DRUGS, VIOLENCE HERE AT HOME

Violence is vile and foul. It leaves its victims and bystanders in shock and
amazement.

It's no less evident in this area than anywhere else in the world. Often
times thinly veiled, beneath the cover of community caring, it rears its
repulsive head often enough to startle and worry us.

A couple of weeks ago tires got slashed. A fight broke out. Then a massive
fight started outside a local nightclub. The next weekend another fight
breaks out over said slashed tires. At the beginning of that same weekend, a
local woman was found slain in her home. The next weekend, a school dance is
marred when two of its students are assaulted over a name calling incident
and once again, said slashed tires.

Just hours before, four RCMP officers are killed near Mayerthorpe.

One doesn't have to watch soap operas or go to court docket Mondays to stay
on top of the latest local dramas. You have simply to set foot outside your
door, outside your bubble and it's there.

Aside from its hideousness, it sports a putrid stench.

It's presence is undeniable.

The problem is, it's becoming more malicious every day. The solutions are
elusive simply because comprehending the violence that we seem to be willing
to impose on one another leaves us incredulous.

So what do you do? How do you deal with escalating numbers and levels of
violence?

Many of our youth are toting weapons. The drugs have infested this area like
locusts in a drought.

They're heading out the door, unbeknownst to parents and adults, and into a
world that could only because described as a sub-culture.

Go out your door at night. Drive around High Prairie. Open your eyes and see
some of what's happening.

It's not that these youth and individuals are hardened criminals, but the
world that they're living in is hardening them in a manner we can't begin to
understand. They are becoming the veterans and we, the naive, are becoming
the unknowing children.

It's like something out of a movie or book. All the incredible parts of the
community are becoming overwhelmed by the bloodshed.

The answer? This parent has none except the wish that people would open
their eyes to what happens around them.

Whether it's by choice, and the belief that thinking positively renders
positive results or simply an unconscious response, it's time to stop
closing our eyes to what happens around us.

There's a deeply rooted drug trade. Our children, youth, adults, neighbours
and family are becoming more and more involved in it.

Violence is a reality that has to be dealt with in a realistic way. There
has to be something we can do to curb it. It's obvious that what we have in
place now isn't enough. What more is there we can do?