The Obama Campaign's 3 Million dollar Offer.

[Giselle]

Katie, it's just not that nice and simple in our society. =/ You may feel, from your experiences, that society IS that fair and equal and that gang violence and inner city crime are direct results of minorities' lack of interest in gaining a better life, but it's NOT. *Nobody* truly wants to be in the ghetto, working min. wage jobs and facing constant, daily violence.

Here's a disturbingly common scenario:

How can an inner city minority girl go to college when 1) she skipped preschool because her mother could not afford it 2) went to underfunded and, basically, cr@ppy public elementary/middle schools 3) went to an underfunded high school ridden with bad influences, etc. 4) her parents are busy working minimum wage jobs and not giving her the attention she needs 5) she doesn't have the access to the proper resources to get out of her situation, etc. etc.?

There's a reason why there are so many young/teenage pregnancies in inner cities. There's a reason why drugs are such a big problem, as are pimps and prostitution. It's not a life style they choose. It's often the only options available. It's sad. It's extremely sad, but how can they escape that cycle when there's no loophole out? *This* is why we need affirmative action programs.

I guess it's very difficult to talk about when we're coming from two totally different atmospheres. =/

Caseysmom, thanks for the compliments The Bay Area is very diverse, but that also makes us all aware of our differences. Oakland is a prime example. East/west Oakland are extremely crime ridden and inhabited primarily by af-ams and hispanics. North Oakland, near Piedmont, is extremely affluent and predominately white. The two best Oakland schools are in North Oakland. Some of THE worst schools in perhaps the state are in east/west Oakland. It's just sad that this disparity even exists, but it does.

[blue]

There's a reason why there are so many young/teenage pregnancies in inner cities.

Its called lack of parenting at the very least and extreme teenage boredom at the worst, Bristol Palin is a fine example. There is basicaly nothing out here for the teens to do, there is really no scene of any kind for them.

There's a reason why drugs are such a big problem, as are pimps and prostitution. It's not a life style they choose.

The drugs or the prostition? The pimps have a total choice, as do the drug addicts and the prostitutes, take the not so easy way out.

It's often the only options available. It's sad. It's extremely sad, but how can they escape that cycle when there's no loophole out? *This* is why we need affirmative action programs.

Alot of the problems we are seeing in the US is lack of choice, not a lack of change.

[Giselle]

Once again, HOW can these people break out of the cycle when their only option - education - is severely underfunded and, oftentimes, chaotic? Take a look at Oakland public schools, Richmond public schools, Compton public schools, etc. etc. These children are battling incompetent teachers, indifferent parents, outdated textbooks, inadequate nutrition, gang violence, lack of resources, drugs, prostitution, etc. They are battling *generations* of these influences. It's not a one time thing. It's not a single mistake. It's generations of mistakes.It's not that easy to break the cycle when your family has been living within it for generations and generations.

And, Blue, maybe it's not as pervasive in your area, but prostitution is NOT a choice for many girls in my area. It's something they've been pushed into. We recently had a child prostitution ring broken up. Do these children (pre-teens and young teens) really CHOOSE to sell their bodies? I highly doubt it.

[RICHARD]

Once again, HOW can these people break out of the cycle when their only option - education - is severely underfunded and, oftentimes, chaotic?

I think that parents should take more of a role in teaching their kid to go to school and learn. IT's tough enough for a teacher to teach their lesson plan, they shouldn't have to be responsible for baby sitting, teaching, policing and raising kids.

[Catty1]

Who's going to teach the parents about education when they never learned - nor did their ancestors from generations back?

[kt_luvs_kitties]

I do understand what you are saying. But I disagree.

I believe that if people want out of the ghetto, they get out of the ghetto. NOT by selling drugs, prostitution or ANYTHING else that is illegal.

They work hard at school, they dont drop out. They dont let people encourage them to do drugs or rob a store. People must make their own decisions, and live with the consequences. The reason so many minorities are in jail, is because they let others influence them, and did the wrong thing. They can blame that on NOONE but themselves. It is their fault. Their choice. Lack of money or education DOES NOT make someone break the law.

I know that because My husband dropped out of school in 11th grade, lived in the "ghetto", was a minority in a prodominatly african american community. Single parent home... Got shot at, gang influence, all of that.

Did he break the law, nope. Get someone pregnant, turn into a pimp or gang member, NOPE. He went back to school, got his GED (at 18) and went on to work in the prison system to make the streets safer. Then went on to college, worked hard to PAY FOR IT, and now works and makes a sufficiant life for himself, me and my pets. He did not get help from the government, he also could not get funding because he was white. His mother NEVER helped, EVER. She had to work a minimum wage job, she never could help, she could not even feed him alot of the time.

I dont buy into the whole "it is the way people MUST live that decides their futures". Nope, it is the way people CHOOSE to live that makes their lives what they are.

My husband did not get out of that lifestyle because of race (white), he got out of it because he WORKED HARD, WANTED MORE, and DID NOT blame his life/ failures on the color of his skin, be it white or black or
yellow.

PS= his mother also got pregnant at 15, and went on to have 4 children by 23, she as well did not turn to prostitution, she just worked 2 minimum wage jobs and went without. She has also now went back to college to get a masters in psychology and works with mentally challenged people.

[blue]

Alot of the problems we are seeing in the US is lack of choice, not a lack of change.

I probably could have made a better argument but I agree with you.

Nope, it is the way people CHOOSE to live that makes their lives what they are.

Quoted for the truth.

[Ginger's Mom]

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:And yes, you are naive if you believe most people get hired because of their qualifications. They get hired because of where they went to school, who they know, how well they interview, how well they dress, and ...yeah qualifications:

Almost all of the above is what I define as qualifications... Schooling, interview, dress... The only I dont is who they know...
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All of those are, or maybe I should say can be, culturally different. If you are saying that you think what school they went to, how they dress, and how well they interview should be factors, than you have to understand that a person's background and culture are going to influence those things. So the white anglo-saxon person who is doing the interviewing has a certain idea of what is "appropriate" dress, behavior, schooling, that may not be the same as someone from a different cultural background. Therefore, the hiring person is going to hire the person with whom he feels most comfortable. That is even more true the higher the position is in the hierarchy of the business. It may not matter quite as much for the lower levels, which is why the minorities are working in the lower level minimum pay jobs.

Your husband's mother may have been just as qualified to work a higher paying job as those that were in that position, but because of cultural prejudice she didn't get it. She had to work two minimum wage jobs, and had raise her children in a bad situation, rather than being given the opportunity of getting out. And you feel that nothing should be done to change people's attitudes toward cultural differences? I have to repeat myself, you cannot ignore it and hope it will go away, or straighten itself out.