The media, in its consu
ming quest to be first and usually get it wrong, presumed it had a great story of police brutality on a long time criminal, Freddie Gray, in Baltimore. The way it was reported, it certainly pointed to police brutality.
But, as the facts slowly came out (maybe the facts didn’t fit the narrative they wanted?), there are certainly questions to be answered. I’m not saying there was or wasn’t police brutality concerning Freddie Gray – I don’t know, but at this point (May 1), apparently nobody does. Being a product of the 1950s and ’60s, when the story was told without picking sides – “just the facts and only the facts” type of reporting without the underlying accusations, hype, hysterical , pompous reporting and presumptions, I expect more. You’d think they would learn the lessons of accurate, complete reporting after the Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown incidents. It doesn’t help when the President piles on with his comments to help solidify the stories of the fairy tale type. With an African-American President, wouldn’t you think this would help in race relations? It is worse than ever, and the President’s off the cuff, no fact remarks fan the fires of those racial strife and unequal justice, real or perceived.
Where in America do the mayor and police chief let the gangs run wild burning, looting, and injuring people without stepping in to quell the situation? To further exacerbate the situation, the mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (Democrat) explained her reasons for not stepping in to help citizens protect themselves and property:
“I made it very clear that I work with the police and instructed them to do everything that they could do to make sure that the protesters were able to exercise their right to free speech. It’s a very delicate balancing act. Because while we tried to make sure that they were protected from the cars and other things that were going on, we also gave those who wished to destroy, space to do that as well. And we worked very hard to keep that balance and to put ourselves in the best position to de-escalate.”
I guess she only thinks those rioting, looting and fighting are her only constituents? What about the store owners and other people in the neighborhood? Those businesses service the same people that were looting and burning them down. I’m sure there were many in the neighborhood that worked in those businesses and lost their livelihood as well.
How can this happen in Baltimore, where everyone from the President, U.S. Representative, city mayor, city government, police chief and majority of police officers are African-American and Democrats? The gangs and thugs roaming the streets are elevated to instant celebrity status, in front of cameras and addressing the mayor and public on television. The Democrats have been in control of this city for decades and it continues to fester as a hell-hole for thugs and gangsters, just like South Chicago, Detroit, East Los Angeles, etc.
I heard the complaints about no jobs, no opportunity, no future for those stuck in Baltimore. I have something that will help immensely in their understanding of how to change their futures.
If you always do what you’ve always done and expect a different outcome – that is the definition of idiocy.
Help yourself, because the Democrats and government programs will only keep you mired in the misery and helpless state you’re in now. Uncle Sam’s plantation is not any different from those before the Civil War, just Uncle Sam is now the benevolent master. Being dependent on government largess never gets you out of poverty, both of the material things and depressing the soul and confidence level.
Only by leaving the way of life you’re living will help you transition to a better, more fulfilling life. That first step is the hardest thing to do, but everything is built on small steps at a time, as it was for most of us and won’t change in the future. Nothing is easy and anything worthwhile does not come without sweat and sacrifice. Elementary, simplistic idea you say? Isn’t everything elementary and incremental when it comes to personal progress?
Dear reader, don’t you remember when you went to school, started that first job, tried something completely out of your comfort zone. You didn’t start at the top, you started at the bottom. Nobody wants to start at the bottom any more — they want $20 per hour, insurance, four weeks vacation, etc., right out of the chute, or they are not going to work.
Guess that’s why so few have jobs. It isn’t going to happen without experience and/or education. My experience with the present generation in the workplace: they seldom get to work on time, don’t show enthusiasm and improve their job skills, or ask what they need to do to advance up to the possible opportunities that may become available in the future.
They want 40 hours per week, day work, Monday through Friday. No second or third shift, no weekends, no overtime (or as few as possible). Working longer hours are not wanted. I don’t know too many people where I’m employed who work only 40 hours per week.
I knew a young black man (he said he was “black” (this was before African-American was used)) in the service, whom I’ll call Tim. Tim was a football player in high school and received grades good enough to keep playing sports. He admitted to me he was a lousy student and hated school in Alabama, but received attention from college scouts. He got hurt his senior year, the colleges quit calling; he quit school and left home, trying to make it on his own. His parents were poor sharecroppers and didn’t need another mouth to feed. After several menial jobs, he joined the service. He loved the discipline and structure and he had a chance to gain his GED and did so in record time.
He started going to college during lunch and nights after work while in the service. After his junior year, he applied for college assistance through the service, and was awarded college time, a stipend and a college scholarship (he was an all-A student) to complete his electrical engineering education at Cal Poly. Of course, that opportunity meant he would serve additional years in the service.
Since he had already decided to remain in the service, he thought it would be better to strive to become an officer for more opportunity, status, responsibility, and money. I heard he did complete his degree requirements on time, was commissioned, and remained in the service.
I haven’t seen him since I left the service, but I’m sure my friend is retired with at least a major or higher rank because of his positive attitude and individual initiative to make something of himself because of his dreams.
My friend is a great example of starting with nothing and making changes to improve his life. It can be done, but it isn’t for the faint-hearted — it takes time, initiative, and personal sacrifice, something many people, on average, are not willing to do.
