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