Well, the Missus and I managed to make it THREE days into the new year before something decided to occur.And as somethings go, this event is even larger than that damnable ice storm we had two years ago, which I considered a pretty decent (and somewhat costly) something.
We never had anything like THAT happen in Philly.
But, like many things in life...you take your somethings one-something-at-a-time.
*** Our Uncle Leo, a WW2 vet passed away yesterday afternoon (in Portland, IN) at the age of 91.
It was just one year and fifteen days since his wife, our Aunt Wanda passed (19 December 2009).
The good news, is that they're back together again.
They did make a great couple and in the all too brief time I have known them, they definitely secured a place in my heart.
The bad news, is that I shall now miss Leo, as I have Wanda.
*** Our Uncle Leo, a WW2 vet passed away yesterday afternoon (in Portland, IN) at the age of 91.
It was just one year and fifteen days since his wife, our Aunt Wanda passed (19 December 2009).The good news, is that they're back together again.
They did make a great couple and in the all too brief time I have known them, they definitely secured a place in my heart.
The bad news, is that I shall now miss Leo, as I have Wanda.
To every YIN...there is a YANG.
In some ways, they were like my "surrogate" parents - they were about the same age, came from a similar era, and had many of the same values my folks did.
It's like losing one's parent all over again, in some respects.
Yet, there does come a day when you have to let a loved one go because it is THEIR time.
All that they were supposed to do has been accomplished.
One journey ends...and another begins.
That's the way things are SUPPOSED to go...the natural way.
If the Missus and I ever go back to the Back 40 Junction for a meal, there will be mixed emotions...
You see, we always would meet Leo & Wanda there for lunch (great buffet) at least once a year...for no reason other than to see them and chat for a while.
In some ways, they were like my "surrogate" parents - they were about the same age, came from a similar era, and had many of the same values my folks did.
It's like losing one's parent all over again, in some respects.
Yet, there does come a day when you have to let a loved one go because it is THEIR time.
All that they were supposed to do has been accomplished.
One journey ends...and another begins.
That's the way things are SUPPOSED to go...the natural way.
If the Missus and I ever go back to the Back 40 Junction for a meal, there will be mixed emotions...
You see, we always would meet Leo & Wanda there for lunch (great buffet) at least once a year...for no reason other than to see them and chat for a while.
We drove south from Ft. Wayne, and they drove north from Portland...and we "met in the middle", as it were.
It was one of those "traditions" you come to look forward to.
Well, the MEMORIES of those traditions will remain forever.
And because of that, both of them will always be with us.
I suppose that's not so bad a legacy, and I can only hope for coming halfway close to it for myself.
Moving onward...
*** I said yesterday that I was going to talk about the homicide rates for Fort Wayne.
This is a case where death comes rather UN-naturally, and often accompanied with violence.
It's devastating to the victim's families when a loved one is here one minutes, and then gone the next, thanks to some thug, or predatory human refuse.
Once in a while, it's retaliatory in nature, so the victim might even have had it coming.
But the facts are these:
-- We have seen a RISE in homicides in recent years, thanks mainly to gangs and drugs.
(so much for wanting to legalize controlled substances, hmm?)
Gangs, as we have come to know, exist for only ONE purpose - MAYHEM.
That's all well and good in a world where anarchy reigns.
The world we LIVE IN though, is another animal altogether.
It was one of those "traditions" you come to look forward to.
Well, the MEMORIES of those traditions will remain forever.
And because of that, both of them will always be with us.
I suppose that's not so bad a legacy, and I can only hope for coming halfway close to it for myself.
Moving onward...
*** I said yesterday that I was going to talk about the homicide rates for Fort Wayne.
This is a case where death comes rather UN-naturally, and often accompanied with violence.It's devastating to the victim's families when a loved one is here one minutes, and then gone the next, thanks to some thug, or predatory human refuse.
Once in a while, it's retaliatory in nature, so the victim might even have had it coming.
But the facts are these:
-- We have seen a RISE in homicides in recent years, thanks mainly to gangs and drugs.
(so much for wanting to legalize controlled substances, hmm?)
Gangs, as we have come to know, exist for only ONE purpose - MAYHEM.
