I found out yesterday morning that a former neighbor of ours got shot. He attended our church for some time, and his grandfather still does. I used to watch this kid shoot baskets almost every day out my office window. I feel pretty bad about the whole thing.
I don't know that it was gang related, but I would be surprised if it wasn't. And I feel somewhat responsible. I had every opportunity to reach out to this kid; I knew I should reach out to this kid; he probably reached out to me on several occasions... and I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! This is not a case of feeling sorry for myself. I am PISSED OFF. Because I could have, and should have, done something a long time ago.
Anyway... I guess he is ok. It just makes me sad, and mad, that I didn't do something. Granted, we cannot be responsible for the actions of others, but we SHOULD feel more responsible for those we are in community with. We should feel an obligation to share responsibility for society's actions. I failed. We failed. We continue to fail.
Story: http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/shooting-on-oliver
1 comment:
I probably won't talk you out of it, but approaching him then might have been considered "profiling", even if it was based on experience and precedent. I would say it's safe to make the assumption that he's "troubled" now. But gunshot wounds and arrest records only elevate you in gangs. The badder you are the more revered (don't ask how I know. :D ) So you might want to see him in the hospital if only so you don't feel worse the NEXT time he's in the news.
I don't agree with the idea that society is to blame and schools suck and we just need to allocate more funds, etc. If all that plays a part, it's about 2%. The rest is internal, how they think. If a person doesn't like themselves, they're not risking as much as you think they are.
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