Urban America is filled with gangs, drugs and violence. It seems like nothing is being done to stop it. Sure terror is a global problem, but what if the urban schools are simply battle grounds and killing fields?
The real problem is it may be in Urban-America today, but where will it be tomorrow?
The following is the stoury from USA TODAY:
Nadashia Thomas, 6, participates in a vigil for her cousin Derrion Albert outside of Christian Fenger Academy High School in Chicago on Monday.
By Nam Y. Huh, AP
Four teens charged in fatal beating of Chicago student
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By Judy Keen, USA TODAY
CHICAGO — Darnell Myles didn't have to see the video airing on TV of Derrion Albert's slaying to find out that the neighborhood around Christian Fenger Academy High School is dangerous. Two of his children attend the school where Albert was an honor student, and they have long been "scared for their safety," he said.
On Monday, Myles drove his children, a freshman and a senior, to the far South Side school and parked outside until classes ended so he could take them home. One of his children knew Albert and saw the attack. "It was one side of town against another," he said. "It's a crazy thing."
Albert, 16, was walking home from school Thursday when he was beaten to death in a fight between two rival groups outside a community center. Four teens were charged Monday in the slaying. Police identified them with the help of the cellphone video taken by an unidentified witness. The video was provided to a TV station and given to police.
VIDEO REPORT: Slaying shocks, angers community
ON DEADLINE: Raw video of Chicago beating (warning: graphic violence)
In court Monday, prosecutors described the alleged attack on Albert by Silvonus Shannon, 19; Eric Carson, 16; and Eugene Riley, 18. Carson, who is charged as an adult, and Shannon are Fenger students. The three are being held without bond on charges of first-degree murder. A hearing is set for Oct. 19. Late Monday, Chicago police said a 17-year-old also was charged in the slaying. Prosecutors did not say Monday whether he will be tried as an adult.
The brawl was precipitated by a shooting outside the school on Thursday morning, prosecutors said. A 15-year-old boy was arrested after police alleged he opened fire from his bicycle on a 17-year-old boy, who was not hurt. That incident stemmed from tensions between students who live in Altgeld Gardens, a public housing project, and others who live in an area known as the "Ville."
Albert was "a bystander" to a fight later Thursday between the groups and didn't belong to either, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Jodi Peterson said in court. Carson and another person from the Ville approached him, she said. Carson hit Albert in the head with a railroad tie. The other person punched him in the face, prosecutors say. Albert fell, unconscious, prosecutors said, and when he regained consciousness, he moved away and tried to stand. He was surrounded by five Altgeld Gardens residents. Riley hit him with a railroad tie and Shannon stomped on his head, Peterson said.
Shannon gave a videotaped confession, said Andy Conklin, a spokesman for the state's attorney's office.
Like the murders in October 2008 of three relatives of actress Jennifer Hudson, the Albert case is reviving concern about violence in Chicago and debate about ways to stop it.
There were 307 homicides in the city from Jan. 1 through the end of August, down from 338 in the same period last year, the Chicago Police Department says. More than half of this year's homicides involved gangs.
"Misguided youth need leadership in their life. This is learned behavior," said Tio Hardiman of CeaseFire Illinois, an anti-violence group. "You can put all the police in the world in the city, but that's not enough," he said. CeaseFire intervenes in conflicts and negotiates treaties between rival groups, he said, and is working to prevent a violent reaction to Albert's slaying. Dwayne Overstreet, a minister, went to Fenger to pray for peace. "It's not that these young people don't understand the value of life," he said. "They haven't been taught the value of life."
Overstreet says Albert's death was a reminder of the "chaos" and disregard for life across the city. "It feels sometimes like you're in a war zone," he said.
"I'm praying and hoping that out of this will come something positive," said Martin Watt, a minister from suburban Harvey who came to Fenger to lead a hymn that intoned: I'm feeling so much better since I lay my burden down.
Community leaders held a news conference Monday asking anyone with information to come forward. Albert's relatives were there, wearing T-shirts with his photo and the words: "Gone too soon, too young."
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Comments: (2,668)Showing: Newest first Oldest first Most recommended New: Most recommended!
Rev Bookburn (12 friends, send message) wrote: 30m ago
dillenburg123 (0 friends, send message) wrote: 32m ago
Darwinism at work.
Really? Is that how you explain the terrorist killing of Dr. Tiller, the murders at the Holocaust Museum, the hanging of the census worker, and over 25 years of anti-abortion terrorism? Did you mean to say Creationism at work? Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta
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dillenburg123 (0 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 4m ago
Darwinism at work.
