Posted on 09/24/2014 11:06:30 AM PDT by Kaslin
We have heard much about the tragic events in Ferguson, Mo., during which a young man lost his life, a community became enraged and many differing definitions of justice emerged. All human life is precious, and we should be concerned when any life is prematurely terminated, regardless of the circumstances. If we as a society could focus the same kind of attention on the everyday murderous carnage that threatens the vitality of many of our cities, perhaps some meaningful solutions could be found.
Growing up in inner-city America, I witnessed many instances of premature death, usually inflicted by other inner-city residents. I also witnessed many stories of triumph that produced successful individuals out of the same environment. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to study the factors that led to success instead of tragedy in the same environment. Obviously, volumes have been written about this topic, on which many consider themselves experts. In many cases, the observations and analyses are accurate and thought-provoking, and in many cases, they are cowardly and pandering.
There is a long list of factors highly correlated with success regardless of the environment. They include strong supportive families, a sense of personal responsibility, good role models, faith that produces a sense of purpose and values, hard work, confidence, courage, an emphasis on education, and caring neighbors. As many who have read some of my books know, I have written volumes on all of these topics, and all are deserving of much attention, but in this limited article, I will focus on the last three.
We live in an increasingly technical world, where knowledge is power. Even in an economy that is stagnant, it is still relatively easy to obtain a good job when one has acquired the requisite knowledge and skills. Many sophisticated jobs go begging or have to be filled by foreigners because we are not producing technical graduates in sufficient numbers. We must also look at successful educational models, including charter schools, and insist that they be made available to inner-city students. There are a number of excellent reading-room programs throughout the country that incentivize students, particularly from Title I schools, to learn to enjoy reading, which profoundly decreases the dropout rate later on. Lack of education in this country is a major barrier between the haves and the have-nots, and we must concentrate on it.
I remember as a child referring to some of the older neighbors as crotchety and mean because they never let us get away with wrongdoing. We thought they should mind their own business, and I even remember some instances where their windows would be purposely broken. In retrospect, they were the very ones who kept us out of trouble, and obviously, they usually cared deeply about our welfare. The me-first mentality that has infected our society, along with the fear of retribution, has largely extinguished these kinds of neighbors in many cities today. Given the level of violence, one can hardly blame people for keeping their mouths shut, but we must also realize that if we don't nip bad behavior in the bud, it only grows, creating more intimidation, and the vicious cycle continues.
Courage from the kitchen table, the pulpit, the classroom and the streets was prevalent when I was a child. Many people had no problem publicly denouncing deleterious behavior even if it made them temporarily unpopular. Fear of being called names or being proclaimed out of touch has paralyzed many in our inner cities, just as it has throughout the nation. We must realize that we are all in the same boat, and we can sink together in the quagmire of fractious accusations and hatred, or we can rise together to previously unexperienced heights if we learn from past mistakes and embrace the principles that created, in record time, the greatest nation in history.
No, Dr. Carson...just don’t.
True that.
Well, that and the "Snitches get Stiches" campaign.
Growing up in inner-city America, I witnessed many instances of premature death, usually inflicted by other inner-city residents.
Dr. Carson is pussy-footing. He needs to call a spade a spade here and just cut to the chase.
Blacks are killing other blacks, and the answer is....
Another obvious problem he either missed or ignored is marriage and illegitimacy. He is correct that education is important, but marriage and family is even MORE important. If blacks want an equal share of learning and knowledge; then strart with the basics. NO abortions and no illegitimate babies.
| We must realize that we are all in the same boat, and we can sink together in the quagmire of fractious accusations... True that. |
Actually, I would say - Screw that.
I am NOT in the same boat as ferals in Feguson. NOT in the same boat as thugs who can't pull up their pants. NOT in the same boat as a group of people who per capita commit the most crimes, have the most abortions, and even somehow have the most illegitimate children.
Even if you move out of the gutter/ghetto, I am NOT in the same boat as Holder, Obama, Sharpton and the media elites who worship them and put then on a pedestal as the answer to black problems.
/rant off.
courage learned in... classrooms??
huh?
Bravo !
Buried amidst 600+ words of wishful thinking seems to lie a passive/aggressive core of see! it's not really their fault after all ..
Congratulations.
You two have taken an essay in which there is not a single mention of skin color — and turned this into a discussion about race.
This entire article is all about skin color. I'm sure you know, but Dr. Carson is a black man. And he is writing from his black experiences and perspectives. He is writing about issues and concerns specific to the black race.
Are there lessons we white folk can learn? Sure. But to pretend this isn't about race is naive.
At best.
keep ranting. that was a good post.
and that’s why its a useless editorial. I think Dr. Carson seems decent enough. But no courage in that piece he wrote.
Simple fact of the matter is most blacks are racists and they have sold their souls with their hate of whites. You don’t think blacks know what Obama and Holder are doing? They know and are OK with it.
Holder was correct when he said America has no courage to discuss the race problem in the US. He was just 100% wrong on who the real racists are but 100% right on the lack of courage to discuss the truth. The real truth.
(ps: it's with a k, not a c .. which might help explain the original comprehension malfunction d:^)
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