RSS06/30/09 Letters to the Editor
Yakima Herald-Republic
E-mail
Print
Comments
They are ours
To the editor -- The Yakima Herald-Republic on June 18 reports the lack of outrage over the gang violence in Yakima. I feel part of that is our stunned inertia -- What's to be done? Beefing up police patrols and the juvenile court system is certainly important to a safer community. It's also the proverbial Band-Aid on the spurting artery -- too little, too late.
Every gangbanger with dead eyes started out as a small, impressionable child. What are we as a community doing for our children? They're not just "theirs." They are also ours, and none of them is disposable.
We have the opportunity to invest in a water park which, in addition to bringing substantial revenue here, would also be a great gift to our kids; it would give them something healthy and constructive to do in their unsuper-
vised down time. We can demand and then support programs, such as the Nurse-Family Partnership, that have evidence-based results demonstrating (1) improved lives for young families and their children, and (2) substantial tax savings over time.
We can quote the Holy Bible until our printers run out of ink. It's meaningless if we don't practice the compassion Christ taught. A universal truth: People who are brutalized become brutal. We see it in Baghdad, Bethlehem and Belfast. We don't have to see it in Yakima.
MARY MORPHET-BROWN
Yakima
Legal doesn't mean right
To the editor -- I believe abortion is the most compelling and far-reaching civil rights issue of our time.
You hear many people say abortion is OK because it's legal, but does that make it right? Remember, at one time slavery was also legal.
As a pro-lifer, I certainly offer full support for President Obama's frequent statement that reducing abortions should be a priority. But how he expects to do that by funding overseas agencies that promote abortion with our tax money is more than a mystery to me. I'm also in favor of working with the president on any measure that supports women in crises pregnancy centers (an area in which pro-lifers already have special expertise) and other legislation that protects the unborn child.
I firmly believe that if our country and its leaders keep ignoring the rights of the unborn, then very soon we are going to be a nation of the past.
FRANK A. SCHNEIDER
Yakima
Red Cross clarification
To the editor -- Re: The June 18 letter about Elizabeth Carroll, retiring as director of the Yakima Red Cross. Just to clarify, the Yakima Valley chapter of the American Red Cross is a member of the American Red Cross, not the International Red Cross. The funds that the American Red Cross uses are donated dollars, not tax money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The only time we accept FEMA dollars is if we are doing a service for FEMA.
NORMA THOMPSON
Yakima
Mary, your point is well taken, but unfortunately, not very practical. It depends upon the late liberal concept from the Clinton era, called "The Village" concept.
I think more accurately, that if parents would be parents, and kids were again allowed to find jobs after school, that we wouldn't have nearly the potential gang membership that we have now.
Parents need to be held more accountable for the actions of their children - maybe then, they would pay more attention at home, instead of expecting the babysitter - often underage as well, the schools, and law enforcement to bring up their kids.
Mary,
The idea that building an aquatic center would have any effect on gang activity, is ridiculous. Many have suggested that we build an aquatic center similar to Moses Lake, so I Googled "Moses Lake Gang Problem" and quickly found that Moses Lake has several gangs (some are the same ones we have in Yakima) despite their aquatic center.
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/06/10/news/doc4a3028186c089741740120.txt
"Police Chief Dean Mitchell said the primary reason for holding the meeting was more than 60 percent of people participating in a Grant County Prosecutor’s Office poll indicated they believe gangs are a problem in Moses Lake.
He said gangs are primarily a youth crime and confirmed there are gang members in Moses Lake city limits.
Mitchell said there are five gangs operating in the city: Pocos Locos, Lil’ Valley Locos, Mara Black Crew, Florencia 13 and East Side Familia. The small gangs police deal with in Moses Lake originate from two primary umbrella gangs, the Norteños and Sureños.......
Loera said although gang members are not a single demographic, they are primarily Hispanic males who come from a family with a single parent working full-time and is not educated about gangs...."
Sounds familiar doesn't it?
While I am a firm believer that parents should start again raising their own kids, I do believe "the village" concept has it's place as well. Would you stop a bunch of kids from beating an old lady or say, "I'm not getting involved in that liberal 'village' crap?"
As a youth volunteer for almost 20 years, the "village" concept is a necessary tool in the child-rearing arsenal because some people shouldn't have kids. For instance, we had one parent who dropped her kids off for the 4-H meeting then left to sit at the tavern until the meeting was over. All her kids turned out like crap, despite our best efforts, but this is the role model she chose to be.
Recently I was at Walmart and saw some kids tormenting the Betta fish in their individual containers. I told the kids I didn't think they should be doing that. They ran off and 5 minutes later, their mom had me backed up against a display lecturing me about disiplining her kids. She said she was only one isle over, so stay out of it. Five minutes later, I see her walking around the store--no kids in sight.
I was a full time mom by choice. I could have had a well-paying career, but some things are more important than money. No one could raise my kids the way I wanted them raised but me. And it gave me a chance to make a difference in other childrens' lives as well by volunteering--in the classroom, Girl Scouts, and 4-H.
But it all starts at home. With 40% of kids being born to single moms, there's no one at home to raise them. Instead, the kids are being warehoused in crowded daycares ran by underpaid, overworked employees. This has got to stop.
We must stop glorifying unwed mothers, in Hollywood and at home. The Earned Income Tax Credit for Head of Household with Dependent Children is draining this country dry at $3,000 per kid. How many reading this, who complain about government entitlements for irresponsible behavior, have illegitimate grandchildren? YOU are part of the problem as well.
