By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, August 10, 2007 at 6:00 AM
State Representative Talibdin El-Amin held a press conference Thursday in his north St. Louis district to address a wave of violent crime that has affected many parts of the city. Labels: Crime, Joe_Mokwa, Talibdin_El-Amin
El-Amin, who also serves as the Democratic Committeeman of the 1st Ward, called on Police Chief Joe Mokwa to increase patrols in his ward and others facing high instances of violence, which often accompany the hot summer months.
The first-term State Rep also suggested that if things don't improve soon, he would not oppose the state committing resources in the form of the National Guard to help patrol the roughest parts of town.
12 Comments:
Maybe we should get the Navy too? WTF is he talking about?
8/10/2007 12:22 AM
Something does need to be done, and he raises good points about jobs. I'm curious though to the age of most offenders, and if a age curfew might be in order. The issue right now is guns, and how easily they are to obtain on the street. Where are they coming from? How about the rounds? Where are they coming from? Doubling patrols sounds smart, I don't know about the guard. Some (video)street surveliance might light a path to somewhere.
8/10/2007 2:19 AM
All this fake rhetoric is due to the upcoming elections in 2008.
These mass killings, murders, slaughters, rapes, assaults, and violent crime have been going on all summer, and strangely El-Amin starts speaking out at the end of the summer.
Why didn't he speak out about crime and do something while he was in Jefferson City?
The answer is clear, El-Amin was busy introducing the "Baking Soda Bill", the "We need an Apology for Slavery Bill, the "Let's Rename the Highway Bill, attacking public education, and filling his pockets with money to the tune of $40,000 from Republicans.
This is all POLITICAL, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing said!
Maybe he should arm the National Guard with "Baking Soda" detectors to filter out any drugs.
What a joke for a State Representative!
Hopefully, someone will run against him and win. That would be the best thing for the community, if he was not the elected State Representative anymore.
8/10/2007 6:35 AM
Regardless of how anyone feels about this idea, it is apparent more blacks suffer from other blacks and not from people of other races.
Many prefer to live in white neighborhoods where they feel safer.
8/10/2007 7:37 AM
So, once we get rid of him and all the rest of the blacks, the neighborhood will be safe? That's the solution?
Engage the problem, it will not go away on it's own.
Here's a thinker:
I hear references to kids in black hoods under age 10 as being 'bad as hell" all the time, and they hear it too (from own parents or whoever). Are they eventually convinced that they are actually 'bad' people instead of having made a poor decision?
In all my childhood years in white neighborhoods, I never once heard that. And I wasn't neccesarily a 'good' kid, nor were my friends. Is 'all hope lost' (subconsciously) at a much younger age in the hood?
Are Blacks moving to trailer parks or neighborhoods with no low income rental space for this 'safety'? Is it a color issue or an income level issue? I'd think they would want to drive the scumbags out of thier neighborhoods, not the other way around.
Would Martin Luther King even WANT the street we've named in his honor to be? I'm white, and I'm embarrassed. He deserves better.
Why do these kids feel as though violence is the solution?
8/10/2007 10:56 AM
Constant change,
You made some good points... "Blacks" should be embarrased. MLK Drives looks a mess and we aren't doing anything to uplift it. It's been going on for too long. Anomy at 6:35 made good points also, TD wasn't saying this when he introduced that immature "We need an apology for slavery bill" or "Baking Soda" or "Rename the highway" I'm not criticizing the bills but simply saying, that wasted time should've been used on bills involving the police control issue, education, and proverty.
8/10/2007 11:52 AM
I wonder if the good Rep is aware of the new studies (mentioned on NPR) linking Lead Poisoning to violent crime. Pleas to test the
children in St. Louis for Lead
have fallen El-Amin's and the well-dressed Mayor's deaf ears - that is unless Civic Progress talks. Why can't these pols really look after the children?
8/10/2007 4:40 PM
In my experience working with young urban children, it seems like many of the children come to view being "bad as hell" as a badge of honor, often starting very young to define themselves that way purposefully. I think sometimes that they choose this "identity" because that is all they really see around them. The role models in their daily lives, and on the television--which has more impact than most are willing to admit--have given young black children very few role models they can identify with who are not "bad as hell". Violence comes with the package. Many even very young children use violence as a first choice of reaction to nearly every situation. They have to be painstakingly and repetitively taught different responses. This is very difficult and time-consuming because it is often not reinforced at all outside the schools.
So many young black children have no fathers in their lives. The boys, especially, look for role models to piece together an identity for themselves. These role models must have some common ground with the children so that they can see themselves in those roles. Children emulate those who are able to help them define themselves. The street is dedicated to "helping" the children see themselves belonging to it. The rest of society has a heavy burden to seek out and reach these children to give them a different vision for themselves. Unfortunately, there are very few stepping up. I don't think Dr. King would be ashamed. I think he would preach and empower and bring the dream back to life.
By far, the most powerful force for good in the black community is the presence and influence of black men of character. Many black men do not even realize how incredibly important they are and can be to how very many people. Every good, honest black man carries the weight of a hundred children's identities on his shoulders. Children his brothers will not or cannot carry. Children some of his brothers are actively destroying. It is not a burden many are willing to carry, and it is not a burden anyone else can carry. Moms can't carry it. Neither can white men, the government or the schools. No matter how hard they try. There is simply no more powerful influence on a black boy than a black man who takes an interest in his life.
I believe society must find ways to lift up and empower black fathers and grandfathers who live lives of integrity, diligence and grace. They should be celebrated far above "gangstas with bling" by the media and by their communities. They should NEVER have to beg and picket for fair treatment on jobs and business contracts. There should be an atmosphere of FAVOR upon them. Perhaps then, they will have the strength to lift their people up.
In the end, they are the only army that can really do the job.
8/10/2007 7:49 PM
The way to empower black men is to give them a job and not put them behind bars.
FDR created jobs but for some reason, if we did the same thing, well, that would be evil socialism.
What's evil is people being thrown in jail for dealing drugs when that is the highest paying job in the area. They are being thrown in prison for being entrepreneurs. Joe Kennedy did the same thing and his son was President.
8/10/2007 11:33 PM
I called the National Guard to see what they think of El-Amin's idea but there was no answer.
I wonder where they are?
8/10/2007 11:38 PM
This is a terrible idea! You want to put soldiers, who are trained to kill people and break things, acting as police officers. You think we have police brutality and mistreatment now? The problem is out of control, but this is DEFINITELY not the soution. How about a change in police leadership. Start first with the chief.
8/11/2007 1:25 PM
Previous anonymous, why replace the police chief? Replace the parents who bring children into the world, neglect them, or teach them violence in the home, etc.
This is not a police problem. It is a black family problem. stop ignoring the source and the cause.
There are poor and poverty-stricken people all over the world, and they don't become violent.
It's time to address the state of the black community and black family.
8/11/2007 6:01 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home