Rant about Oakland

[calircr]

I pretty much grew up in the Bay Area, UC to be exact. I recently moved to San Diego, well not that recent, about 2 years ago. I don't find myself EVER reading or watching the local SD news at all. Instead, I find myself drawn daily to my trusty Sfgate to find out about the news back home.

It's disheartening to always read the articles about all the crimes that happen in Oakland. I know when I still lived up there Oakland had already started it's downward spiral into infamy as a city that always has a high rate of crime and death. But now, as I read all these articles about young men and women that commit crimes that are unheard of for their ages (mid teens - early 20s).

I often wonder, what is it that has society in Oakland (and by no means does this mean it only happens in Oakland) turned so bad? I think there are a lot of factors that come into play. Some say that it's because of the low income neighborhoods that have high crime but I tend to think it goes deeper than that.

Often times, it's easy for society to blame the parents for bringing up their children poorly and letting them do whatever they want. I honestly think parents have partial responsibility in "letting" their kids run wild, but I think the fault is in society as a whole that creates/ed the situation that Oakland is in right now.

For the longest time, the cost of living in the Bay Area has skyrocketed. Even now with all the foreclosures going on all around the US, the Bay Area as a whole hasn't seen much of a downturn in home prices. I believe the cost of living have parents working long hours, multiple jobs, and the desire to "move up in society" that has caused things to go wrong for many families.

I feel that if parents weren't so busy trying to provide food on the table and a roof over the heads of their kids, they'd actually be able to be home and do some real parenting. More often than not, parents are somewhat out of touch with their kids. Sure they see them go with them to church on Sundays, but other than that, there isn't much interaction as a family. I recall how my parents would come home late from work, be completely exhausted from a 12 hour day, make me dinner and help me with my homework. But there were also days where they didn't want to do anything, bring home some Mckee D's for dinner and ask me to just leave them alone because their tired.

If parents didn't have to work so hard, to provide for their families would Oakland's crime wave stop? Not at all because it just isn't that one factor that creates the problem. Many of Oakland's poorest areas have families where the highest level of education is probably high school level. With the competitiveness of well paying jobs in the Bay Area being as high as it is, these individuals have a hard time getting the "break" that they need. I remember back in the day when the education system had a slogan going around, "Be Cool, Stay in School." I'm sure they still use that to some degree, but I think the new slogan should be something like this: "The Choices You Make Today, Determines Your Future."

The problem today is that many young adults(and I use adults very loosely because most aren't really mature enough to deserve that label) is that they make so many poor choices. Do they make the poor choices on their own? Yes and no. Yes, because we are all given that right to make our own decisions and we all can honestly say that we strive to make the right decision. No because sometimes society and peer pressure help us make our decisions. Young adults these days choose to have sex at a young age, try drugs, or other questionable things that back in the day were a clear cut "No thanks." Society has made it ok or cool to have sex in the 8th grade (I've heard stories of 5th graders having sex). Society has made seem like it's really not a big deal to try some weed when no one is around (ie."I tried it but I didn't inhale"). These are the choices that will affect them for a lifetime.

The choice to have sex at such an early age and experimenting with drugs have them thinking it's no big deal, when in fact it truly is. Having sex without some sort of birth control whether it be use of a condom, the pill, or even the morning after pill can change their lives forever. Having a child at a young age puts them at a great disadvantage in life. Some lose the family support that is needed, some have to drop out of school and take care of the child but there will be a few strong individuals that have the determination to succeed and finish high school diploma and go onto college. Drugs can lead to addiction making it your sole purpose in life in scoring that next high.

The more I write this, and I do understand that this is an insanely long post but it's something I feel strongly about and those of you in the Bay that can make a difference should give it a try. Many young adults are looking for guidance, attention that they're not getting at home. They look to their friends to provide them with that attention and guidance. Those friends can end up being gang members, drug dealers, and potential career criminals. I think we as a whole need to make a stand now and change how society views life in Oakland. Try and join a Big Brothers and Big Sister's club and help these kids make the right decisions in life. I think once we actually start taking the time in helping the programs that focus on the younger generation, we'll actually end this vicious cycle of crime in Oakland. Once the younger generation gets a firm foundation of right and wrong choices, things will change.

Maybe Oakland as a whole should adopt the Warriors slogan "We Believe"....that we can change the persona of Oakland





***This is just my own view and I'm sorry it was a long post***
***Feel free to agree and disagree as you please***

[maximo61170]

someone wrote that they hope the warriors could help oakland.

Can the Golden State Warriors Save Oakland?

