A sense that they are here for a reason, that each of them has something really special to offer the rest of the universe. I suspect that all of us, adults, youth, and children, do. The truly ironic and tragic fact is that, in many inner city areas, the best opportunity teenagers have to find safety, structure, community, purpose, and excitement is by joining a gang like the Gangster Disciples. Our urban society has reached a stage of crisis when teens believe that their best hope for safety comes from joining a gang, when their best hope of avoiding violence comes from joining an organization that continually employs violence. The Indirect Impacts of Violence We all know that the cycle of violence has direct impacts on its victims and their families.
Fear impairs our ability to trust or our willingness to form new relationships.
The resulting estrangement and isolation destroys individuals as well as the fabric of communities. It causes us to feel less secure and safe. Consequently, we take fewer risks, restrict our activities, change our lifestyles, and live with a sense of hopelessness. The loss of compassion is especially evident to me in our larger urban areas. I've lived in both Chicago and New York City, and one of the major differences between life in large cities and my experiences in smaller towns like Marquette, Michigan and Rensselaer, Indiana, is that small-town folks actually try to help you when they see you're in trouble.