I gotta tell you I am mad. I am really mad. Just a few weeks ago I wrote about the death of Derrion Albert less than a mile from his school. He was beaten to death on the street by a gang of youths armed with railroad ties. The entire event was captured on video, particularly the absence of help. He was an innocent kid stuck walking a gauntlet of violence to get from school to the bus stop to home. Now we have Gamma.
Gamaliel Toscano actually participated in a safe haven program that helps get kids off of the street and away from gangs. Not far enough apparently, because at 245pm on Thursday, October 22 Gamma was gunned down in an alley on his way home from school.
Why? Well, isn?t that the million dollar question.
Why! Why are our children dying? Why can?t we keep them safe? Why is violence in schools on the rise? Why are some children so desperate that they see murder as a reasonable option? Why has bullying become a National passtime? Why are we sticking our heads in the sand and pretending that there isn?t a race problem still in existence in this country? Why do we allow hate streams to continue on air and in print as though they have no affect on our children?s self esteem? Why aren?t we ?doing more better? to help lift people from poverty? Why are we allowing education to flounder and stunt our children?s growth? Why! Why! Why! I am so consumed with Why?s!
Enough I say. Enough is what I hope you will say too because it will take all of us to change this awful path that we are on. We need to take back childhood. Our children deserve to be safe walking the streets to school. And then when they get there, they deserve the best. diversified education that we in America truly know how to offer. This problem isn?t just a Chicago problem, this is an American problem. Children dying anywhere in our communities is all of our problem. Yes, I am on my soap box, screaming as loud as I can. There is room up here for you to join me though. Step up. Step up for the children. And let?s make all of America a safe haven for the future to grow.
Here are a few organizations that are ‘Doing More Better” to keep childhood safe! Please add names to the list of organizations you know of in your community.
Safe Schools-Healthy Students Initiative
Students Against Violence Everwhere
Foundation For The Prevention of School Violence
SMILE On!
ML
Miss Lori can be found Musing from her Minivan at MissLori.TV , Wearetherealdeal.com and ChicagoMomsBlog. You can also see her Activating to Be Great at Miss Lori’s CAMPUS on Youtube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About misslori
