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I agree with JenM. I'm not sure how anyone can say Wenatchee's gang problem is "No Big Deal", when two kids just died because of a relative's gang association.
What do you mean 'curtail'? Why make them invisible? Let the gangs be as easy to spot as possible. This is not a problem of appearences, it is a problem of criminal behavior. Wenatchee has had a long history of denying the presence of gangs. It is now time to put as much effort into breaking the backs of the local gangs as is spent on breaking the backs of cruisers during Apple Blossom.
The kids are going to "gang". When I was a kid it was groups with common life views who "ganged" but it was to feel accepted by your peers and share what was important at the time. We didn't like some of the other groups but what we didn't have was the lack of respect for life.
You will not succeed in eliminating gangs, but perhaps they can learn to respect life. They can't be forced to like each other but they can learn co-habitation.
Personally I think gang violence is a direct result of the break up of the family home and a sense of community. And the dissolving family and community are directly related to the turning away from faith. In communities where a large percentage of youth attend church and church affiliated youth groups gang activity is minor and mostly graffiti. Give them something meaningful to do and hatred diminishes. Give their life meaning and hatred is replaced with purpose and hope. People with purpose and hope become peace makers instead of warmongers.
"The kids are going to "gang".When I was a kid it was groups with common life views who "ganged" but it was to feel accepted by your peers and share what was important at the time. We didn't like some of the other groups but what we didn't have was the lack of respect for life."
My "clique" met in the city park, helped each other get cigarettes and beer, and settled our disputes with the "Might makes right" form of diplomacy. What we didn't do was seek out those who didn't join us or consider anyone our rivals for the park turf.
Someone needs to tell Spanky 'Our Gang', is actually, 'Our Clique'
Just because gangs today are defined by their lawlessness doesn't make lawlessness the definition of a gang. We can teach gangs to have purpose and do good for their community and out do their rivals in that way.
Maybe if we pray about it God will raise up a David Wilkerson for our area!
Wenatchee High School has been dealing with gangs for at least the last 10 years and doing so very successfully. Principals and teachers have taken part in several trainings about gangs and how to reduce their influence and presence at the high school.
One of the things I've learned about gangs is that most have direct ties to prison gangs and those prison gangs give orders to local gangs. Modern gangs are very complex. They are often more violent with each other than with the community (as in "jumping in" when a new member is severely beaten by multiple gang members or worse). It is almost impossible to get out of a gang without risking serious violence to the member or the member's family. (members must be "jumped out" in order to leave the gang)
I would encourage the Wenatchee World to publish an interview with the police department's information officer who can share more constructive comments about gangs than what we can post here.
"Principals and teachers have taken part in several trainings about gangs and how to reduce their influence and presence at the high school."
Since gang activity is growing I have a hard time seeing where the High School is being so successful. You can have a police state and control gangs or you can begin now changing the way the young think, giving them a purpose. Even a purpose for being free will stop people from doing things that make them lose freedom. But this is a change that needs to take place at a societal level, and I don't see it happening. Parents aren't living lives of purpose how will the kids learn it?
No gang riots, no gang violence at WHS = success. The schools are not responsible for what happens off campus. Please see that glass as at least half full Tim. The school programs aren't perfect but they are very good and children are helped.
Final thought: In virtually every survey year, law enforcement agencies report a greater percentage of adult (18 and over) gang members compared with juvenile (under 18) gang members. The most recent figures provided by law enforcement are approximately two-thirds adult-aged and one-third juvenile-aged gang members. I think many people think these are all teen gangs, kids. Not so. More are made up of adult criminals. Now that's scary.
" Not so. More are made up of adult criminals. Now that's scary. "
Not so, I find that comforting. If youths are not joining the gangs then gangs, at some point are going to get smaller. THAT, I would say, might be the proof the HS is doing something right. However, if all they are doing is delaying gang membership then "sigh", we are not better off.
The teens are joining too Tim. They start there and are recruited to the more adult levels depending on their skills and attitudes. You have to understand that from very early on in their lives, these are people who are crying out for acceptance and a sense of power through the protection that the gang structure affords them. It's a great deal more complex than the groups you and I hung out in our teens.
Comments
Want to comment on this story? All Wenatchee World members are invited to comment on stories, by using the form below. Please know that we at wenatcheeworld.com hope our site is useful, entertaining and civil. So we'll delete comments that are obscene, abusive or way off topic. We appreciate it when readers use the "suggest removal" button to flag inappropriate comments. For more about interacting with the site, see our Use Policy.
Flamebike 9 months, 2 weeks ago
This should be some indication that Law Enforcement needs to crack down on this problem before it gets totally out of control.
Gator 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I agree with JenM. I'm not sure how anyone can say Wenatchee's gang problem is "No Big Deal", when two kids just died because of a relative's gang association.
