Now I'm really really furious! (Glenview: rent, insurance, buy)

[sittingduck41]

Originally Posted by skipcromer

We all have different ways of dealing with things that we consider tragic. For some prayer his helpful. I dont really see any use in mocking it.

That's just the problem. Praying is not a way to "deal" with anything. It's a way to give up responsibility. Dealing with the situation would require an understanding and acceptance of reality, not a blind belief in a talking snake or whatever the **** that thing was.

I guess you're right though. There is no use in me mocking prayer. People will die for a belief no matter how silly it may be.

[SAI126]

It's cruel and wrongheaded to be dismissive of faith. I will grant you that faith with works is a lot better than faith without works. I'm a lapsed Catholic but I just may say a prayer for the youth and Roseland too. Mock me if you wish. I really don't care. Roseland needs a lot more than prayer now, but a prayer is all I have to give.

[d-iron]

Originally Posted by Venom

Video: Teen Attacked, Beaten to Death in Melee - Chicago Breaking News (http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/video_derrion_albert - broken link)

Here's the video of the kid being killed in Roseland.

Out of all the fools fighting, the innocent one had to die.

errgghh

Oh man these guys are such animals can you believe they video taped this beating . Where's the reverend Jesse Jackson at? Where's The Minister Louis Farrakhan? Is there a double standard here? If a mob of white kids beat a black student up don't you guys think those public figures would be marching in the streets crying racism demanding justice ? I guess that's what happens in the black community when you try to "act white".

[sittingduck41]

Originally Posted by SAI126

It's cruel and wrongheaded to be dismissive of faith. I will grant you that faith with works is a lot better than faith without works. I'm a lapsed Catholic but I just may say a prayer for the youth and Roseland too. Mock me if you wish. I really don't care. Roseland needs a lot more than prayer now, but a prayer is all I have to give.

How is it cruel and wrongheaded to be dismissive of faith? You also jump to the conclusion that I have faith in nothing, which is incorrect. Go ahead, say a prayer if it makes you feel like a better person.

[Gtownoe]

The sad thing is that I saw this type of thing every other weekend while growing up. I used to go to a hole in the wall club growing up in KY where people would get jumped, beaten with chairs, stabbed, and I even saw a kid get shot once and have been at more than one party where shots rang out.

The funny thing is that the news would always try to cover it up and unless somebody was killed or critically injured you'd never hear about it.

I know the mentality that breeds that type of behavior and had friends growing up who were some really tough guys. When you feel hopeless, and like nobody cares about you it festers and can grow into many different things. Drug addiction, gangs, violence are some of the larger issues. Sometimes depression, bad attitudes, a feeling of hopelessness, and frustration can be just as bad.

I was lucky enough to have good parents, good friends, and sports to keep me distracted but many of my friends didn't have those luxuries.

The sad part is for me to sit and listen to people talk about these kids in these neighborhoods. Instead of any type of sympathy or compassion, its always about blame. If you grow up seeing episodes like the one you just saw on a weekly basis then how do you expect to turn out to be a functioning, productive adult? I was able to turn out alright, and my parents made it, but I think we were more the exception than the norm.

I've seen this tape play out many times before and it saddens me.

[deechee]

Originally Posted by Gtownoe

The sad thing is that I saw this type of thing every other weekend while growing up. I used to go to a hole in the wall club growing up in KY where people would get jumped, beaten with chairs, stabbed, and I even saw a kid get shot once and have been at more than one party where shots rang out.

The funny thing is that the news would always try to cover it up and unless somebody was killed or critically injured you'd never hear about it.

I know the mentality that breeds that type of behavior and had friends growing up who were some really tough guys. When you feel hopeless, and like nobody cares about you it festers and can grow into many different things. Drug addiction, gangs, violence are some of the larger issues. Sometimes depression, bad attitudes, a feeling of hopelessness, and frustration can be just as bad.

I was lucky enough to have good parents, good friends, and sports to keep me distracted but many of my friends didn't have those luxuries.

The sad part is for me to sit and listen to people talk about these kids in these neighborhoods. Instead of any type of sympathy or compassion, its always about blame. If you grow up seeing episodes like the one you just saw on a weekly basis then how do you expect to turn out to be a functioning, productive adult? I was able to turn out alright, and my parents made it, but I think we were more the exception than the norm.

I've seen this tape play out many times before and it saddens me.

It is definitely a blessing that so many have made it out of neighborhoods such as the one you described, and in Roseland, the one that the thread is about.

I'm glad I never really had to live in an area that was THAT bad. It was never that violent or crime ridden where I grew up. I couldn't imagine feeling like I grew up in a warzone, although I knew I didn't live in the "best" area.

