heart.  I didn’t seek millions for my project because that was not the purpose the purpose is to address the root causes of violence.  I welcome you to reach out if you care to and next time you need to address something I said talk to me not someone that you may think will handle me.

Peace/AMOR

Gerardo

Looking for Peace.....in another building!?

In 2010 after many hours praying and talking with those close to me an idea came to me about having a Walk across America to talk about violence in our society and today the Chicago Tribune, among other media outlets, wrote a story about Pastor Corey Brooks wanting to do the same thing.  What is interesting is that in December of 2011 I met with Pastor Brooks along side my Brother Min. Michael Muhammad, Bishop Carlton Pearson, and Clint Bargmann.  As we sat there I had mentioned to pastor Brooks about my Walking to Peace project ( www.walkingtopeace.com ) and gave him details as to how long it would take and so on.  Today in the news article he shared some of those same details as I did with him that December night.  Now, I’m not complaining about the pastors but I do bring into question when someone takes an idea and makes it their own from someone else. 

The difference between us is a few things, one is that he has an actual congregation behind him that will support and fund his time.  Two, he already has made a name for himself within the media because he has someone like Ms. Hartman guiding him.  Three, he is looking to raise $15million to build a community center across the street from his church.  So the basic message is that there needs to be a building that houses a community center for the community to be better…really?

Lets look at how many buildings we have in the US that does the same thing:  YMCA has 2686 sites and the Boys and Girls Club have 3954 sites so that adds up to 6640 sites across the US that are community centers, will a new building across the street from a church make a difference?

If it takes a building to bring attention to violence in community then wouldn’t a church be the PERFECT place?  Many pastors want to deal with the issue of violence but are usually afraid to do so because it is a tough thing to do so they create a community center to deflect the real issues at hand and make it look like something is being done.  I’m not saying he shouldn’t try but he should be genuine in his approach and since he is not it brings up a lot of red flags. 

The real issue at hand is racism in our society and how systematically we have created violence to affect only certain neighborhoods and certain people.  Lack of equal funding to all public schools in the US is another issue and anyone with a bit of intelligence knows that the proper foundation of a society is based in the education of it’s citizens. The message that is being used is one to fool everyone to believe that a community center will “stop the violence” and that is just a message of a poverty pimp.  If building a community center could achieve such a thing then we shouldn’t have the violence that we do have considering that in just alone in two different organizations we have 6640 centers that could “stop” the violence.  See a building can’t do that neither will $15million in the bank. 

I have been planning for my trip since 2010 and the evidence is in the length that my website has been up and I’ve been blogging about it since January of this year 2012.  I wasn’t looking for $15million because I am well aware of the fact that money will not change anything if you’re going to flush it into a building.  Is a building helpful?  Yes!  But pastor Brooks already has a building, his church!  Is the Faith not strong enough to support the idea that the work that needs to be done can be done from his church?  With out money or a building I have been able to do a lot in my life in working to reduce violence in our society.  I have been asking for funds since January just so that I could eat, sleep, and have clothes on my back to go on this trip to talk to YOU about violence in our society but the funds are few.  Is it because I lack a name?  Would it help if I disclosed “who I am” or rather who I am see as by certain people?  I shouldn’t have to do anything other than to have an honest heart and genuine feelings about changing peoples lives but it seems like people are NOT interested in that.  It is much easier to band-aid an issue and recreating the system that keeps violence alive in our society.  I am sorry that I do not have a name in the news that excites you, I’m sorry that I haven’t marched down a street chanting “stop the violence,” I’m sorry that I want to tackle the root of the problem, but it’s just that I am tired of the bullshit.  Are you really interested in saving the “good kids” only and let the “bad kids” go to prison and hell?  I don’t remember seeing Jesus walk with the rich and celebrities of His time but apparently it’s in someone else’s bible.

I do not apologize for what I am saying and if you are thinking that I am a bit upset then you have guessed right because it is not about pastor Brooks and it’s not about me it is only about the people that have been used and abused all of these years because WE have refused to talk about the real issues at hand.  I know it’s hard but WE have to do it because things will get worse and it’s not only the “gang members” that make it worse it’s also the politicians that use street organizations for their dirty work.  It’s the pastors that allow weapons to be brought into their place of worship, it’s the community based organizations that limit who they serve based on a profiling system they put into place, it’s the lack of WILL to be Faithfull that the Almighty Creator Lord God WILL place His hand over those that are honest and believing that He will protect them in this work.

Pastor Brooks you are well aware of the fact that we spoke about this and I offered in depth knowledge to what goes on here in Chicago as did others that night on the roof top.  You are well aware, because I placed my business card in your hand, that I was working on this issue and that ONLY when our communities come together will WE be able to make a really difference.  You are well aware that certain people around you may not want you to involve yourself with certain people based on their bias and if you are not then you should at least realize that she sat next to you that night.  You should know that I am NOT interested in the $15million because if that were the case I would have had it by now simply by exposing the truth.  I’m not mad at you but I am disappointed in you because it seems like you have allowed the politics of Chicago consume you and that will only lead you to one place.