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Goose67 (2 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 13m ago
Redishblue... I understand your question, but here's another one... why do we rely on Bush, McCain, or Obama to give priority to this issue... TruthSeeker is right... the issue belongs to all parents, regardless of color or philosophy... and as for the big cities, this violent culture has been going on since before any of these candidates was born... And before you think I am cutting down the ethnic nature of these thugs, just wanted to let you know I trace my ancestry all the way back to Northeast Africa, over two thousand years ago... and to top it off, I can brag that my ancestry includes Native Americans, so they were here to greet my ancestors when they arrived... not everything is about city or culture... but the facts do speak for themselves...
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TruthSeeker (0 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 26m ago
Responding to:"Why does the US have the highest murder rate of any industrialized nation? And why didn't Bush, McCain, or Obama give any priority whatsoever to the violent and destructive subculture existing in our inner cities?" =====WHY? It is NOT the responsibility of the presidents to control violence. These violence are the responsibilities of the parents who neglect their children and NOT taught them moral values, the value of life. Most important of all, God has taken out of schools leaving students having no fear for God that is the beginning of developing moral values.
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redishblue (43 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 43m ago
Goose67 (2 friends, send message) wrote: 7m ago
For any of those who consider this a single act of violence... what planet did you fly in from ? There have been over 300 murders year to date in Chicaga, down from 338 for same time last year... so , is that good news? The murders are trending downward, but probably because a few more of the thugs were among the dead. This is an issue for all people, regardless of ethnicity...
=====================================
Why does the US have the highest murder rate of any industrialized nation? And why didn't Bush, McCain, or Obama give any priority whatsoever to the violent and destructive subculture existing in our inner cities?
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fattony (177 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 46m ago
These guys must feel empowered...I mean after all, the b@stard in chief has set precident
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fattony (177 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 47m ago
This just in....fathers day has been cancelled in Chicago due to mass confusion.
In a related story, hallmark has pulled its ENTIRE line of fathers day cards from this city citing negative sales .....
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Goose67 (2 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 53m ago
For any of those who consider this a single act of violence... what planet did you fly in from ? There have been over 300 murders year to date in Chicaga, down from 338 for same time last year... so , is that good news? The murders are trending downward, but probably because a few more of the thugs were among the dead. This is an issue for all people, regardless of ethnicity...
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redishblue (43 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 59m ago
Dog (242 friends, send message) wrote: 2m ago
This story is going to be pulled off the pages of USA Today soon...it is too bad for OWEBambi's Olympic bid meeting on Friday. The call has been made to the editor ....
===================
Seems like hosting the Olympics is more than Obama's bid... many would like to see the Olympics in the USA...
... maybe countries would boycott the olympics, though, bc we torture-- e.g,. human rights violations...
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High School Sluts List is sick
A high school has a SLUT LIST. This has gone too far. Parents were upset. They also wanted to do drugs and sex in exchange for dumb things. We are failing our children at some point. Please tell me what do you think? Please note the following:
My Slut-Called Life: NJ High School Girls Circulate A “Slut List”
Posted by: Jessica Wakeman Filed in: news
12:40PM, Tuesday September 22nd 2009
Comments (19)
iStockphoto
Hazing: It’s not just for Chuck Bass at the Skull & Bones Society anymore! High school girls in New Jersey are now pretending they’re badasses by putting younger girls on a nasty “slut list.” The New York Times reported that catty seniors at Millburn High School in wealthy Millburn, New Jersey have circulated a “slut list” on which they scribble dozens of names of “pretty and popular” incoming freshman with “crass descriptions” on loose-leaf paper. The school principal, Dr. William Miron, said the tradition has taken place for over a decade, but this year hundreds of copies of the “slut list” written up by sports team
My Slut-Called Life: NJ High School Girls Circulate A “Slut List”
Posted by: Jessica Wakeman Filed in: news
12:40PM, Tuesday September 22nd 2009
Comments (19)
iStockphoto
Hazing: It’s not just for Chuck Bass at the Skull & Bones Society anymore! High school girls in New Jersey are now pretending they’re badasses by putting younger girls on a nasty “slut list.” The New York Times reported that catty seniors at Millburn High School in wealthy Millburn, New Jersey have circulated a “slut list” on which they scribble dozens of names of “pretty and popular” incoming freshman with “crass descriptions” on loose-leaf paper. The school principal, Dr. William Miron, said the tradition has taken place for over a decade, but this year hundreds of copies of the “slut list” written up by sports team
Why is Dreaming Better than Life?
Life in a recession is so hard. People dying,getting, sick and aging at a rapid pace, dreaming can make everything just right. Dreams are so unreal. We dream sometimes and cannot remember what happened. Then there are certain dreams we want to keep dreaming until an alarm or something awakens us rather abruptly.
Children have the best dreams especially around particular holidays. Toys and games are fun things. Adults have dreams of vacations,cars,boats and coats that they may never have or do. However, some dreams become true.