RonaBird 9 months, 2 weeks ago
We should definitely curtail any gang colors, gang signs, tatoos, tinted windows, or gang vehicles as illegal in our area.
davebugg 9 months, 2 weeks ago
What do you mean 'curtail'? Why make them invisible? Let the gangs be as easy to spot as possible. This is not a problem of appearences, it is a problem of criminal behavior. Wenatchee has had a long history of denying the presence of gangs. It is now time to put as much effort into breaking the backs of the local gangs as is spent on breaking the backs of cruisers during Apple Blossom.
Tim 9 months, 2 weeks ago
The kids are going to "gang". When I was a kid it was groups with common life views who "ganged" but it was to feel accepted by your peers and share what was important at the time. We didn't like some of the other groups but what we didn't have was the lack of respect for life.
You will not succeed in eliminating gangs, but perhaps they can learn to respect life. They can't be forced to like each other but they can learn co-habitation.
Personally I think gang violence is a direct result of the break up of the family home and a sense of community. And the dissolving family and community are directly related to the turning away from faith. In communities where a large percentage of youth attend church and church affiliated youth groups gang activity is minor and mostly graffiti. Give them something meaningful to do and hatred diminishes. Give their life meaning and hatred is replaced with purpose and hope. People with purpose and hope become peace makers instead of warmongers.
davebugg 9 months, 2 weeks ago
"The kids are going to "gang".When I was a kid it was groups with common life views who "ganged" but it was to feel accepted by your peers and share what was important at the time. We didn't like some of the other groups but what we didn't have was the lack of respect for life."
We referred to them as cliques.
Tim 9 months, 2 weeks ago
My "clique" met in the city park, helped each other get cigarettes and beer, and settled our disputes with the "Might makes right" form of diplomacy. What we didn't do was seek out those who didn't join us or consider anyone our rivals for the park turf.
Tim 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Someone needs to tell Spanky 'Our Gang', is actually, 'Our Clique'
Just because gangs today are defined by their lawlessness doesn't make lawlessness the definition of a gang. We can teach gangs to have purpose and do good for their community and out do their rivals in that way.
Maybe if we pray about it God will raise up a David Wilkerson for our area!
Tim 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I still say gang violence is a "Hate Crime" and should be pursued as such and prosecuted as such.
Suz 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Wenatchee High School has been dealing with gangs for at least the last 10 years and doing so very successfully. Principals and teachers have taken part in several trainings about gangs and how to reduce their influence and presence at the high school.
One of the things I've learned about gangs is that most have direct ties to prison gangs and those prison gangs give orders to local gangs. Modern gangs are very complex. They are often more violent with each other than with the community (as in "jumping in" when a new member is severely beaten by multiple gang members or worse). It is almost impossible to get out of a gang without risking serious violence to the member or the member's family. (members must be "jumped out" in order to leave the gang)
I would encourage the Wenatchee World to publish an interview with the police department's information officer who can share more constructive comments about gangs than what we can post here.
Tim 9 months, 2 weeks ago
"Principals and teachers have taken part in several trainings about gangs and how to reduce their influence and presence at the high school."
Since gang activity is growing I have a hard time seeing where the High School is being so successful. You can have a police state and control gangs or you can begin now changing the way the young think, giving them a purpose. Even a purpose for being free will stop people from doing things that make them lose freedom. But this is a change that needs to take place at a societal level, and I don't see it happening. Parents aren't living lives of purpose how will the kids learn it?
Suz 9 months, 2 weeks ago
No gang riots, no gang violence at WHS = success. The schools are not responsible for what happens off campus. Please see that glass as at least half full Tim. The school programs aren't perfect but they are very good and children are helped.
Final thought: In virtually every survey year, law enforcement agencies report a greater percentage of adult (18 and over) gang members compared with juvenile (under 18) gang members. The most recent figures provided by law enforcement are approximately two-thirds adult-aged and one-third juvenile-aged gang members. I think many people think these are all teen gangs, kids. Not so. More are made up of adult criminals. Now that's scary.
Tim 9 months, 2 weeks ago
" Not so. More are made up of adult criminals. Now that's scary. "
Not so, I find that comforting. If youths are not joining the gangs then gangs, at some point are going to get smaller. THAT, I would say, might be the proof the HS is doing something right. However, if all they are doing is delaying gang membership then "sigh", we are not better off.
JimboBear 9 months, 2 weeks ago
The teens are joining too Tim. They start there and are recruited to the more adult levels depending on their skills and attitudes. You have to understand that from very early on in their lives, these are people who are crying out for acceptance and a sense of power through the protection that the gang structure affords them. It's a great deal more complex than the groups you and I hung out in our teens.
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