Lost Lives and For What?

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These are some of the faces. The images shown here only tip the iceberg and represent a small

number of lives lost in what seems to be a perpetual wave of violence crippling the citizens of

Chicago. Held hostage by criminals who have no value for life, many Chicagoans feel things just

arent getting better even though statistically, the crime rate dropped for the 17th consecutive

month this past May. July was brutal, with 303 shootings taking place in that one month

alone. Thirty-three of the 303 victims died.

Chicago has got to get a grip, but how? To solve the problem of crime, Chicago cant afford to take a bandaid approach. Covering up the problem without attacking it at its core, will only make matters worse.

But whos going to do it and how can this city come together?

If you listen to seasoned cops, they will tell you that some of the children involved in crimes are children of gang members themselves. How do you reach those kids when their parents are engaged in the same activity the child should seek to prevent?

When attacking any complex problem, the most logical place to start is to look at the origin and then attack it at its core.

In order for Chicago to get a grip, the problem has to be addressed in the cradle. Catching children at birth and instilling in them the type of value system that they need to avoid the pitfalls of engaging in a life of crime is the only logical first step.

It also takes a sense of community. Stopping the silence to end the violence means that people cant be afraid to speak out and report crime to the police when they see it. But reporting crime does not mean that the people elected to serve and to protect this great city bear no responsibility.

Taxpayers have a right to receive equal and full protection under the law. They have a right to have their complaints investigated. They have a right to feel a reasonable sense of security in the homes that they pay for and they have a right to some peace and tranquility.

You have a right to march, a right to let your voices be heard and a right to change things that do not comply with your own personal goals. But you cant change anything unless you organize. you cant build coalitions unless you get involved and you certainly cant change anything by remaining silent.

But change doesnt come easy in tough times while the three eyed monster with wings swarms down on households everywhere. Ravaging families, the economy has been like giant, pressing down hard on Americans in monstrous proportions.

Chicago, like so many other urban areas face cuts in budgets for programs that could help solve the problem. At the same time, deficits too large to even mention loom in the offing while the economy is slowly creeping back. The city is upside down with too much crime and not enough resources to handle it.

The Fraternal Order of Police recently echoed these concerns by holding a protest outside of Chicago Police Headquarters on Sep. 15. The FOP warned that Chicago Police do not have enough resources to effectively serve and protect the city. FOP president, Mark Donahue argued that the violence underlines a bigger issue. In a recent interview with the Citizen, Donahue said, the officers need to be able to proactively police instead of reactively.

This is the other challenge. But when analyzing it, lets look at values. If the citizenry values life, whether its the life of a child or a cop or anyone, they will place an emphasis on solving the problem of crime, first. And when you put your priorities in order, isnt the value of life far more important than everything else anyway? Without life, really--- what is there?

If the people appointed to run this city and to run the police department value life, then they will make fighting crime a priority by re-directing, reorganizing, reevaluating and rethinking the process so that the resources are placed in the right direction. So the question becomes, what do these public officials value?

The next mayor hired to run this city will have his or her values tested too. He or she should be asked, what do you really value, Mr. or Mrs. Mayor? Do you value life more than anything? If you do, then how can you direct resources towards an agenda that addresses the problem of crime? If life is more important than anything else, this is the first question to ask.

Several weeks ago, a group of gangbangers and ex-gangbangers held a press conference where they talked about how creating jobs and having gainful employment will help deter the crime. Jobs are important while similarly, equality in the hiring and selection process, are all important. They are the very things that people like Dr. King lost his life for and what other civil rights leaders fought for and still do today.

But before a person can hold down a job, before they can get up every day, be on time for work and maintain that job when they get there, they have to have instilled in them a core group of values. To be successful, they need to have a work ethic that allows them to be responsible enough to go in every day to perform that job in order to take home an honest pay. Thats why it starts at the cradlethats why it starts at the logical point, at the beginning. At the beginning is the best time to address it.

In 2008, the nation elected its first Black president. Right now, his political rivals contend that he just doesnt get it. It was the economy, not healthcare, that he should have been concerned with during his first year as president they say.

But the president does get it. He has enough sense to understand that without good health, you cant do anything, including work; and that good health includes ones mental health. Serious psychological problems result in negative behavior. That behavior skews a persons judgment, forcing him or her to make the wrong decisions. At the same time, the ability to make a wise decision is based on a positive mental attitude and a strong value system which is learned from the time a child enters the world.

If rectifying negative behavior is not addressed in the beginning nor at any point in a persons adult life, and if the priority to direct resources in that direction does not exist, then we are all fooling ourselves in thinking that the problem will ever be completely resolved.

At some point, the issue of what in a persons mind gives them the idea that they have the right to unlawfully commit any crime against another individual has to be thoroughly examined. Somewhere in the race to find solutions, the issue of changing behavior, has to become a priority.

On Sep. 25, you can renew your commitment towards stopping the violence by attending a candlelight vigil held in honor all of the people who have been victimized by crime during National Day of Remembrance. The vigil will begin at 1:00pm at St. Sabina Church, 1210 West 78th Street. Everyone in Chicago has a stake in this problem and as many people in the city as possible should be there. It will send a clear message to the crooks that Chicago is bigger than they are and that the cost of human lives is way too high of a price to pay. The criminals have already shown that they do not value human life. But by taking a stand, you can show them that you do.

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