Originally Posted by DavidI

Crowbob, I meant no offense to you personally or anyone else who this does not pertain. I grew up in the "barrio" and worked in South Central LA and East LA on the streets for more than 20 years. It was incredible to see how many hardworking people live in those areas and are productive. They instill family values, ethics, character, and principles into their children. I truly believe that at least 98% of people are good people. There are 2% who prey on the others and each other. My partners and I had constant contact with the young men. We saw them playing "street ball," whether it was baseball, football, over-the-line (if you grew up in the streets, you knew that game) all of the time. In full uniform, we constantly parked our police car and got out and played with them. No YouTube, no cameras, no fanfare, just simply older men (us) playing games with the young kids. We loved it and so did they! We would stop the ice cream man, palettas man, and even the "Helms Bakery Man" and treat the kids out of our own pockets. I wanted and deserved no recognition, just simply mentoring young kids. I even have a story where I chanllenged a bunch of kids to a breakdancing competition while in uniform (again, no YouTube and all that stuff) in the 1990s.

Men, collectively, we have to "man up" and invest our time into these young men and show them the opportunities that exist.