Youths in the "ghettos" of america are well known for violence and theft and other such crime. The question I pose is this; Whos fault is it? Is it "cool" to shoot and kill people? because rappers claim they do it? Is it truly oppression finding a way out? What do you guys think? Having no firsthand experience of America or its Ghettos, I have little to go on.

Our government is to blame. The money we spend on senseless wars can be used for good things such as rebuilding our "ghetto" sections. The money we spent on Iraq alone could house, feed and clothe every man, woman and child in this country. :mad:

I say that it has much to do with the upbringing of the youth. If he has strict and concerned parents who guide him properly, he will or could be a model citizen, no matter where he came up. If the parents ran the streets as youths and popped out a few babies at a young age, then their children will probably follow suit.

We all deal with different situations and dilemas in our own way. If your a thug then you will figure it out with violence which will most likely lead to more violence, or you could use your mind.

Its the city and the city has its ways. However, besides the crime and violence the city also offers schools and rec centers where the youth can use their minds and talents. Its the youths fault for getting involved in crime but blame can also be directed towards the parents of the youths for not instilling honor and pride in their off spring.

I was raised in very low income government subsidized housing as a youth, by a single mother who did everything that she could to put food on the table. Sometimes she was unable to provide.

Sure, I got into my share of scraps as many young kids do, but I never found the need to shoot people, destroy other peoples property or steal other peoples goods. Its all in the up bringing.



Rockin' :boxing:

I say that it has much to do with the upbringing of the youth. If he has strict and concerned parents who guide him properly, he will or could be a model citizen, no matter where he came up. If the parents ran the streets as youths and popped out a few babies at a young age, then their children will probably follow suit.

We all deal with different situations and dilemas in our own way. If your a thug then you will figure it out with violence which will most likely lead to more violence, or you could use your mind.

Its the city and the city has its ways. However, besides the crime and violence the city also offers schools and rec centers where the youth can use their minds and talents. Its the youths fault for getting involved in crime but blame can also be directed towards the parents of the youths for not instilling honor and pride in their off spring.

I was raised in very low income government subsidized housing as a youth, by a single mother who did everything that she could to put food on the table. Sometimes she was unable to provide.

Sure, I got into my share of scraps as many young kids do, but I never found the need to shoot people, destroy other peoples property or steal other peoples goods. Its all in the up bringing.



Rockin' :boxing:


Nice post my friend :cool:

White people.

Ignorance is to blame, from more than one angle.

Like everything else I'd say it's a combination of three things

1) The history that has led to the present situation

2) The outside factors (such as the previously mentioned lack of gov't support) the continue to cause problems.

3) Family/social issues. I'll say cultural though I don't mean to imply that people from one particular culture are causing problems. I mean the culture of poverty itself.

The thing is that kids are born into situation that they and their parents have little control over. Even culturally this is true. If the culture of poverty has been sinking into gang and gun violence for a number of years it's tough to stand in that river and not be swept along with it.

However, personal responsibility also plays an important role, as Rockin eloquently put it.

You do have to lay a lot of blame on certain rappers and other invidiuals that promote gang culture. Having knowledge of these troubled places along with influence among the kids living in them they have the ability to enact positive change, and a lot of them aren't doing it.

I remember when NWA first got big it was a big shock to people that there was such a violent mentality in areas that we thought were "fixed" by the civil rights movement. In that way there was a sort of educational value in what they were doing. However, we got the message a long time ago, and the current crop of gangsta rappers are just cashing in and exploiting stereotypes.

Just my opinion, of course.

Like everything else I'd say it's a combination of three things

1) The history that has led to the present situation

2) The outside factors (such as the previously mentioned lack of gov't support) the continue to cause problems.

3) Family/social issues. I'll say cultural though I don't mean to imply that people from one particular culture are causing problems. I mean the culture of poverty itself.

The thing is that kids are born into situation that they and their parents have little control over. Even culturally this is true. If the culture of poverty has been sinking into gang and gun violence for a number of years it's tough to stand in that river and not be swept along with it.

However, personal responsibility also plays an important role, as Rockin eloquently put it.

You do have to lay a lot of blame on certain rappers and other invidiuals that promote gang culture. Having knowledge of these troubled places along with influence among the kids living in them they have the ability to enact positive change, and a lot of them aren't doing it.

I remember when NWA first got big it was a big shock to people that there was such a violent mentality in areas that we thought were "fixed" by the civil rights movement. In that way there was a sort of educational value in what they were doing. However, we got the message a long time ago, and the current crop of gangsta rappers are just cashing in and exploiting stereotypes.

Just my opinion, of course.
Great post.

I blame the media, the youth crime is actually less than it was in the 8os and the 90s The media is broadcasting more heavily now

I agree with rockin and bomb raider.

Also add their selves. Each individual makes choices.

As far as the first dope that siad the gov't and wars, blah.
Many hard working people are stuck in ghettos. Many others put theirselves there or keep theirselves there. Why should my taxes cure their self indulged ails? You actually think they would change? Here's the thing. Money should not be used as a life preserver to just keep throwing to people who keep drowning theirselves. Sometimes you just gotta step to the plate. But you know what...

