Curbing youth violence--a summit

Dear Mr. Holder,

It has come to my attention that you are in our fair city to try and find solutions to the "problem" of violence among our youth. I'd like to propose a very unrealistic, unlikely solution for you and the rest of our various levels of government to try.

First, end poverty. Any psychologist worth their salt will tell you the root cause of many of the problems facing "at risk" youth are socio-economic. Lack of opportunity and education leads to fewer choices. Fewer choices makes it easier to succumb to peer pressure. Soon the kids that were "on the fence" are not honor students but wanna be gangstas.

Ironically the same issue is going on abroad. Many of the "insurgents" we are fighting in the middle east and central Asia are fighting because the extremists feed them and provide them with basic needs. The U.S. is blowing shit up rather than offering jobs and building schools. If we could do what the Al Qaeda/Taliban wouldn't there wouldn't be "insurgents." Similarly, providing jobs and education to poor people would limit the influence of gangs and other "unsavory" characters in our communities.

Second, force the FCC to get rid of crappy television. No I'm not one to blame the violence in our communities on rap and TV. However, garbage music begets garbage music videos--and what do you think kids are watching when they get home from school? Television (and the Internet to some extent) allows us to romanticize all sorts of ignorance--from "making it rain" to the spoils of being a successful drug dealer to the prospect of making it on to a reality TV show, Americans (and impressionable kids who feel trapped in "the hood") are easily impressed by this crap (especially when there are scantily clad women involved). Am I saying replace it with educational programming? Not really. But Jim Jones and Rick Ross shouldn't be more recognizable to our kids than you are.

Now why is this unrealistic and why won't it happen? Because we're a capitalist society. There HAS to be poor people. It is mathematically impossible to have capitalism and NOT have a caste system--everyone cannot be rich or poor. Capitalism also dictates that there be competition. That competition includes competing for our attention. Which means broadcasting companies are allowed to show whatever they want (within the rules of course) so long as they think it will bring viewers. So BET is allowed to exist. VH1 can continue to put on the same show with different characters. And the companies that advertise during this show can continue to prey on poor people. ("Do you have bad credit? Are you in an insane amount of debt? Do you have no credit?")

While this letter has a certain amount of sarcasm and cynicism to it, it is sincere. The point however is you cannot fix this problem unless you're willing to flip the system on it's head. We certainly appreciate your concern and willingness to try and find solutions. But after school programs and meetings among adults who have never experienced the trials and tribulations these kids are currently going through (or haven't experienced them for decades) won't cut it.

Regards,

The meanest, the prettiest, the baddest mo-fo low down around this town

Sho-Nuff