[calircr]

Good article, it's too bad more people don't do anything about it. Society as whole have an attitude of "who cares, not my problem" that once it spreads to their neighborhood or they become a victim it causes them to do something about it.

[Dwn4nythng]

I agree with you on alot of points. Its going to take alot to change Oakland. Back in the days when we were young, kids smoked weed. Nowadays, the kids are smoking meth and taking ectasy. Doesn't help with STUPID RAPPERS LIKE E-40 making a song about getting hyphy and having grapes (purple weed). The hyphy movement was the stupdiest thing I've seen out of all the years. Then they have the sideshow. Blocking off intersections of a main street so people can do doughnuts. Not to say, alot of the families abuse the welfare system like crazy. Woman having kids like crazy so they can get a extra government check. Then there's the stupid idiots run stop signs thinking its cool. That's why there's almost a speed bump on every block. Then there's the illegal's who stand on the block waiting for work, which makes the neighborhood look dirty. I have alot of friends that live in Oakland and half of my life I was brought up there. When I drive around Oakland, its a depressing sight to see and I'm not even talking about the ghetto yet.

[calircr]

It does get depressing and it rightfully should. I personally don't think it should get to that point but right now Oakland is stuck in a cycle that goes nowhere. The citizens of Oakland need to take a stand and start with the young people and get them to change and pass on what they've learned onto the next generation.

[Dwn4nythng]

Yeah, the first step would be to stay in school, instead of cutting with the homies.

[JchanFTW]

Best post I've ever read on 8thcivic. I personally believe our country has it priorities in the wrong place. These kids turn their backs on society because society has turned it's back on them. This nation is in trouble and Oakland is only a microcosm in comparison to the state of our country. The middle class is slowly disappearing while the oil tycoons are slowly picking away at the lower class. We're spending billions upon billions on a war that is not only unjust, but long overdue. We can spend billions of developing modern weapons, but we can't spare a dime for the classrooms. My kid neighbor has to pay $800.00 just to play football for his team when only 3-4 years ago I played for nothing at all.

[Dwn4nythng]

Originally Posted by JchanFTW

Best post I've ever read on 8thcivic. I personally believe our country has it priorities in the wrong place. These kids turn their backs on society because society has turned it's back on them. This nation is in trouble and Oakland is only a microcosm in comparison to the state of our country. The middle class is slowly disappearing while the oil tycoons are slowly picking away at the lower class. We're spending billions upon billions on a war that is not only unjust, but long overdue. We can spend billions of developing modern weapons, but we can't spare a dime for the classrooms. My kid neighbor has to pay $800.00 just to play football for his team when only 3-4 years ago I played for nothing at all.

WHAT? They have to pay to be on a team now? Just to play football? WTF?
Man, probably gonna have to pay to walk on the sidewalk soon, shiieetttt.

[locoej]

^Its scary to think about how the world may end.

USA=fail.
I wonder how Europe is doing.
lol.
shoooot...lets go live over there.

[Dwn4nythng]

^ shieeett, you move over there and work for about 10 years, then come back to the USA, you would be a millionaire already. Their money is way more then ours.

[calircr]

Yes and no. Cost of living there is just as high if not a bit more compared to sf. The difference there is that its pretty hard to get weapons there. Not as easily accessible as it is here. I'm sure you can buy a gun off the street for less than a hundred bucks. It's not about controlling weapons, but more about changing how people value life

[badbuddha88]

hey i'm moving down to san diego to la jolla to be exact for a job this summer. let try and get a meet going

[calircr]

check out the official sd thread in California-South, you can try to set one up there.

[rames]

damn..i feel you, i see this everyday when i go to school. there is a real dilemma going on in oakland. just recently there have been robberies in and around oakland. what are we suppose to do cuz its on such a grand scale. the youth has grown into a mentality of " i'll do what it takes to get what i want" its hard to break the cycle. but, true, it starts with the youth, and i am thankful for programs like youth radio where they give students a place to learn how to have fun with the media.

[calircr]

deleted...

see below link

[maximo61170]

i failed to open... =(

edit. i know why. http twice.

[calircr]

Oakland schoolboy, 7, bullied so badly he gets a fractured skull


What is the world coming too???

sorry, messed up posting the link

[maximo61170]

elementary school?! wtf?

[calircr]

it's situations like that make me wish the younger generation would just learn to value life a lot more. what's interesting is that most times, young adult don't think twice to pull out a gun and using it with deadly force. once they get caught for taking a life, they fear time in prison and the possibility of getting the death penalty....in CA at least. I seriously think we need to bring back the death penalty. once people start thinking about the possibility of getting their own lives taken for their crime, they'll think twice.

[Cornizzy]

damn good thread man!! i feel all of u guys!~