That's all well and good in a world where anarchy reigns.
The world we LIVE IN though, is another animal altogether.
I honestly suggest reading one or all of these articles - they are enlightening and sobering to say the least
Here's the J/G story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110102/LOCAL07/301029917
Here's the list of victims for 2010:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110102/LOCAL07/301029894
And here's N/S article:
http://news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110101/NEWS/101010301
With the map of homicide locations (too many in the SE):
http://fwnextweb1.fortwayne.com/ns/special/extra/homicide2010.pdf
Much is similar, like the list of people killed, but there are a few differences pertaining to those interviewed.
And the locations of these killings tells us much as to how the city is "divided".
But this all smacks back to the PAUL HELMKE years (when he was mayor)...
Yes, that's the same Paul Helmke that runs the Brady Institute for Gun Control.
Paul couldn't (or wouldn't) do a damn thing to halt the flow of crack cocaine into this city back in the early 1990s (especially on the SE side, where the majority of minorities were moving to), and apparently didn't know that GANGS (and the usual violence that comes with them) soon follow the drug flow.
But now, he wants GUN control.
Granted that taking guns out of the hands of CRIMINALS would go a LONG way to lower the homicide rate.
-- There are statistics that state we have over THIRTY different gangs represented in the state of Indiana...(and that is as of 2007)
And we have other cities to thank for that...like Detroit, and Chicago, and Cincy, and so on.
Wonder how much better THOSE cities have made out over the years with their gang members emigrating to Indiana?
(Short answer: They stink-on-ice, and that's on a GOOD day)
-- We have a black community that does little if ANYTHING when it comes to PROACTIVE resistance against the rising tide of violence (and at the hands of their OWN people, against everyone else).
We may see a prayer service, or a media announcement that "something needs to be done"...and then we hear the deafening sound of CRICKETS...
What I HAVE seen is a small group of WHITES that pray over the spots where homicides have occurred, sprinkling the site with Holy Water.
(hey, at least THOSE folks are DOING SOMETHING)
There is never the outcry that SHOULD be coming from the black community.
Get off your African-American asses and get out ONTO the damn streets, go door-to-door, and get the message out to ALL your people, not just those who stop by on Sunday for the free lunch after service.
Preaching "to the flock" is easy.
Preaching to those who NEED to be preached to...well, that's a whole other ballgame.
Interesting thing about minorities in general who live in cities larger than those small towns...they always seem to group themselves back together.
I used to think it was only because they liked being around their own kind, but it's more than that.
It's part of the city plan to keep them corralled.
That works well...with the BAD folks. Better to keep them in ONE spot where you can "keep an eye on them".
Trouble is, you allow them to dwell and multiply in areas where DECENT people STILL RESIDE (like yours truly).
Here's the J/G story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110102/LOCAL07/301029917
Here's the list of victims for 2010:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110102/LOCAL07/301029894
And here's N/S article:
http://news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110101/NEWS/101010301
With the map of homicide locations (too many in the SE):http://fwnextweb1.fortwayne.com/ns/special/extra/homicide2010.pdf
Much is similar, like the list of people killed, but there are a few differences pertaining to those interviewed.
And the locations of these killings tells us much as to how the city is "divided".
But this all smacks back to the PAUL HELMKE years (when he was mayor)...Yes, that's the same Paul Helmke that runs the Brady Institute for Gun Control.
Paul couldn't (or wouldn't) do a damn thing to halt the flow of crack cocaine into this city back in the early 1990s (especially on the SE side, where the majority of minorities were moving to), and apparently didn't know that GANGS (and the usual violence that comes with them) soon follow the drug flow.
But now, he wants GUN control.
Granted that taking guns out of the hands of CRIMINALS would go a LONG way to lower the homicide rate.
-- There are statistics that state we have over THIRTY different gangs represented in the state of Indiana...(and that is as of 2007)
And we have other cities to thank for that...like Detroit, and Chicago, and Cincy, and so on.
Wonder how much better THOSE cities have made out over the years with their gang members emigrating to Indiana?
