Gang Violence

There are very few things that sadden me as much to hear about people getting caught up in and dying from involvement in street gangs. From what I know, violence is an integral part of the life of being in a gang. Often times admission requires an act of murder or violence such as the practice of being "jumped in". While I've never been involved with a street gang of any kind, I do understand why people seek them out. Many times it is simply a means of survival. In some neighborhoods/environments, individuals can either join a gang or get killed as a person trying to be an independent individual. If you come from a family or an area of more privileged means, it's easy to look down your nose on and condemn those that get involved with gang violence, but we need to understand that it is a result of a completely different environment and struggles that we have been so blessed not to have to endure. I feel like we as a society have become incredibly numb to the issue of gang violence. I know that in my hometown especially, news of deaths on the street is so commonplace that people barely pay it any mind. This is far from a unique circumstance, communities all across the country and all over the world are plagued with the affliction of gangs and gang violence. We've become so desensitized that we've essentially dismissed the issue and that's absolutely tragic. Young men and women who otherwise could have had very promising futures have are gunned down in the street every day. Potential is cut down before it really has the chance to flourish and that is always an incredibly disheartening thing to think about. Horrendous as gang violence may be, it is a problem that can be solved, and it fills me with hope to know that there are so many people out there that are devoting their lives to ousting gangs and gang violence. That's not to say that solving the problem is going to be easy. It will continue to be a struggle every step of the way, but I feel that all of the upstanding individuals that will come of fixing the problem, and all that they are bound to give back to the world makes the endeavor well worth undertaking. I'll never forget the day when I was in grade school and we went out for recess to see the playground covered with tag signs of the Latin Kings and Gangster Disciples (two gangs that are widespread in my home city). It was that day when I was brought out of the bubble that I had been in, and was introduced to the very real problem of gangs and gang violence. It's going to be anything but easy, but we must all do whatever we can to bring the afflicted communities out of squalor and into promise that will surely alleviate he scourge we know as gang violence.