I tired seeing you before but was told that you didn’t have the time to speak with my Brother Min. Michael Muhammad or me but you did have our numbers and well the phone never rang either.  Don’t allow yourself to be used by these people that want to charge you PR fees that are in the thousands of dollars because I don’t remember Jesus having to pay anyone…if anything He loves us freely.

Peace/AMOR

Gerardo HisH

Looking for Peace.....through the barrel of a loaded gun.

BANG- BANG- BANG---no it’s not a song on the radio but it is the sound of poverty that many people blame on violence.  Where does this violence come from?  Is it from a foreign country?  Is it extraterrestrial?  It is a form of expression that is human in nature but something has to draw it out.  Here’s an example; you and I are walking down the street and one of us gets mugged what would you most likely do?  Well chances are the one that is not being mugged will take action to stop the attack.  The mugger might turn around and start to attack the other one defending and now it’s a fight.  The defender now sees that they need to not only defend their friend but themselves as well.  The defender will take whatever action they feel is right to stop the attack.  In moments like these you have no time to think you just react and you will see how quickly one can become violent.  So how does that relate to gang violence?  Glad you asked…

Gang violence is NOT the first choice of a “gang member” or of the overall gang structure itself.  It is the end result of an accumulation of anger and frustration within that community.  Anger and frustration of what you ask…another great question thanks!

POVERTY and government MISMANAGEMENT of funds and responsibility within these communities!

Yesterday on the South Side of Chicago the congregation of a church sang "I Am on the Battlefield for My Lord" (according to a Chicago Tribune article today) and that church members may be putting themselves in harm’s way…really?  How long have we been marching down our city streets to “stop the violence?”  A very long time and nothing has changed because the root cause hasn’t changed which is poverty.  You CANNOT expect that a march will actually stop violence because the Brothers and Sisters out there are out there because they are lacking some basics in their lives.  We can’t magically think ourselves out of poverty there needs to be real action from people that are in positions that are obligatory to help people in need.  How many more pastors do we need to see on TV, while wearing their best suit, talk about ending violence?  It has become a joke at this point because it’ll be in the news one day and the next everyone is too busy to take real action.  What is real action?  You are just full of great questions today!  Thanks for asking!

Real action consists of several avenues though the list is not a full list it’s at least a start:

Education- not only making sure that every public school in your community is fully funded but also educating yourself and others about the root reason and cause to the violence.  It is about drugs but go deeper and realize that Heroin is NOT grown on the West Side but brought in from other countries, what do you do there?

Being active- this is tough in poor communities because people are working odd hour jobs and usually more than one job.  But with technology today being active can be done many ways anywhere from signing a petition for better city services to keeping a community center open.

Be a community- back in the 1990’s there was an enormous push for Block clubs because people started to use “it takes a village…” slogan and those of us that worked in the hood quickly saw how these same adults that cursed the gang members became a gang of their own with their Block clubs.  Community is about caring for everyone that is in it and comes through it no matter who they are.  Find how that can work in your community.

Being responsible- this is mostly for people with those titles that commit them to helping those in need.  I find it hard to understand how it is that I have to try and convince a pastor to helping the community.  It’s amazing how people will say “we just need to pray about it and let God do what God does” have you ever thought that just maybe God empowered you to become a preacher so that YOU can answer the action in that prayer!?  DUH!!!!!  AS for the others as in politicians, teachers, etc…you are in these positions to help people and if you took it and get bothered by having to do a little more than expected then you didn’t understand your position.  Public service, human services, education, health services should NEVER be a job it should be a position within the community to be a resource.

Martin Luther King Jr. was on the battle field but it was to demand the human right of acknowledgement from not only this government but from this society.  The battle field for these church members should not be against their own people in their own hood it needs to be in front of every government office and demand human equality to provide as they have promised.  No one is begging for free anything but when you have been denied for so long your demands become stronger and louder.

BANG-BANG-BANG to me is the sound of a Brother screaming for education and a future, not hope, but an actual future where they will become successful.  I had someone say that the opportunities are out there and you just have to grab them and I do agree that they are out there.  My issue is this, if the government was willing to spend, since the Nixon administration, $1 trillion dollars on anti-drug “programs”   why is it NOT willing to equally fund public education across the board?  So the opportunity of going to a top rated public school is out there but if my child goes to a public school that is underfunded and has an array of other issues then how does one obtain that opportunity?  You say they just have to work harder…really?  But why don’t we as adults work harder to make sure these schools have everything they need?  Why are we putting the burden on the children?  I’m not saying we need to hand people things on a silver platter but we do need to remain responsible to what we as a society have promised ourselves and our future.

How would things change if 16 and 17 year old youth would have the right to VOTE?

Let’s find out…..

Peace/AMOR

Gerardo