However, there has to be some kind of immediate outpouring of support for the fellow Fenger High School students. The rest of the community needs to be tended to as well. Why aren't there some volunteers there helping clean up the area, sweep the streets, trim bushes, etc.

I don't know, I may sound silly, but I am in such grief about this, I can't even think rationally. I just wish there was more that an ordinary citizen like myself could do...how very tragic this young man's life had to end this way.

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by deechee

I just wish there was more that an ordinary citizen like myself could do...

If you are willing to volunteer your time there is actually a ton you can do. There's Big Brothers/Big Sisters, sports coaching opportunities, Black Star (and other anti-violence coalitions). Stories like this one always seem to outrage people but there is never any lasting concern. That community and others like it really need someone who is willing to dedicate themselves to outreach.

[luxestudio]

Originally Posted by Gtownoe

The sad thing is that I saw this type of thing every other weekend while growing up. I used to go to a hole in the wall club growing up in KY where people would get jumped, beaten with chairs, stabbed, and I even saw a kid get shot once and have been at more than one party where shots rang out.

The funny thing is that the news would always try to cover it up and unless somebody was killed or critically injured you'd never hear about it.

I know the mentality that breeds that type of behavior and had friends growing up who were some really tough guys. When you feel hopeless, and like nobody cares about you it festers and can grow into many different things. Drug addiction, gangs, violence are some of the larger issues. Sometimes depression, bad attitudes, a feeling of hopelessness, and frustration can be just as bad.

I was lucky enough to have good parents, good friends, and sports to keep me distracted but many of my friends didn't have those luxuries.

The sad part is for me to sit and listen to people talk about these kids in these neighborhoods. Instead of any type of sympathy or compassion, its always about blame. If you grow up seeing episodes like the one you just saw on a weekly basis then how do you expect to turn out to be a functioning, productive adult? I was able to turn out alright, and my parents made it, but I think we were more the exception than the norm.

I've seen this tape play out many times before and it saddens me.

It is for this very reason that I packed my things up a year and a 1/2 ago and moved myself and my 15 yr old soon to be high school student out of Chicago. Growing up on the Westside made me very street savvy, however it also made me determined not to raise my child in the same environment that I had escaped. The only reason was because I had a mother and a father at home that refused to have it any other way. I was forced to speak and use proper english (something that is NOT enforced in a lot of homes). I was forced to sit down and READ, something I also make it my business for push in my own household. Traditional old school values have fallen along the way. And too many children are raising children.

I looked at this kid's mother and I thought to myself ....why did she let him stay in that school?
Before I moved out here to Glenview, the only schools that were available for my daughter to attend were Crane and Wells. I'm so glad that I made the right decision.
And I'm so sorry that she did not.

[Gtownoe]

Originally Posted by deechee

It is definitely a blessing that so many have made it out of neighborhoods such as the one you described, and in Roseland, the one that the thread is about.

I'm glad I never really had to live in an area that was THAT bad. It was never that violent or crime ridden where I grew up. I couldn't imagine feeling like I grew up in a warzone, although I knew I didn't live in the "best" area.

However, there has to be some kind of immediate outpouring of support for the fellow Fenger High School students. The rest of the community needs to be tended to as well. Why aren't there some volunteers there helping clean up the area, sweep the streets, trim bushes, etc.

I don't know, I may sound silly, but I am in such grief about this, I can't even think rationally. I just wish there was more that an ordinary citizen like myself could do...how very tragic this young man's life had to end this way.

The thing is, if the kid hadn't died, you would've never heard about it. Stuff like what was shown in the video happens all the time.

People just don't care. Crime in this country is "other people's problem". Most Americans don't care unless its happening in their neighborhood. If a president gets a blowjob, the gays want to get married, or somebody isn't PC we'll be up in arms. If poor kids are killing other poor kids nobody cares.

As a country we really need to take a step back and look at what matters. We'd rather argue and bicker over meaningless issues rather than accomplish anything. As a result, our country is currently suffering in more ways than 1.

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by luxestudio

It is for this very reason that I packed my things up a year and a 1/2 ago and moved myself and my 15 yr old soon to be high school student out of Chicago. Growing up on the Westside made me very street savvy, however it also made me determined not to raise my child in the same environment that I had escaped. The only reason was because I had a mother and a father at home that refused to have it any other way. I was forced to speak and use proper english (something that is NOT enforced in a lot of homes). I was forced to sit down and READ, something I also make it my business for push in my own household. Traditional old school values have fallen along the way. And too many children are raising children.

I looked at this kid's mother and I thought to myself ....why did she let him stay in that school?
Before I moved out here to Glenview, the only schools that were available for my daughter to attend were Crane and Wells. I'm so glad that I made the right decision.
And I'm so sorry that she did not.

Well not everyone can afford to live in Glenview...sorry.