What's going on blog world? I've really been busy lately, handling school business and social issues as well but with a lot of issues right in my city and state capturing my attention, I really felt like I needed to sit down and take the time to let ideas flow on them....
The most prevalent issue is the heinous murder of Derrion Albert. The talk of 'Stop The Violence' has become just that to me. When are we, as a society, going to finally decide to stop simply marching and rallying and start reaching out to all that require our assistance. We never know what our interactions with human beings can do for them, so let's make a conscious effort to avoid drama and conflict because who knows what type of negative domino effect will begin due to our selfish actions. It's time to reach for selfless and put selfish back on the shelves. The death of Derrion is a prime example of how unaddressed anger can be potentially fatal, which was also seen in the murders of Percy Day and Tyrone Williams. All three of these young men were praised because they were seen as the future; they were good students and generally avoided trouble. What will it take for us to see that as long as this is the route that we drive along, our future is in peril of being buried?...
Efforts to prevent this can be placed early in our children's lives but can also be placed at the adult stage because no human being is beyond being saved by the grace of God. Jesus died for the sins of our entire population, so we must remember that each sin is equal in the eyes of God and that simply giving up on a fellow human being can be considered a sin as well. How would it feel to know that no one is standing in your corner and that wherever you turn you are being judged? With the many flaws that encompass all of our beings, and the short time that we have on this Earth to attempt to correct them and grow and develop and mature, all efforts should be geared towards making sure that we are concerned with enhancing our lives and society as a whole. What is the point of being happy or trying to be happy if you are the only one in your circle smiling? Your life will only be enhanced when you try to help those around you. It only takes one person to make a difference and every person has the capability to do so. So what can we do to prevent these heinous actions? Another problem I've been facing holds the answer...
The state government is planning on taking away the MAP grant away from students at Illinois Universities for the spring semester and as my friend Domanique noted, it is too many of us that will be affected by this to simply lay down and allow this to happen. While that money may be going towards other helpful resources such as the prisons or health care, there is no more pressing issue than education. If we fix the problem of education, we will be celebrating the accomplishments of our Derrion Albert's, Percy Day's and Tyrone Williams' in the future, rather than burying them prematurely. Not only do the schools deserve more money but they also deserve more individuals that are focused on helping our children grow beyond simply passing standardized tests and passing into the next level of their lives...
Many teachers focus their attention towards the more academically successful students and while they do deserve recognition for their achievements, it is our lesser successful brothers and sisters that deserve the attention. Negative feedback cannot be all that students receive because they come to school in order to learn, not simply be chastised. Some students come to school to escape so if their teachers are not providing them with a healthy learning environment that challenges them, rewards them, corrects them and enhances them, what is the point of the school system? The disenfranchised youth will remain unmotivated and thus open to areas in life that provide instant gratification at the cost of personal morality. Let's start our efforts with making sure that all youth, whether they are more talented or lacking in certain areas, feel that they have some part in the growth in this world and then perhaps we won't have to worry about them participating in the decline of this world....
Rest in Peace to any and all youth that have been lost in this struggle...Hopefully at least one changes from seeing your loss and then maybe these deaths will not have been in vain. Remember, if you are too big/important to follow and surrender to the will of the greater good, then you are too small/selfish to lead others in the enhancement of this world.
God Bless...PromoDave Signing Out...
