Of course local activists speak out but beyond resounding silence as usual and why is that?
Why does Charles Rangel and so many others not rally and until the issues are addressed that make people so fragile they have to turn to guns and other weapons to resolve issues and crime in their warped minds as a justifiable income. As long as guns and drugs are glamorized in music, videos, film and tv, street clothes and language that celebrate the "downing" and doing in, why should anyone be surprised. I also believe there are early warning signs and they are ignored and of course where is the parenting?
So nice that so late in the game so rap artists that contributed greatly to this violent culture are speaking up but too little too late. I always think of hearing z100 play a rap song where the rap artist yells at the community for calling the police on him and he never understood his community was doing the right thing and to date communities are suffering because of his behavior that he attempts to make glamorous and justifies with "irrational anger" in his awful rap song with a cool beat.
It is always the communities that suffer, so many innocent people, so many that are leading honorable existences -- they are not glamorous but they are honorable. Even if poor they can look themselves in the mirror with pride because they are good and honest people but it is so wrong they are robbed of feeling safe because of violent criminals and yes often their is a drug connection.
In NYC history this may be the largest population ever to be policed by the smallest number of police ever and the community must get involved more than ever being a very active form of catching crime by calling 911 and the tips hot line and what ever more communities feel they can do with out jeopardizing their safety.
We know Mayor Bloomberg sat blandly by when the NYPD's salary was lowered to such a shameful low that I feel it is only just the Mayor should have to do even half a days work of a police officer's in the most dangerous areas of NYC at night; this is the only way the mayor can begin becoming an advocate for the police and for the safety of New Yorkers and please spare me the crime statistics and ditto for Gov. Paterson.
Also note I believe there is massive drug abuse of prescription drugs both alone and in combination with alcohol and other drugs and this goes unreported and is not addressed. I believe it is so rampant that warnings not to mix prescription drugs with alcohol should be posted at bars as well.