Dreams can be revealing of ones most inner desires. I dream of world peace and winning the lottery. I dream of having a big car. I dream of sailing the Mediterium
with out a care in the world. I dream of everybody being completely happy for no apparent reason. What are your dreams? Please tell me what do you think?
Children have the best dreams especially around particular holidays. Toys and games are fun things. Adults have dreams of vacations,cars,boats and coats that they may never have or do. However, some dreams become true.
Dreams can be revealing of ones most inner desires. I dream of world peace and winning the lottery. I dream of having a big car. I dream of sailing the Mediterium
with out a care in the world. I dream of everybody being completely happy for no apparent reason. What are your dreams? Please tell me what do you think?
Why do some Stars do Dumb Things
Lately, there has been a number of break-downs in public that has caused me concern. Serena Williams used the foulest of language at the U.S. Open tennis match to a line judge. Kanye West, big time rapper, jumped-up at the M TV awards, took the mic from a winner and declared that another should have won. Then during a Presidential Address to congress, a representative screamed out, "you are a lie."
Do you ever wonder, what is in the water? These are sad commentaries to the quality of life we are experiencing in terms the public figures behaving poorly. Is there something wrong with our educational system that allows people to do whatever? Is there a break down in the home that says, do whatever pops into your stupid head?
In closing, we need to take a hard look at these people who claim to demanded our attention. They want us to vote for them. They want us to buy the products being advertised when they are on television. Now, when we make the simply request to act in a civil manner, all hell breaks out. Perhaps I am too old and cannot understand the problems of today. But guess what? They are right. Further, I do not care! Please, tell me what do you think?
Do you ever wonder, what is in the water? These are sad commentaries to the quality of life we are experiencing in terms the public figures behaving poorly. Is there something wrong with our educational system that allows people to do whatever? Is there a break down in the home that says, do whatever pops into your stupid head?
In closing, we need to take a hard look at these people who claim to demanded our attention. They want us to vote for them. They want us to buy the products being advertised when they are on television. Now, when we make the simply request to act in a civil manner, all hell breaks out. Perhaps I am too old and cannot understand the problems of today. But guess what? They are right. Further, I do not care! Please, tell me what do you think?
Health Care Reform
The President's Plan for Health Reform
“It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance.
It will provide insurance to those who don’t. And it will lower the cost of health care
for our families, our businesses, and our government."
– PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
If You Have Health Insurance,
the President's Plan:
Ends discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions.
Limits premium discrimination based on gender and age.
Prevents insurance companies from dropping coverage when people are sick and need it most.
Caps out-of-pocket expenses so people don’t go broke when they get sick.
Eliminates extra charges for preventive care like mammograms, flu shots and diabetes tests to improve health and save money.
Protects Medicare for seniors.
Eliminates the “donut-hole” gap in coverage for prescription drugs.
If You Don’t Have Insurance,
the President's Plan:
Creates a new insurance marketplace — the Exchange — that allows people without insurance and small businesses to compare plans and buy insurance at competitive prices.
Provides new tax credits to help people buy insurance.
Provides small businesses tax credits and affordable options for covering employees.
Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can’t find affordable coverage with a real choice.
Immediately offers new, low-cost coverage through a national “high risk” pool to protect people with preexisting conditions from financial ruin until the new Exchange is created.
For All Americans,
the President's Plan:
Won’t add a dime to the deficit and is paid for upfront.
Requires additional cuts if savings are not realized.
Implements a number of delivery system reforms that begin to rein in health care costs and align incentives for hospitals, physicians, and others to improve quality.
Creates an independent commission of doctors and medical experts to identify waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system.
Orders immediate medical malpractice reform projects that could help doctors focus on putting their patients first, not on practicing defensive medicine.
Requires large employers to cover their employees and individuals who can afford it to buy insurance so everyone shares in the responsibility of reform.
Privacy Policy Terms of Service
“It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance.
It will provide insurance to those who don’t. And it will lower the cost of health care
for our families, our businesses, and our government."
– PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
If You Have Health Insurance,
the President's Plan:
Ends discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions.
Limits premium discrimination based on gender and age.
Prevents insurance companies from dropping coverage when people are sick and need it most.
Caps out-of-pocket expenses so people don’t go broke when they get sick.
Eliminates extra charges for preventive care like mammograms, flu shots and diabetes tests to improve health and save money.
Protects Medicare for seniors.
Eliminates the “donut-hole” gap in coverage for prescription drugs.
If You Don’t Have Insurance,
the President's Plan:
Creates a new insurance marketplace — the Exchange — that allows people without insurance and small businesses to compare plans and buy insurance at competitive prices.
Provides new tax credits to help people buy insurance.
