His name was Gunnery Sergeant James Minatrea. I'd hang around his shack when he wasn't busy. He talked to me, showed me some videos and books. I thought he looked 'tuff' in his Blues.

We did NOT carry guns. We didn't rob people, or burgle homes and businesses.

We did 'rumble' as needed <smile>.

Not long before I went into the Marines, some things began to change. Some of the guys began doing drugs, carrying weapons, 'swiping stuff', etc.

I didn't want to go down that road.

But don't expect any “Old School Leadership” to take responsibility for anything.

Channel 13 is reporting that after Tanya Bell announced that she was forming a “task force” of stakeholders in the Black Expo to seek improvements, a very upset Bill Crawford tells the media he thinks a task force is a complete over reaction and that the Black Expo is being racially profiled.

Forgive me, but a task force to improve Black Expo is not a over reaction after two shooting that injured 10 kids and sent 2,000+ people running for their lives.

Of course Bill Crawford was the spokesperson for the Concerned Clergy that wants to make a race issue of a kid who was cussing at police (exercising his first amendment rights they say), interfering with a arrest, failing to follow orders, and resisting arrest (respecting authority is secondary to his injuries they say). Heck they want to make this kid a hero.

The Indianapolis community needs to find new leadership that don't defend bad behavior and make heros out of thugs.

After their first couple brushes with the law the judge would give them the option of going to jail or to the armed forces.

That put a end to alot of this that we are seeing today.

Any reason why judges stop giving the option to our kids.

I have a idea and it has to do with kickbacks from for profit prison systems, but would like to hear someone else's opinion also.

Your pursuit of positive neighborhood activites sounds worthy and I wish you luck. If I can, I'll pitch-in. I have before.

But, these are the more relatively pleasant things we need to pursue. The unpleasant thing we have to pursue is demanding more of parenting. Nobody likes to hear they need to improve their parenting, but we've bent over too far “not judging”. I think the vast majority of us finally agree the bar is now too low.

Thanks for an earlier compliment. I hope current events help propel these issues.

However, I saw the writing on the wall, and 11 days after I turned 17, I went into the Marine Corps — straightened my young ass up QUICK!

My point? I — me PERSONALLY — made a choice. I exercised personal responsibility; didn't like the direction my life was heading, and made a conscience decision to change my life.

Perhaps a dose of Marines could help these 'at-risk' youth?

Central Indiana Young Marines:
http://www.ciym.net/

Central Indiana Young Marines is a non-profit youth education and service program for boy and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is a 501c organization and is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts.

The purpose of the Young Marines is:

1. To promote the mental, moral, and physical development of its members.

2. To instill in its members the ideals of honesty, fairness, courage, respect, loyalty, dependability, attention to duty, love of God, and fidelity to our country and its institutions.

3. To stimulate an interest in, and respect for, academic achievement and the history and traditions of the United States of America.

4. To promote physical fitness through the conduct of physical activities, including participation in athletic events and close order drill.

5. To advocate a drug-free lifestyle through a continual drug prevention education program.