(Short answer: They stink-on-ice, and that's on a GOOD day)
-- We have a black community that does little if ANYTHING when it comes to PROACTIVE resistance against the rising tide of violence (and at the hands of their OWN people, against everyone else).We may see a prayer service, or a media announcement that "something needs to be done"...and then we hear the deafening sound of CRICKETS...
What I HAVE seen is a small group of WHITES that pray over the spots where homicides have occurred, sprinkling the site with Holy Water.
(hey, at least THOSE folks are DOING SOMETHING)
There is never the outcry that SHOULD be coming from the black community.
Get off your African-American asses and get out ONTO the damn streets, go door-to-door, and get the message out to ALL your people, not just those who stop by on Sunday for the free lunch after service.
Preaching "to the flock" is easy.Preaching to those who NEED to be preached to...well, that's a whole other ballgame.
Interesting thing about minorities in general who live in cities larger than those small towns...they always seem to group themselves back together.
I used to think it was only because they liked being around their own kind, but it's more than that.
It's part of the city plan to keep them corralled.
That works well...with the BAD folks. Better to keep them in ONE spot where you can "keep an eye on them".
Trouble is, you allow them to dwell and multiply in areas where DECENT people STILL RESIDE (like yours truly).That makes things SO much more "fun" in our part of the city.
And here I thought we wanted racial "equality" and integration...doesn't look like that's happening at all.
Apparently, it's SEGREGATION most of these folks STILL want.
Well, it DOES make sense, especially if you're wanting to promote YOUR culture, YOUR values, and YOUR "rules" for the street (as opposed to societal norms).
Be nice if you could all find some damn ISLAND somewhere, but then, you wouldn't have the government doing everything FOR YOU, right?
You'd have to fend FOR YOURSELVES.
(I give that grand experiment a month...at best)
Apparently, it's SEGREGATION most of these folks STILL want.
Well, it DOES make sense, especially if you're wanting to promote YOUR culture, YOUR values, and YOUR "rules" for the street (as opposed to societal norms).
Be nice if you could all find some damn ISLAND somewhere, but then, you wouldn't have the government doing everything FOR YOU, right?
You'd have to fend FOR YOURSELVES.
(I give that grand experiment a month...at best)
No working class to prop all of you the hell up...whatta shame for you.
Now you know why cities have this gig going on....for the MONEY.
It's never about the people...just the money.
That why we have more ghettos than Poland used to have, and our ghettos are far worse than those once found in Hell's Kitchen, NYC. It's ALLOWED to occur.
People are ENTITLED to it.
It's their RIGHT (as some would have you believe).
They do have the right to PURSUE HAPPINESS...and not have it handed to them every month in the form of a government check drawn against YOUR hard-earned tax dollars. That's promoting slothful behavior...bad behavior.
And with bad behavior and a degradation of mores comes the obligatory criminal activity...like HOMICIDES.
I will predict (with a level of certainty) that we will very likely have TWENTY-FIVE homicides (again) in Fort Wayne for 2011.
I would be surprised if that number fell short, but would NOT be surprised if it was higher (even from 2010).
Homicides (imho) are the direct result of allowing too many "broken windows" to occur in society.
When you brush off a lot of the small sh*t. because "people will be people", and only respond to situations that have escalated beyond the realm of talking, and into actual physical confrontations, then you've got a damn good recipe for someone killing someone else aka the BIG SH*T!
And most times, it's over something totally STUPID.
As a society, we've lost a large part of ourselves when it come to "socialization".
Now you know why cities have this gig going on....for the MONEY.
It's never about the people...just the money.
That why we have more ghettos than Poland used to have, and our ghettos are far worse than those once found in Hell's Kitchen, NYC. It's ALLOWED to occur.People are ENTITLED to it.
It's their RIGHT (as some would have you believe).
They do have the right to PURSUE HAPPINESS...and not have it handed to them every month in the form of a government check drawn against YOUR hard-earned tax dollars. That's promoting slothful behavior...bad behavior.
And with bad behavior and a degradation of mores comes the obligatory criminal activity...like HOMICIDES.
I will predict (with a level of certainty) that we will very likely have TWENTY-FIVE homicides (again) in Fort Wayne for 2011.
