New Haven Independent

Posted by: charlie | June 20, 2006 8:35 AM

"Not having anything to do" is not an excuse to pick up a gun and spray a group of other kids with bullets. There should be a community-wide outrage whenever a teenager even thinks about having access to a gun.

Posted by: Ned | June 20, 2006 2:28 PM

Why do religious people think that more religion would make a difference re. violence? Preachers seem to exploit these tragedies for their own ends, that is, increased church membership, an audience, ego gratification... Relgious people all over the world are killing one another every day over nonsense. Seems like these kids need to see that they're part of a world that extends beyond their neighborhoods to the rest of the planet - go explore.

Posted by: Lovebabz | June 20, 2006 9:53 PM

And where would they go Ned that was free of violence, religious, political or otherwise? What we are seeing in New Haven is happening all over the country. It is not unique to New Haven. Look at Philadelphia, Hartford, Iraq, Paris, just about anywhere in Africa, Asia--Korea-North and South. What we have is a culture of war that is universal and infectious. And until we come to grips with our love of violence and how we use violence as a tool for influence, then we will continue to lose human life. As it stands right now my friend, we can't say in good conscience to young people go see the world, a place of beauty and PEACE. So until we tire of seeing children gunned down, or abused, or hungry or neglected, or bought and sold, or thrown away then we will continue to have what we have, children like adults who do not value anything.

Posted by: Ned | June 20, 2006 11:02 PM

Violence is certainly not unique to New Haven. "Our love of violence"? - speak for yourself. Also, why do you use "we" statements; you do not speak for me. There are a lot of non-violent people in the world and lots of interesting places to see besides Whalley Ave. I don't think the problem is that some "children like [some]adults who do not value anything" it's that they value seemingly trivial things like gold chains and sneakers, and the ill defined seemingly all important "respect" rather than just getting on with their own lives and not getting mixed up with people who don't help them up, but drag them down.

Posted by: nfjanette | June 21, 2006 12:52 AM

Ned: because religion potentially offers a desperately needed ethical structure with both intangible spiritual reward as well as tangible community living improvements for the people affected by this violence.

Lovebabz: For the most part these teens are coming from two main cultures - the African American and the Latino folks. It's not middle class white or Jewish kids that are waging war in the streets with guns , although they are at times certainly buying drugs from the city kids. This isn't just a culture war, it's an economic war, and until we can provide the possibility of living wage employment for lower-income city folks little will change. The church and the police can only do so much - not that we shouldn't consider trying a curfew to keep teens in late at night if the family and community structure can't or won't.

Posted by: Lovebabz | June 21, 2006 7:05 AM

I wonder if we would be this disconnected if white and or jewish kids were up against the same issues. I dare say, because these are kids of color, somehow we are at a loss as to solutions and God knows there is enough blame for you and I. Guns are coming into our community from somewhere and it ain't Black and Latinos bringing them. I agree it is an economic issue, but it is a cultural issue--one rooted in violence. Violence is cultural--not unique to African American or Latinos. Look at the world. How can we not make the connection between violence in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and here in our neighborhood. These kids are behaving the same way the rest of the world is behaving. If they have a problem with someone, if they disagree with someone, if they feel wronged by someone, if they are dissed by someone, they pick up a gun and they aim and shoot. Why wouldn't they. We have shown children that violence works as a tool of intimidation and terror. We need a paradigm shift here and abroad. It begins here. We reach out and we keep reaching out and we start with saying and believeing that every child is wanted and valued and cared for. There is no magic, just common sense and commitment of time and resources over the long haul. Otherwise we will continue to be amazed and surprised each time a kid kills another kid.

Posted by: LILED JACKSON | June 21, 2006 10:14 AM

no

Posted by: Jeff Klaus | June 22, 2006 4:24 PM

Babz,

It's about hope. If people have a hopeful vision for their own future, they will make different decisions about the present. Let's build hope for a better future. Sounds trite but it's not. You probably know where I'm going with this. Would you expect that kids from St. Martin De Porres, or Elm City College Prep, or Amistad to be involved in shooting one another? Students who go to these schools are the same kids, from the same neighborhoods, with the same parents, - the same everything except they were lucky enough to have their name picked out of a hat and they have been taught to treat one another with kindness and respect. At these schools, kids are bombarded with lessons and messages about citizenship and they are taught that they have a great future if they work hard. Since they are in school longer they therefore are not exposed to as much of what happens on the street corner. It works, even if they have to go home at night to the sound of gunfire. Create more public schools like these with great principals and dedicated talented teachers, serve more kids, and you will greatly reduce the amount of violence. You can help to make this happen.