Provides small businesses tax credits and affordable options for covering employees.
Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can’t find affordable coverage with a real choice.
Immediately offers new, low-cost coverage through a national “high risk” pool to protect people with preexisting conditions from financial ruin until the new Exchange is created.
For All Americans,
the President's Plan:
Won’t add a dime to the deficit and is paid for upfront.
Requires additional cuts if savings are not realized.
Implements a number of delivery system reforms that begin to rein in health care costs and align incentives for hospitals, physicians, and others to improve quality.
Creates an independent commission of doctors and medical experts to identify waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system.
Orders immediate medical malpractice reform projects that could help doctors focus on putting their patients first, not on practicing defensive medicine.
Requires large employers to cover their employees and individuals who can afford it to buy insurance so everyone shares in the responsibility of reform.
Privacy Policy Terms of Service
I Don't Get it?
The nation is at full alert on health care reform. Afghanistan is in all out war. People are still losing their jobs at an alarming rate and no one has said anything about it.
Perhaps we are in some type of dream? Maybe people are so busy trying to make it that they do not have the time to bother? America is in the biggest change period we have ever experienced.
I am concerned that our educational system has done such a poor job that we simply do not understand what is going on or we do not care. The worst case is both; we do not know and we do not care.
We need to start pushing for jobs today. The people with jobs are fighting to keep their job. They do not realize that when people start losing their jobs it dose not stop.
Taxes are too high. Why are we spending billions for a war that no one understands? Why are we fighting over health care when people are dying with pig flue?
In closing, I do not get it. I am at a lost. I read about 10 news papers a day and 5 magazines and about 30 blogs and I just do not get it. Perhaps I am slow. We need more jobs and less war. We could do with less talk and more action. Please tell me what do you think?
Perhaps we are in some type of dream? Maybe people are so busy trying to make it that they do not have the time to bother? America is in the biggest change period we have ever experienced.
I am concerned that our educational system has done such a poor job that we simply do not understand what is going on or we do not care. The worst case is both; we do not know and we do not care.
We need to start pushing for jobs today. The people with jobs are fighting to keep their job. They do not realize that when people start losing their jobs it dose not stop.
Taxes are too high. Why are we spending billions for a war that no one understands? Why are we fighting over health care when people are dying with pig flue?
In closing, I do not get it. I am at a lost. I read about 10 news papers a day and 5 magazines and about 30 blogs and I just do not get it. Perhaps I am slow. We need more jobs and less war. We could do with less talk and more action. Please tell me what do you think?
Happy Labor Day or Is It?
Happy Labor Day to all workers around the world. Workers have made all the things we have and do. They have made the biggest things to the smallest. The great works to the worst jobs that people take for granted. We celebrate all workers today.
Labor day is the last warm holiday. Often we forget about all of the home-makers that perform the thankless job of raising children. We must also look at the people who work from home today as well.
However, my real concern is for the jobless. I am pushing for a full employment act. This bill will ensure everyone a job. Work is so important to our livelihood. People need work. Our unemployment numbers are simply too high. We have about 15 million people out of work.
In conclusion, the full employment act can solve a multitude of problems. We need to end poverty and ignorance today. We celebrate labor day for all that we find important regarding work. I wish jobs for all. Please tell me what do you think?
Labor day is the last warm holiday. Often we forget about all of the home-makers that perform the thankless job of raising children. We must also look at the people who work from home today as well.
However, my real concern is for the jobless. I am pushing for a full employment act. This bill will ensure everyone a job. Work is so important to our livelihood. People need work. Our unemployment numbers are simply too high. We have about 15 million people out of work.
In conclusion, the full employment act can solve a multitude of problems. We need to end poverty and ignorance today. We celebrate labor day for all that we find important regarding work. I wish jobs for all. Please tell me what do you think?
Do We Need More Jobs?
Jobs are the gold standard for the average person. People live as a result of their ability to work. Yet, so many people have lost their jobs with no real hope of finding a high paying. Many of the professional jobs i.e., accounting and business services are being out sourced to other nations.
Big business is cutting more and more cost. People are being more productive with fewer employees. How does this create additional jobs? It doesn't help. The best generator for new jobs is small business. We should all start a new business.
The question of needing more jobs is near brain dead in nature. Sure we need more jobs. Can the government help? Perhaps? It is the average person developing new ideas that will change this picture. The jobs of the future will start with the person in the mirror.
Big business is cutting more and more cost. People are being more productive with fewer employees. How does this create additional jobs? It doesn't help. The best generator for new jobs is small business. We should all start a new business.
The question of needing more jobs is near brain dead in nature. Sure we need more jobs. Can the government help? Perhaps? It is the average person developing new ideas that will change this picture. The jobs of the future will start with the person in the mirror.
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