I would be surprised if that number fell short, but would NOT be surprised if it was higher (even from 2010).
Homicides (imho) are the direct result of allowing too many "broken windows" to occur in society.
When you brush off a lot of the small sh*t. because "people will be people", and only respond to situations that have escalated beyond the realm of talking, and into actual physical confrontations, then you've got a damn good recipe for someone killing someone else aka the BIG SH*T!
And most times, it's over something totally STUPID.
As a society, we've lost a large part of ourselves when it come to "socialization".People cannot rationalize and socialize normally in order to preevnt hostility from arising.
Respect has flown the coop ('cause we left the cage open).
Civility is a lost art (and someone broke all the crayons)
Ethical behavior has become an orphan (and tore down the orphanages in the process)
People believe they have more and more "rights" when they actually are over-abusing all the PRIVILEGES that society used to extend to them.
For example, you do NOT have a right to DRIVE.
You have to FIRST prove yourself CAPABLE (by testing) and then you are allowed the PRIVILEGE of receiving a LICENSE which QUALIFIES you to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and start going from *A* to *B*.
Our society has marvelously blurred the lines between RIGHTS and PRIVILEGES.
And it's the lack of understanding of those two that often results in the death of an individual.
Actually, you have neither the RIGHT nor the PRIVILEGE of taking another life.
That used to be called a SIN (unless it was direct retribution in the Old Testament manner).
Self-defense in a life-threatening situation is another matter altogether.
Respect has flown the coop ('cause we left the cage open).
Civility is a lost art (and someone broke all the crayons)
Ethical behavior has become an orphan (and tore down the orphanages in the process)
People believe they have more and more "rights" when they actually are over-abusing all the PRIVILEGES that society used to extend to them.
For example, you do NOT have a right to DRIVE.
You have to FIRST prove yourself CAPABLE (by testing) and then you are allowed the PRIVILEGE of receiving a LICENSE which QUALIFIES you to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and start going from *A* to *B*.
Our society has marvelously blurred the lines between RIGHTS and PRIVILEGES.
And it's the lack of understanding of those two that often results in the death of an individual.
Actually, you have neither the RIGHT nor the PRIVILEGE of taking another life.
That used to be called a SIN (unless it was direct retribution in the Old Testament manner).
Self-defense in a life-threatening situation is another matter altogether.
Morality is something sadly missing in all these peoples' lives.
So it's no wonder we see the level of violence in their community.
The bad news, is that other races are catching on, want a "piece of the action" and feel "entitled" to do likewise when it comes to criminal activity.
The good news, is that's it's job security for law-enforcement.
(as long as they get to go home at end-of-shift)
When it come to the entitlement-driven portions of our population, homicide is never the BEST answer - just the EASIEST one for the morally-challenged.
Human life...ANY life should never have to be devalued to such a degree where killing becomes commonplace.
There is hope, but ONLY when people can that effect proper change and make tough decisions on how to deal with this are allowed to do their jobs.
Can we reverse the climbing rates of homicides?
Not overnight, we can't.
But we CAN act to stop the tide from rising...
That is the greatest tool at our disposal...our ACTION.
Doesn't matter how small it might be, either.
It's the INACTION of many that allowed this to take place.
It's our ACTION (now) that will remove it.
Unless we want to become a statistic, like the people on last year's homicide list.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.
So it's no wonder we see the level of violence in their community.
The bad news, is that other races are catching on, want a "piece of the action" and feel "entitled" to do likewise when it comes to criminal activity.
The good news, is that's it's job security for law-enforcement.
(as long as they get to go home at end-of-shift)
When it come to the entitlement-driven portions of our population, homicide is never the BEST answer - just the EASIEST one for the morally-challenged.Human life...ANY life should never have to be devalued to such a degree where killing becomes commonplace.
There is hope, but ONLY when people can that effect proper change and make tough decisions on how to deal with this are allowed to do their jobs.
Can we reverse the climbing rates of homicides?
Not overnight, we can't.
But we CAN act to stop the tide from rising...
That is the greatest tool at our disposal...our ACTION.
Doesn't matter how small it might be, either.It's the INACTION of many that allowed this to take place.
