Great Article From Regina Brett Today

[Dave Sharosky]

I posted this in a thread about the new business on detroit. Even though it's in regards to the City of Cleveland I was wondering of others thoughts on it:

http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/st ... xml&coll=2

[Bryan Schwegler]

I think a "Civility Squad" is an interesting idea. Not full police, but a group that can begin fining those who break the nuisance law. If the behavior continues, then bring in the police.

[Joe Ott]

I can relate.

I think if people just had basic respect for the privacy of their neighbors, a lot of problems in Lakewood and the entire country would be solved.

People aren't taught common respect and manners it seems these days.

[Justine Cooper]

When I read that article I thought it was a great idea for Cleveland and would be for Lakewood. Anyone thinking of regionalism should read the response time in this article for Cleveland police. We think we have problems with a young lady selling lemonade on a busy street? Lord we would be looking back at that picture as the good old days if we regionalized.

[Rick Uldricks]

I can relate.

I think if people just had basic respect for the privacy of their neighbors, a lot of problems in Lakewood and the entire country would be solved.

People aren't taught common respect and manners it seems these days.

Nor are they being taught how to cross the street correctly.

I think this sums it up.

If this Wild West behavior continues, one day soon Cleveland (or Lakewood) won't be wild at all.

It will be a ghost town.

[Justine Cooper]

Let's not forget that while Mayor White built himself a big house with an iron gate, the kids in the Cleveland School didn't even have toilet paper let alone proper text books. I am not trying to excuse illegal behavior, but if we want to place blame, let's look at all the politicians that drove Cleveland into where it is while they padded their pockets and the pockets of their friends, meanwhile the CHILDREN were left with situations much like third world countries.
So while these children grow up turning Cleveland into the wild west, where does the real blame lie, and more importantly, where do the real solutions lie?

[Stephen Eisel]

Let's not forget that while Mayor White built himself a big house with an iron gate, the kids in the Cleveland School didn't even have toilet paper let alone proper text books. I am not trying to excuse illegal behavior, but if we want to place blame, let's look at all the politicians that drove Cleveland into where it is while they padded their pockets and the pockets of their friends, meanwhile the CHILDREN were left with situations much like third world countries.
So while these children grow up turning Cleveland into the wild west, where does the real blame lie, and more importantly, where do the real solutions lie?

And none of the politician made money on bussing

[Dave Sharosky]

Let's not forget that while Mayor White built himself a big house with an iron gate, the kids in the Cleveland School didn't even have toilet paper let alone proper text books. I am not trying to excuse illegal behavior, but if we want to place blame, let's look at all the politicians that drove Cleveland into where it is while they padded their pockets and the pockets of their friends, meanwhile the CHILDREN were left with situations much like third world countries.
So while these children grow up turning Cleveland into the wild west, where does the real blame lie, and more importantly, where do the real solutions lie?

Parenting. Proper parenting. I can't say it enough. So many times when a child causes or gets into trouble I hear people ask, where's the kids parents? I must use a phrase my father said often, granted I will replace his cuss word with the word "idiot." He would say, "If the kid is an idiot, nine times out of ten the parent is an idiot." That always made me laugh.

And as for Mayor White. Yes, he was a bit corrupt. He got all the glory by cutting the ribbons for everything Mayor George V. got off the ground. And if you're going to mention the Cleveland Schools, please don't forget the City of Cleveland School Board. That's some of the best mismanagement I've witnessed.

[Justine Cooper]

I know how you feel about proper parenting. I have often had the same concerns in life. But I also believe it takes a village to raise a child, and the Cleveland schools have failed many children. Yes the school board, the mayor, the governor, the list goes on. It is easy for me to expect my children to produce good things in life because all of their needs are met, starting with the most basic.

As a social worker I saw things that will stay in my heart forever. I saw kids who ate out of garbage cans even in a good foster home, or who stored food under beds, because so many days they went without food. Some were found drinking tabasco sauce out of the fridge because it was the only thing in there.
One girl was prostituted out by her mother before the age of 5. Many were left home alone for hours at a time, yelled at, hit, you name it.

I never take anything for granted since. In fact, to this day, when I held my daughter's head three days ago as she got sick and stroked her hair, there are always thoughts in the back of my head about kids sick in the world that have no one to hold their head and love them back to health. I never ever separate myself from them. I can't. When I look into the eyes of my child, I do see every child in there.

So yes when you couple that with a school system that isn't even safe for some kids to walk into because they get beat up, harrassed, etc. don't have proper books to educate themselves with and have more kids in a class than a teacher can handle or give attention to and then surrounded by a dying city, it is not as simple as saying "if parents were better parents all would be well". While we destroyed and are rebuilding another country, many in this country are living far worse than you can ever imagine. That does matter in the whole equation of solving the criimes of the youth.