The War is here at home!

                                                                                                 

I have struggled with the concept of sending our young men and women off to another country to either set them free from an oppressor or to nation build. Our young service men and women serve with valor and honor, while their families sit at home wondering if the next knock on the door or telephone call will be the most terrible news of all, the death of their loved one. 

I decided to take a look at the several wars going on around the world. As in my last post I pointed out Rwanda and the travesty in Haiti. During my reasearch I came across some astounding numbers which will support my theory of taking care of home first. I hope the numbers do not bore you while you read, I hope it makes you as outraged as I am. I was astonished at first then I became angry. Our media outlets have basically left an entire segment of our population out in the cold. The wars happening all over the world are terrible on their own, but we have a war which has gone on for over 40 years on our own soil in the richest state in the union.  California! Before you pass judgement on the Bloods and Crips look at the numbers I will present to you and it will only be human nature for you to form an opinion.

I chose only one county, just one. Los Angeles County home to where these gangs were born. Many people believe they sprung up because of the movie “Colors,” or some misguided young men who just wanted to rob and steal. It’s a hell of a lot deeper than that. The 1940′s brought many of the African-American families from the south to California where they believed they would have a better chance at living out the “American Dream.” They found employment in war-time plants which provided income and allowed them to buy homes and send their children to college. However, the racism did not resemble the lynching as it did in the south but segregated housing. Housing communities would have in their contracts stating African-American families could not by homes in certain areas. The majority of African-Americans ended up in L.A. County in poor built housing communities. It was fine for them because they were employed, businesses lined the streets and they were being productive whether society wanted them to be a part of it or not. Once the war ended the plants were converted to automobile factories, which still provided employment. The late 1950′s several groups like the “Spook Hunters,” began to spring up and enter the peaceful neighborhoods of the African Americans and harass even throw bricks at them. This spawned African American clubs like the Slausons, Boss men and Gladiators. The 1960′s ushered in a new era of police brutality. The police chief was from down south and specifically recruited officers from the south. For self protection and in an attempt to control their own political destiny African American groups begin to spring up in several cities across the United States. Most notable the Black Panthers. The Panthers wanted to ensure the safety of their community from police brutality and wanted their communities to be self reliant. J. Edgar Hoover made it a top priority to destroy the Panthers because he viewed them and I quote, “The most dangerous organization on American soil!” Once counterintelligence was utilized on the organization, leaders were either jailed, killed or exiled. Every African American leader who had the ability to unite people were assisinated during this time, Malcom X, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Bunchie Carter and the list is endless. From this destruction of the Panthers appeared a vacuum. This void was filled by a different breed of young men. These young men watched their parent take the beatings, watched their fathers be treated less then men, watched their communities slowly fall into decay as companies exited taking with them jobs. The first notable group of young men called themselves “Crips!” As the ocean ebbs and flows, the ying is with the yang and for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction rose another group called the “Bloods!” How the war between the two factions is still sketchy, but it began.

In L.A. County alone there are over 1076 gangs, 80,716 known gang members ranging from the age of 10 to 76 years of age. From 1996 – 2006 the District Attorney’s Office Gang Crime and Violence report dated April 2008, there were 5078 gang related DEATHS. ICasualties.org reports from 2003 – 2010, coalitions forces have had a total of 6204 deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. This is one county in California verses two Wars. What do you see wrong with this picture. Also, during the years of 2003-2004 there were 23,762 high school drop outs in L.A. County. Many of these young folks are shot at on the way to school or shot at on the way home. This is a very sad state of affairs right here in the United States and our government is worrying about spreading democracy and there is none here at home?

To me it is simple sociology and psychology. If a person is to feel nonexistent in every aspect of their lives what type of people do you think will emerge from the conditions? If they are subject to live in most horrible conditions where police are allowed to beat, plant evidence and some cases kill them, what type of people will emerge from the conditions?If they are given weapons not even made in this country provided drugs to sell (research Freeway Ricky Ross and the Iran - Contra Scandal), what type of people will emerge from the conditions? There are at least five generations of gangs in L.A. County, do you really think there is a choice?

I am getting long winded again and it may be the reason I don’t get many responses, I get view, but not responses. I will close with this. I used only one county from one state in the union. Think of all the states and counties in the union, is this our own form of government sactioned genocide? If there is no remedy in sight our country will implode.

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