Everyone's Opinion Newsletter

This is to Joe, about the gangs in Altoona. I'm just curious as to how he was able to identify these Blood gang members. Did he ask them if they were in fact gang members? Were they all wearing some sort of red and thats how he knew? Is it because they were black? Or were they white and just all looking thuggish? I've heard so many people saying about these gangs, as I've known people that claimed to be in the gang: the "Crypts."

However simple logic told me they were full of crap and weren't in any such gangs. Just because they were wearing blue, had two pit bulls on a leash, throwing up some gang signs and taking pictures didn't make them part of a gang. However, if your so concerned about gangs; instead of telling everyone else to do something about them maybe you should be retroactive and find a way to contribute. Kids join gangs to feel like they are apart of a family, because their own family isn't there for them. Dead beat dads and moms working two or three minimum wage jobs to put some food on the table, or perhaps dad is an alcoholic. Or mom is off sleeping with some other man because the one at home just treats her like dirt. Whatever the case, these kids need someone to look up to. Someone to make them feel like they belong to something. Someone to care about them.

So perhaps, Joe, instead of complaining about the gangs you should consider being a role model for some kids before they ever consider joining a gang. If a gang doesn't have anyone to recruit then there is no gang. No gang means no fighting over territory, no drive by shootings, and perhaps even a better graduation rate for these would be gang members.

Shout Out Loud

Altoona

What do you think?