Game Graduate : Degree [Real]
Anybody can "get it..." as in the level of insulation and respect once afforded a man or woman years removed from the "street life" no longer exists. In 2016, its beginning to look like you can't just be cool while maintaining ties to family and friends who remain loyal to the game. The current climate of reckless violence is making it easy to walk away, although doing so supposedly makes you [less real] by hood standards, it may very well keep you alive. If losing our ability to maintain a presence among the people, culture and community that made us great, because the rules, laws and policies once woven into the fabric of our understanding... have been erased by the breakdowns in the organizational structure on the streets, what just happened?
We're continuously demanding accountability from members of the community without protecting those willing to risk their lives to function within a society that refuses to provide alternatives to the only lifestyles that many individuals know. There used to be rules...
The call to [Stop The Violence] has formerly been applied only in retrospect, as ongoing situations were rarely added into the equation. But if the community is to survive, every system that is working against the people must be sought out and destroyed. Violent crime takes on many forms, and there have been numerous studies and excuses given by experts and local officials as to why violence is more acceptable in certain communities and zones than others. But it's past time that we begin to rely upon ourselves for the protection afforded to those living in the more favorable areas of town. Crime is supposed to be unacceptable period, even when the stealing of cars by juveniles was thought to have been a joke, how can a city of one hundred and fifty thousand people completely rely upon an on duty police presence of roughly twenty officers? And Rockford doesn't need more cops, it needs it's citizens to stop ignoring that "there's a war going on outside no man is safe from..."
If you live in or frequent certain neighborhoods that require the 'possession of protection" by default for self defense, but you aren't legally allowed to own one, what exactly is suggested that you do to protect yourself and your family? Because that's a very real question with so many men and woman living in impoverished areas of the city but aren't allowed to own weapons. In Kennesaw, Ga the City Council unanimously passed a law in 1982 requiring heads of households to own at least one firearm with ammunition. The ordinance states the gun law is needed to "protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants." Kennesaw Historical Society president Robert Jones said following the law's passage, the crime rate dropped 89 percent in the city, compared to the modest 10 percent drop statewide.
I'm saying that if you live in certain cities or certain areas in cities, violent crime is eventually going to touch you or someone that you know. So do we become vigilantes? Host around the clock prayer vigils, hope that newly elected politicians will keep us safe...? Why can't you have nice things without being targeted for violent crime in Rockford? Because it's starting to make the argument to the uninitiated that minorities are the problem, we have to have the same outrage during all manner of crime locally as we due nationally. Waiting for the media and local government to "reassure" us of public safety removes the responsibility from the citizens.
Graduating from the game with honors used to mean something...

















