What’s going on?
As I watched the news last weekend, I kept asking myself that very question. I was saddened, disappointed and utterly disgusted as I watched several Black teenagers being handcuffed and arrested by IMPD officers after a scuffle that originated in Circle Centre Mall. Unlike some Blacks who were outraged at the mere site of police apprehending the teens, I was more upset that the teens behaved in a manner that constituted being arrested.
Embarrassment and shame were perhaps the first two adjectives that described my feelings. It was disheartening to not only see Black teens being apprehended for something they did wrong, but also the way they reacted towards the police. They were defiant, rude and overly aggressive. One male who was apprehended spoke directly to television cameras in a cocky manner as if he’d accomplished something admirable.
It’s truly amazing how kids today can stand boastfully with their hands cuffed behind their backs, but can’t establish eye contact when discussing their failing grades.
This incident could not have come at a more inappropriate time, particularly since Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration is only a few weeks away.
Another incident that had me scratching my head was the alleged pact that 17 high school girls from Gloucester High School in Gloucester, Mass., made with one another. According to news reports, the teenage girls pledged to all get pregnant at the same time.
In recent months, the school has seen an upsurge in teenage pregnancies, however, the city’s mayor denounced the pact as an unfounded rumor.
If the allegations prove true, these girls have major misconceptions about what life is truly all about. In addition to having misconceptions, they may also be longing for something that they might not currently receive — love. Data proves that one of the main reasons underage girls say they intentionally got pregnant was because they wanted someone to love.
While love seems like something that should be a standard for parents to exhibit to their children, it’s actually not. There are many parents who, unfortunately don’t know how to exhibit love because they have never been loved. It’s a vicious emotional cycle that is hard to overcome — particularly without credible outside sources such as family counselors and therapists to intervene.
The incident with the Indianapolis teens at Circle Centre Mall as well as the Gloucester teens who vowed to get pregnant at the same time are examples of the considerable challenges we face regarding our children. While I’m not sure of the exact cure for this problem, I do think it will take a fair amount of discipline and undying love to at least begin to address the issues.
For those of us who didn’t think Democratic presumtive presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama could be a better, more adoring candidate — he proved us wrong.
On Tuesday the charming Illinois senator encouraged his top donors to help his former primary opponent Hillary Clinton pay off the $10 million she owes to vendors.
Throughout the primary campaign Clinton and her husband both repeatedly criticized and undermined Obama’s experience. Since he became the party’s nominee, national media outlets have hinted at a bitter feud between the Clintons and Obama. It’s suggested that the Clintons are upset about Hillary’s loss to Obama. What’s ironic is that throughout the campaign Clinton advisors and strategists taunted Obama as the candidate that felt entitled, but post-primary, the public gets to see which candidate really felt entitled.
There’s absolutely nothing else that Obama can do at this point to attempt to smooth things over with the Clintons. While I’m sure the Clintons would hope that Obama would select Hillary as his running mate, I’m not entirely sure if that’s the best move for him.
The Clintons need to stop being sore losers and work in a cohesive manner to secure an Obama win in November.
