Sitting in a Broken Chair

CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!                           July 26, 2013

By Author Bryce A Baker

 

Sitting in a Broken Chair

No matter which way I look at it, being a ‘Gangsta’ doesn’t impress me as a great career choice in life. One can choose from thousands of jobs depending on education and personal skills. After interviewing the emotionally and morally delinquent after an arrest, I found no reasonable or qualifying purpose for them to be stealing or taking another human life. When my youngest step son was in his mid-teens I advised him that his actions now will affect the rest of his life. The phrase ‘You can’t do anything to me ‘cause I’m a minor’ became a sick echo in my ear. But sooner or later the minor can’t hide behind age restrictions in the criminal code.

The glorification of being a ‘gansta’ in movies and TV shows preys on the young people with low self-esteem and their sense of belonging. Whether positive or negative, some young people take the route of least resistance like water but unfortunately it is usually too late when they hit the rapids. One of the biggest personality dysfunctions I have recognized with the criminal element is a sociopathic trait. The lack or total lack of conscience. Another commonality with the destructive criminal is that they see themselves as the victims of society to qualify their actions. I don’t blame the car manufacturer for my speeding ticket!

It is great to see someone see the light and change to become an asset to society rather than a detriment. Their success isn’t easy after the scarring, but at least they are trying.

At an art show I was doing some years ago, a number of young members from an Asian gang came in and I was preparing for the worst. They silently walked around my show for a number of minutes and after they finished, the leader and a couple of others approached me. The young leader stood before me and said “You’re pretty good! I always wanted to do some art work.” Aside from the relief that I didn’t have to defend myself with force, I was totally impressed with the result. No matter how many confrontations I had on the street with these people, with little expectations of improvement, this youth did have a dream and instead of hurting, he shared a positive dream with me. What a high!

The Devil has such a grip on these people, but in his keeping, the promises of notoriety, money, babes and power are only a lie and a ticket to Hell.

I could ramble on about this subject, but no matter how youth are warned, their eyes are closed and waddle aimlessly into the fire. Can’t they see there is no Pension Plan for gangstas, and more importantly, I have yet to see a retired ‘GANGSTA’.

Please... CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG!

Bryce A Baker

www.bryceabaker.com

 

 

Save Us from Ourselves

 CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!                                                                   July 12, 2013
                                                                                                                                     13th Edition
By Author Bryce A Baker

Save Us from Ourselves                            

By now I would imagine that most readers of my articles understand that since I was born in the fifties when family values were still relatively intact, my opinions are based there. I wasn’t familiar with the phrase ‘dysfunctional’ until I explored the world as an independent eighteen year old. As most families, ours had some dysfunction but still retained the family unit. We actually sat together at the dinner table and had outings together.

Morality seems to be manipulated over the years to conform to the need of the individual. Since the sweep of the hippie generation of free love and lack of responsibility it has impregnated the juvenile mind, or at least a majority thereof.  The youth have mortified into an antisocial mass against the stable responsible part of society. Everyone goes through emotional and social changes throughout their lives and fortunately most grow to understand drugs, booze and revolt against ‘THE MAN’ are not conducive to employment, family and staying out of the slammer. I for one have seen the worst and have the understanding that our governing agencies are not the greatest examples of morality, but we can make change through proper channels. Speaking for myself we don’t have to be sheep and accept the stupidity laid before us, but have the fortitude to see through it and make responsible positive choices.

There is a positive note on the horizon, or at least through my eyes and twisted observation. The youth through the decades went from a majority of good standards down to a majority of bad. The positive point now is the ‘majority’ is swaying back on the up side. There are some great young adults out there looking to change for the better and making it known. Maybe the world stands a chance after all. Anyway the youth are tired of being labeled delinquent, so ‘gangstas’ look out!

I said to my wife a few times that it is unfortunate that the young heroes get a small paragraph on page four, and the psychotic killers get international attention on page one. Where is the support for doing good? I would say it sends a message to those lacking in self-esteem that their moment of recognition is to kill someone. Quite sad. When I see young people flippin’ burgers at a burger joint for minimum wage instead of selling drugs for big bucks, they are HEROES to me.

Please...CORRECT ME IF ‘M WRONG!

Bryce A Baker

www.bryceabaker.com