We must stop rewarding this now socially acceptable irresponsible behavior. Graduate high school, go on to college/trade school, get married, have kids--in that order! If we tell our kids from the time they are old enough to talk that this is what is expected from them, then they know their path from the beginning.
The answer to the gang problem begins at home.
The only thing that'll control gangs is fear. What do you do with feral animals? Teach them to fear humans. Gangs only respect those they fear. Do they respect the police? Nope, they are hamstrung by the legal system. Do they fear the citizens? Nope, they are by-and-large disarmed and/or are too afraid of the legal system to defend themselves.
This is the situation that must end. The criminals in our society must fear the law-abiding. There is a reason public executions were conducted down through history. As a lesson to those watching(inducing fear to commit crimes), and as a shame factor for the soon-to-be-executed. (Yes, I know, the psycho-nuts pseudo-scientists in our country think that shame is bad... so is pretending to be a doctor and/or scientist, which describes all the psychology industry.) If shame were allowed to be restored as a curative emotion in our society, perhaps some would come out of that lifestyle. Of course, that wouldn't be politically correct either...
“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”(Ecclesiastes 8:11)
SciPhiMom,
The "village" term is used by liberal politicians like Hillary Clinton to push for raising taxes and "spreading the wealth". Nobody would dispute that it's good to volunteer in the community coaching kids, or volunteering at school, or working with church youth programs. But as soon as you label the community a "village", you automatically shift the debate from volunteerism to government social programs and a welfare society.
Clearly SciPhiMom is using the "village" term to encompass volunteerism and working with youth.
However, as soon as anyone labels the community a "village", parrots like you, sjuan, automatically shift the debate from volunteerism to government social programs and a welfare society because Hillary Clinton is still stuck in your craw. Man up and admit it.
SciPhiMom...
"The answer to the gang problem begins at home."
In a "perfect world" this concept would work, but as we all know, there is no such thing as a perfect "anything"...world, parents, children, government, etc. Elect has the right idea.... "shame" should be allowed to be restored as a curative emotion in our society. You stated the mother of the child in 4-H sat in the tavern after dropping the child off. Did anyone "shame" the mother verbally for her behavior? When you saw the mother at WalMart shopping alone again,(after your confrontation)and her kids were not beside her,did you "shame" her verbally and inquire where the kids were? I have no problem bringing attention to rude or un-acceptable behavior to those around me. We all should speak up immediately when bad behavior is being displayed.
"Shame" on us when we don't.
Martha,
"However, as soon as anyone labels the community a "village", parrots like you, sjuan, automatically shift the debate from volunteerism to government social programs and a welfare society because Hillary Clinton is still stuck in your craw. Man up and admit it."
Right Martha, I must be part of the VRWC (vast right wing conspiracy) because I've heard of Hillary's (or her ghostwriter's) "It takes a village" book.
"Recently I was at Walmart and saw some kids tormenting the Betta fish in their individual containers. I told the kids I didn't think they should be doing that. They ran off and 5 minutes later, their mom had me backed up against a display lecturing me about disiplining her kids. She said she was only one isle over, so stay out of it. Five minutes later, I see her walking around the store--no kids in sight."
my wife and I had a very simalar experience in Costco. This kid was misbehaving and she said something... boy did momma come loose on her and said that "you don't tell my kid what to do". Basically we came back with, "well, someone has to, it's apparent that you're not". It almost turned into a fight. Of course to prove how wrong we were daddy stepped in and behaved and carried on just like sonny to make him feel good and show us who's boss. yeah, right.
Once again, I'll agree with Elect.
Also, I agree with the "village" concept that it takes society to shape our youth. Unfortunetely the "village" is turning out to be TV, Games, Government and lawyer intervention in disipline, and schools.
again, what Elect said.
Gee sjuan, your earlier comment suggested that you actually read Hillary's book with enough comprehension to know how she uses terms and phrases. But now you suggest that you've only heard of the book and aren't even sure who wrote it. [squaaaak!!]
Nobody is "glorifying" single motherhood. There are a limited number of decent men, and when they are gone (by that I mean married) then there aren't any left for the rest of us. Many are abusive or poor providers, and it's very easy to tell someone else, "Too bad, you'll have to die childless," when you yourself have found your goal of motherhood within your reach.
Most of us are just doing the best we can with what we have, not trying to "glorify" a difficult situation.
Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. When I saw what had been edited out of my letter, I wasn't sure I would have understood what I was trying to say. I don't think a water park would cure gang violence. My point was that we are a village, like it or not, and not just a collection of rugged individualists. That might have worked in the wild west, but it won't take us into the 21st century. It's so easy to self-righteously demand that parents take the blame for their kids. The reality is that parenting is a learned behavior. So many parents struggle and fail. How can we expect some of them to give to their kids what no one ever gave to them? There are things we can collectively do to help kids learn how to be adults. Blame-placing isn't one of them.
Report Violation
Posting Guidelines - Updated Aug. 21 2009
Readers are encouraged to use these forums to discuss issues affecting the
Yakima Valley. Debate the ideas presented in stories and other comments, but
refrain from personal attacks and offensive remarks aimed at others; e.g.,
you may call an idea idiotic, but don't say the person is an idiot. The
Herald-Republic reserves the right to remove any comment for any reason.
Examples include material that is obscene, encourages illegal activity or
stereotypes based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and
other factors. Continued violation of these guidelines can lead to
suspension or revocation of your ability to post comments. If you believe a
comment is inappropriate, you can bring it to our attention by clicking the
"report violation" link by each comment. Guidelines revised Aug. 21, 2009.
Registered User?
