- a sprinkler soaked back yard. The boys have been asking since that one sunny day back in February.
- a wonderfully earned farmer's tan.
- lots more trash to pick up
- the smell of the grill permanently coating my back yard, and maybe my skin...
- camping; maybe
But of the things anticipated every summer, there is one that i wished would never come. Summer violence.
We've been talking about it since Spring Break. The anticipation of bored, out of school, outside youth...and by youth I mean ages 10-25...with nothing better to do that mess around and care deeply about things that don't really matter. Which inevitably leads to someone pushing someone, which turns into fists raised and sometimes someone reaches the level of needing to 'prove' something and out comes the heat (gun).
We've already heard of rallys and demonstrations being planned to stand for peace and stop the violence; we are probably going to be a part of one in New Columbia ourselves.
But here's the thing...and I'm thinking out loud here, which I'm not a huge fan of; I mean seriously, I have such a hard time knowing if I'm supposed to engage or just keep my mouth shut. Please feel free to engage...anyway, here's the thing....
I wonder how effective those events actually are? Hear me out....
1) They aren't enough.
They are a great rallying point for the community, a place we can gather together and say we don't want anymore young men dying. But if all we do is rally and yell for a few hours and the go back home to life as usual, what have we done? It's like speaking for justice on Facebook and Twitter, and if after you hit send, your life doesn't change, what have you really done? Getting together at the beginning of the summer of after someone is shot is just not enough...
2. They aren't there.
Who comes to these events? Gang Members? Doubtful, cops are usually there. Drug Dealers? See above. Of those in attendence, I'm willing to wager that 99% of those there are not directly involved in any kind of gang-related violence. So, who's minds are we changing? Anyone's? Or are we really just preaching to the choir? Again, we need encouraged to continue to stand for peace, we need those rallying moments, but if those in attendance are not committing violent acts...has the event actually decreased the likelihood of violence?
Alright, on to my proposal...what if 'peace', these specific expressions of 'peace' aren't actually the anti-thesis to the expressions of violence? what if its play? what if the thing that is the anti-thesis of violence is peace being expressed through play? and play that not only is safe for those who don't commit violence but actually include and invite those who are committing those acts of violence to lay down their guns and join in on the fun. this is how we see change, this is how things begin to become transofrmed...when we find ways to stand with, and invite them into relationships that disarm those things that divide or incite anger or hatred.
those are my thoughts, stay tuned for more on this, but until then i'd love some feedback, some engaging, whats your thoughts?
2 comments:
I am sure we would all agree that both the community gathering and the community play time are equally important, the problem is that one is a lot easier than the other. It is easy to come together in a large group and stand for something that you may not be totally invested in. Most of the time it doesn't require us to do anything more than simply show up. But coming out to engage with people who don't believe the same way that you do requires you to do more than just simply show up. But I feel that we are in a season where our community is tired of doing the same thing over and over again expecting to see different results. We are tired of expecting everyone else to come into our community and do what we ourselves should be doing. We are tired of watching the news highlight only how dangerous our communities are and we are tired of hearing mothers cry for young lives being cut short. I believe our community is looking for hope and I believe that we are going to find it this summer. We may not solve the issue but we will put a dent in it...
Just my thoughts
Gang violence is such a culturally based problem that adolescents must essentially change their whole way of thinking. Do some get out and "beat the odds" of course! The problem is that most continue the cycle. This lifestyle and way of living is often multigenerational and ingrained in their deepest thoughts. In order to change, new thoughts and ways of thinking needs to be formed and their needs need to be met in new ways. This could take a really radical day but in my experience it takes MANY radical experiences. I love what you're doing with your young men's group. It's programs like these that change the inner most thoughts, new healthy relationships are form and positive role models exist. Involvement in community service is a great tool to get students involved...many schools offer high school credit for community service hours, thus it's a great incentive to catch up on credits and it provides experiential education, connection in the community, work experience, role models, etc!
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