Reply ID: jj98

I've very grateful for your interest and attention concerning the social issues of today that plague our society. I wish I could sit toe-to-toe with you (intellectually, statistically, and otherwise) to not only discuss these issues but to also take action.

we've discussed the issues for far too long and know what must be done. We need to take out the politics, the bystanding, prejudices and self-serving interests and move forward towards making our world a better place to live. We need to stop the violence altogether. Black-on-black crime is atrocious, so we should do away with "snitches get stitches" and "sing a song if you see something wrong!" As a community, we used to police ourselves, handling pedophiles, buglers, disputes and gun play. Neighbors watching others' backs and kids. But now, it's mind your own business or get shot.

The older generations need to round up the younger generations and communicate with them, and actually listen to what they have to say. The parents need to be parents and not just the person keeping food on the table or a roof over their heads; get involved in their children's lives—school, after school, and social gatherings. But take caution not to hover and smother their child. Be nurturing and supportive, and provide guidance when needed.

What's equally important is getting everyone involved in what our government is doing. The agents (police, politicians, and civil servants) make decisions every day that affect each and every one of our lives. We should be mindful of the people that are voted into office and make sure that they are actually doing the job. Most important is to stay informed and be mindful of the sources of information. The information pool is polluted so check the sources.

It's good to be open-minded and considerate of other views and ideas. I would like to suggest that you get out of the books for the summer and take an internship at a law firm or social service agency. We are more than a statistic. Fixing the system is only a matter of getting "We the People" interested and active.

Daniel Gwynn