Blindly Broken Promises in America

The Federal Government has cut off promised funding to Community Violence Intervention programs like those at Oakland’s Youth Alive.

At first I thought the current stampeding leadership in Washington should like community-based violence intervention and reduction programs, because they are NOT about decreasing violence through gun control.

They are about giving young people the kind of thoughtful support and guidance on the ground that convince them NOT to bring the guns out, to find alternate ways to solve problems and disputes, to help them stay safe and free.

Then of course I remembered that most of these programs are run by people of color and staffed by people of color and serving people of color and function mostly in urban settings. That the preponderance of victims of the kind of violence being prevented are African-American and LatinX.

So in the end I’m sure it was an easy call to break the funding promises already made, to interrupt, blindly, ignorantly, the hard and careful and effective work of agencies like Youth Alive.

I understand I care about different things, and think about different things, and know different things, than those in power and those who seek to rubber stamp their chaos. But I thought we all cared about a peaceful world and especially about keeping promises.

Then I was reminded of the documented facts of how this person currently in the White House ran his businesses, the many people and small businesses he stiffed along the way.

So, in the end, no surprises, I guess, just more disgust, not so much with him as with his credulous and adoring acolytes. And a little sadness but that will pass. And some amount of determination, which will not pass.

Now would be a great time to donate to Youth Alive. Absolutely everything helps, with the bottom line and morale!