I do balme the government on a lot of crime. Why? The same reason I blame the public, in many cases probably many of you. We give all the rights to criminals and take from the public and victims. Many times we even make criminals out of victims and victims out of criminals. I am a US Army veteran with two honorable discharges. I served in Desert Storm. For the past 11 years I have been working as a paramedic in IL, serving the public. You know what health care I get? NONE! Nil, zilch, notta. To add insult to the injury, I have to pay for criminals and convicts to get the healthcare I am denied. I gotta buy a rapist his meds from my taxes. What a crock of ****! Hmmm. Who does the government seem to favor?
Now take our rights away and give them to scumbags. In IL a man was prosecuted for shooting an armed intruder. What the ****! Once again I see who is favored. This town made the stupid law banning any type of fire arms. How stupid. Just as dumb as the gov't banning so called assault weapons. Yeah, like the local thug/gangbanger went into a store and bought it legally. The only thing that did was disarm honest citizens, just like banning carry/conceal laws. Now only criminals carry. Who has been given the advantage by our government now? Also in IL a man broke into a home severly cutting himself breaking through the sliding glass window. It was somehow faulty and he sued the home owner and won nearly 10 grand and spent 5 days in jail. How's that for encouraging crime? Another case in IL a man broke into a house. H heard the owner get up and grabbed a knife to "defend himself" if the homeowner "attacked". (this was all said in court). Anyway the knife he grabbed was in the drainer, blade up. The dweeb cut his hand and after police followed the blood trail to his house and arrested him, he sued the home owner and won. Oh, yeah. Gotta love these politicians who really want crime reduced. But you know what. It is the citizen who elects these politicians. It is the citizens who favor honest citizens be disarmed while allowing laws giving criminals the right to sue when they get hurt. It is the citizens who have vigils over criminals and demand they be medically cared for while honest working poor are without. So who or what is to blame for ghetto crime as well as all crime. The ****ing public! And if you are one of these people who pamper the criminal and demand we lose our rights and freedoms; then YOU are guilty of the crime rate and I hope to God that you become a victim of your own doings!!!!!!!!!

Oh, yeah. One more thing. Parents. While many times it is parents who are at fault you can NOT place all the blame on parents. This is a big trend. Many times parents do everything right and kids choose a different path. The old saying you can lead a hores to water but you can't make him drink is very true.

Well said, well said. Yes, it was a shock to a few. Those few couldnt believe that those in the ghettos were not happy with their living conditions.
Like everything else I'd say it's a combination of three things

1) The history that has led to the present situation

2) The outside factors (such as the previously mentioned lack of gov't support) the continue to cause problems.

3) Family/social issues. I'll say cultural though I don't mean to imply that people from one particular culture are causing problems. I mean the culture of poverty itself.

The thing is that kids are born into situation that they and their parents have little control over. Even culturally this is true. If the culture of poverty has been sinking into gang and gun violence for a number of years it's tough to stand in that river and not be swept along with it.

However, personal responsibility also plays an important role, as Rockin eloquently put it.

You do have to lay a lot of blame on certain rappers and other invidiuals that promote gang culture. Having knowledge of these troubled places along with influence among the kids living in them they have the ability to enact positive change, and a lot of them aren't doing it.

I remember when NWA first got big it was a big shock to people that there was such a violent mentality in areas that we thought were "fixed" by the civil rights movement. In that way there was a sort of educational value in what they were doing. However, we got the message a long time ago, and the current crop of gangsta rappers are just cashing in and exploiting stereotypes.

Just my opinion, of course.

It has little to nothing to do with the war in Iraq. Puhleeeze. This problem existed long before Iraq. It's existed under liberals and conservatives, in peacetime and wartime.

One might say the govt is too involved. We give out a ****load of money to poor people, in many cases just encouraging people to sit on their asses. America is so big, it's hard to determine if everyone really deserves the money they're doled out.

Rap is a huge problem. You should hear some of the things little kids say these days, and then do. It's so ****in kewl to have *****es and guns. Party on!!!

Plenty of poor people make something of themselves (my family for example, or many of the ppl who are my classmates at FSU). There's no excuse for allowing yourself to become an angry victim, even if you think more could be done.

Parenting is the biggest factor. Some people are ****heads, and these ****heads have kids. Then their kids become ****heads. It;d be quite difficultto solve this problem. Castrate all the ****heads? That was a joke! Calm down.

It has little to nothing to do with the war in Iraq. Puhleeeze. This problem existed long before Iraq. It's existed under liberals and conservatives, in peacetime and wartime.

One might say the govt is too involved. We give out a ****load of money to poor people, in many cases just encouraging people to sit on their asses. America is so big, it's hard to determine if everyone really deserves the money they're doled out.

Rap is a huge problem. You should hear some of the things little kids say these days, and then do. It's so ****in kewl to have *****es and guns. Party on!!!

Plenty of poor people make something of themselves (my family for example, or many of the ppl who are my classmates at FSU). There's no excuse for allowing yourself to become an angry victim, even if you think more could be done.

Parenting is the biggest factor. Some people are ****heads, and these ****heads have kids. Then their kids become ****heads. It;d be quite difficultto solve this problem. Castrate all the ****heads? That was a joke! Calm down.

Maybe it shouldn't have been.

Mostly Parents are to blame.

Some parents forget their job isnt done at birth, a child must be molded into what you want him to be. If you are too busy working or doing your own thing, the kid is gonna run wild. And if you yourself set a bad example like if ur a gangsta etc then ur kid will follow ur footsteps.