GANGSTERS NEED TO MAKE BETTER CHOICE

Editor:

Re: the gang bust last week.

I couldn't help but ask a question pertinent to any organized
society. "Organized" meaning a society that operates within defined
laws, political determinants, religious constitutes and educational norms.

Those who live within these set variables are living a freedom we
know in this part of the world as a democratic society. Citizens can
still make choices and enjoy the liberties of their own lifestyles
within the boundaries set by the land.

Law-abiding citizens can vote for who they want as their leaders and
if they stay within the law they won't have police searching their
homes and placing restraints on their lives. We in the Western world
are known for our freedom which is one reason we have so much immigration here.

Gangs on the other hand define their own society and while I only
know what I have read, I do know many good young people are flocking
to this lifestyle. They represent a tight group of comrades--usually
quite visible by their cars, gold, designer wear, tattoos, etc. Is
money the reason why so many of these people are trading their lives
for the dangers of the underworld?

The underworld being the black market of illegal activity with a
dominance in the drug trade and a justification of supply and demand.
In part, gangs play the role of drug lords/dealers, and are drawn to
fast easy money, power, control, rebel adrenalin and like the recent
gang bust, no doubt, jail time.

My question is not why promising young people are flocking to gang
circles but rather, what is going on in our democratic society to
have to deal with such reckless actions towards communities and with
no respect for innocent people building society? What can be offered
to gangsters who choose their own lifestyles, to help them grasp the
value of their own lives and learn that they can create legal
capital, afford materialism and build healthy families instead of
lives on the deep end with no other way to go but down?

Instead, be in pursuit of excellence--it is attainable. Life's not a
movie set directed by Al Capone--but he got it, didn't he?

Dawn-Marie Tytherleigh, Chilliwack