It's our ACTION (now) that will remove it.
Unless we want to become a statistic, like the people on last year's homicide list.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.
11 comments:
I am sorry to here about your loss Bob--I bet you all had some great lunch conversations.
Perhaps, Mr. Helmke will be persuaded by research that shows that directed police enforcement in high crime areas (including enforcing the laws that exist) has been shown to be more effective than blanket gun control policies that impact the honest citizen as opposed to the dishonest gangster.
Slam:
Thanks for the kind words.
We did have great time sitting and chewing the fat.
He was stationed less than a hundred miles where MY DAD was in India during WW2 (how weird was that?)
Amazing the memories you gather in short times like that.
As to Mr. Helmke?
I think he's still trying to find the trees in the forest, as it were.
He's got a ONE-TRACK mind these days. And he had a BLIND EYE when it came to drug problems in this city decades ago.
Criminals ALWAYS have some source for firearms (theft, black market, straw-purchase, etc), and the average citizen should never have be constantly "on the defensive" when it comes to their OWN safety and the safety of loved ones.
I agree with the "directed" approach w/ police, and that would be a great followup to the Broken Window Theory, which we've all seen is no longer JUST a "theory", but cold, hard fact!
Thanks again for the support...and for taking time to stop on by.
Much appreciated.
Stay safe.
I am very sad to hear about the loss of your uncle Leo. I know you will always remember him fondly. My deepest sympathies to you and Mrs G.
MSN:
Your condolences are extremely well-received.
Thank you for them.
And thanks for stopping on by today.
Stay safe (and warm) down there.
i'm sorry to hear about your uncle and aunt. they sounded like very cool people. not many folks want to do the nice thing and meet people half way like they did. very cool indeed.
Indy:
When you speak about Uncle Leo to ANYONE who's been around Portland, Indiana for a while, they always have a story to tell...and a good one at that.
When we went to the Ponderosa in town there a few times, we always bumped into a person that knew him.
He was very active in community events like the Jay County fair (for years).
It's kinda like the TV show CHEERS..."everybody knows your name".
That IS kinda cool.
I should be AS fortunate...
"He done good"
Thanks for the condolences.
It is very much appreciated.
Stay safe down there.
Bob:
I am very sorry to hear about your uncle. Your Thanksgiving post gave us all an idea about how much they meant. I know it's hard to enjoy their reunion with a hole in your heart where they were. At our age, we've both been through it a few too many times. I guess it's one of those things we have yet to learn about God's plan that we have to hurt so much so that we never forget how blessed we've been.
Oh, Dear Bob and Mrs. Bobby G.,
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Uncle Leo! He sounds like a wonderful person.
I am sure he also rejoiced in you both. it is not every senior who has interested and loving relatives to be in touch with.
My deepest condolences to you both.
Very truly yours,
Ann T.
CWM:
One thing I guess I'm still learnin' about death and grief, is that the AMOUNT that one experiences seems to be in DIRECT PRPORTION to the amount of love, kindness, and caring that was given TO us by those we loved back.
Funny how we can find parity in that, isn't it?
Thanks for the kind words...they do mean a lot to us.
And thanks for stopping by.
Stay safe.
Phil:
Helmke always struck me as a guy that didn't know the difference between his alimentary canal and a hole in the gorund...
And every time I hear him (talk about guns), he just reinforces that assessment.
What he COULD have down here for this part of the city, and what he DID NOT DO are as distant as EAST is from WEST (imho).
Thanks for dropping on by, Buddy.
Hope to see 'ya soon.
Feel free to ring us up.
Stay safe up there.
Ann:
Yeah, we're gonna miss him as much as Wanda...
Every now and then, we'd drive on down to Portland (45 minute trek) just to shoot the "you-know-what", and you could always see them smile a little bit more when we showed up.
Then, we'd go out to Ponderosa, and tell Uncle Leo they had a new rule posted at the front door:
HIS money wasn't good there that day...LOL
Now THAT is something Mrs. Bobby G. and I never got tired of doing.
Yeah...gonna miss that....a lot.
Thank you very much for the thoughtful words.
ANd thanks fro stopping by the fence.
Do take care out there.
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