“I’m thinking the devil has taken over.”
– A River Glen apartment
resident, lamenting
recent violence there
Actually, the notion that an other-worldly power is responsible for our problems might even be a comforting thought. It’s less complicated, at least – and the blame is easier to affix.
The more confounding truth is that what ails our society has human fingerprints all over it.
A Chronicle news story last week called the East Boundary apartment complex “one of the more troublesome spots for law enforcement, where Richmond County deputies responded to more than 850 calls in 2011.” Not too long ago, authorities were cleaning up after the third homicide there since last May.
Can you imagine living in a neighborhood with that kind of homicide rate? Can you imagine calling police that often?
These folks do, on both counts.
But rather than blame an
apparition, perhaps society ought to take an honest look at what’s going on and why.
The sheriff’s office sympathizes with residents, saying much of their trouble is visited upon them by people who don’t live there. That would seem to indicate this is a larger issue than this particular apartment complex.
Residents do need to question why crime is attracted there, and attack the cause. They need to be extra-vigilant of suspicious activity. They need to have a no-nonsense, zero-tolerance policy when it comes to crimes, minor or major.
And whatever the peer pressure says, they need to cooperate with and enthusiastically support any and all law enforcement efforts to protect them.
Yep. It means telling on people.
At a deeper level, society needs to be more accepting of the traditional values that give civil society its structure and stability, and which allow people from every walk of life the opportunity to better themselves. Family. God. Self-reliance. Responsibility. Clean living. Playing by the rules.
Instead, the popular culture mocks and denigrates such values, and holds up destructive lifestyles as just another choice. We have just lost another entertainment icon, quite likely to some kind of substance abuse (see the editorial below). And we have a presidential administration that treats the birth control pill as a kind of communion host – sacred and necessary for salvation.
In point of fact, outside of the bonds of marriage, willy-nilly dispensing of birth control pills is a get-out-of-responsibility-free card – a license to ply the very kinds of lifestyles that endanger our young and torment innocent apartment residents.
Such thoughts may be hopelessly old-fashioned, but the quality of being old-fashioned is an earned one: behaviors that work, ideas that are true, principles that save us from ourselves are all timeless.
They’re just not as easy as blaming demons unseen.
An editorial slant, concerned with truth first and political ideology a distant second, would be a very good step on your parts towards healing that which ails us as a culture. Advancing a rather Hamiltonian model of concentrating power in the hands of the wealthy few, has done nothing to help.
Thats right Jon , wealth is the key .
Along with plenty of legal intoxicating drugs .
If only these people had more money & drugs to pursue their drug
fueled , pleasure mad lifestyles .
Along with safe government regulated legalized drug supply for one
and all.
The new taxes on the legalized intoxicants could help all classes
in pursuit of their pleasure
And then finally in this brave new world we could all end up like
Whitney .
I fail to see any political slant in the editorial, just some good old common sense which many seem to be lacking these days, and that is putting the "truth" first. I may not totally agree with the statement that birth control pills, being the license to ply this negative kind of lifestyle, but I most certainly do believe that our "entertainment" culture has played a HUGE impact on our society. Traditional values also play a big part, love of God and country, families with a mother AND a father to teach moral values, courtesy and respect for others, and self pride that you would work for what you needed. This world has become so self centered it is sickening.
Stop paying children monthly checks to have babies they don't want, don't care for. Many do it just for the check. They will even tell you the same. How many of the thugs are products of this: single moms, no dads in sight, no love, no hope, failing public schools.........
Read this again .....850 calls in 1 year...
850 CALLS IN 1 YEAR----850 calls----but yet we need a ballpark...
If that # doesn't slap you in the face---nothing will.
Okay, the problem is there. Let's try to think of ways to fix it instead of crying how bad things are. First goverment welfare policies that promote single motherhood have destroyed black families. Secondly, the war on drugs has caused rampant crime and violence like we have never seen. Lastly, why not have community based policing with a few policemen being given free rent to live there and become involved and known to the residents? If they are having 2-3 calls a day down there it would seem cost effective.
RM...I doubt the policeman would put his family in that danger...they know what happens there.....would you ?
What amount of $$$$ would it take for you to live there.....don't want ya there btw...just wondering..
ICL says "This world has become so self centered it is sickening."
The country and society in general -- since the mid-60's -- has and is evolving at high speed towards conditions unimaginably worse than anyone may want to take time to comprehend. The decline of America, has been fathered by self centered liberalism and enabled by political correctness.
The hand writings on the wall, but most would rather just discredit the messenger and skip past the inscription.
"The sheriff’s office sympathizes with residents, saying much of their trouble is visited upon them by people who don’t live there. That would seem to indicate this is a larger issue than this particular apartment complex."
While I'm fairly certain there are many law abiding and good citizens who live there, the only reason an outside element comes in is because there is a market there.
But what the article does point out about the residents responsibility to not put up with the crime is completely accurate. The reason there is no crime in my neighborhood is the people would not put up with it. Period.
When these folks decide they will no longer put up with it, the purveyors of modern science will find another market. Protecting criminals is enabling criminals and encouraging more of the same.
Time to man up: Residents and the criminal justice system. Tent city and P&J sandwiches!!! Freedom came at a cost and is taken for granted.
@TNTHOMSON, I loved that, those blamed Hippies started all of this:)
Riverman1,
In Augusta, there's a lot more "courageous" talk than courageous action."
"There's not much courage in Augusta, GA."
Sad, isn't it?
Yes, the problems that have plagued American cities for over a century are largely due to the birth control policy of liberals. No, please, don't bother trying to give any factual basis for that statement. The more that the far Right makes ridiculous, baseless statements, the more they appear ridiculous and baseless.
The Obama administration lobbed a softball on the issue of the fundamentalist position on birth control, and y'all have hit it out of the park.
I agree with TNTHOMSON. It(decline of America) did take off running with the 60's and the hippie generation. Just look at some of the old hippies today, you know, like Ayers(obama's friend).
Birth control..hmmnm When does the sterilization process begin?
Or - is it already happening? Better check it out.
I was actually in agreement with the editorial staff's commentary - until I got to the last five paragraphs. Talk about a curve ball! How did we go from a sane commentary on confronting crime, to a rant about conservative "values" and birth control?
Every time I hear the word "traditional" I cringe. The connotations of that word encapsulate the most narrow-minded, myopic viewpoints imaginable. Just because something is traditional doesn't make it a wise choice.
According to the Chronicle - "In point of fact, outside of the bonds of marriage, willy-nilly dispensing of birth control pills is a get-out-of-responsibility-free card."
I have a serious problem with this statement. In fact, using birth control is one of the most responsible things an individual can do. Unplanned pregnancies lead to a myriad of problems, even possibly resulting in abortion - and the Chronicle thinks that easy availability and access to birth control is irresponsible?
I am beyond flabbergasted.
Therein lies the problem.
----------------
Well, it's certainly becoming a political problem for groups that insist their candidates toe a fundamentalist line. Even the majority of American CATHOLICS support the birth control coverage mandate for Catholic institutions.
'
seen it, I would not move there if someone gave me $5000.00 a month extra.
I find it rather ironic that an AC editorial extolling old-fashioned values appears right next to an article on a nearly-naked 19 year old swimsuit model.
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