THE BOYS OF OUR TOWN HAVE JOINED GANGS - Poem, Anonymous
"THE BOYS OF OUR TOWN HAVE JOINED GANGS"
Heavenly Father, look at our Home Boys
It wasn't so long ago they were playing with toys
But how they find pleasure in weapons and guns
Lord, who can help us out but You with our sons.
My God, I am frightened and tired of this violence
And of the shootings that break through the silence.
My prayer with tears reaches up to your throne
That in their hands be a Bible instead of a stone.
Father, I pray: "Stop this violence and hatred."
That you put in its place what is holy and sacred.
I know it can happen and evil will depart
If they find for You a place in their heart.
My God up in heaven, the boys of our town
Have joined in gangs. They are seeking a crown.
It isn't their fault that they fight their own rage.
Therefore, all the sadness is shown on their face.
Some of them grew up lonely, without happiness.
Their life's been a struggle and such a big mess.
While others had so much , there's really all kinds.
But they all need you in their hearts and their minds. 
To them life is just a long trip and ride
With so much they've done they're not satisfied.
The liquor and drugs work only a while
And without even realizing it took even their smile.
Father Almighty, fill our Home Boys with grace
That they fight the devil and not their own race.
For they are in darkness -- they see, but are blind.
Let them forgive and forget and love their own kind.
I know You can help them and also protect.
For you can see all things and trouble detect.
Things will get worse, the Bible does say,
But I also know things will change if we pray.
And Dear Lord, I also pray for each mother
Whose faith is not in you, but some religion or other.
Oh, Jesus, what's keeping them from coming to you?
Why can't they see that their sons would come too?
There are so many places where the truth they can learn --
all about You, your Truth and Concern.
You love us so much and made it so easy
There's no excuse, unless for you they're too busy.
Lord, you are coming and with you we'll depart
But for those who will stay the nightmare will start.
Jesus, I pray for our Home Boys you will wait,
That they will get ready and not be too late. Amen.
A town, a neighborhood and even a country can be ruined by a mentality that calls for territoriality, retaliation, and me-thinking instead of we-thinking.
Gang life requires that members put their fellow members and their gang first ("Mi barrio viene primero," in the Hispanic culture) and that territory, daily activities and dogma be promoted and safeguarded at all cost -- even to death and to the point where others can be hurt or injured because they are enemies to "the cause."
The real truth is that most Hispanic youth gangs have no real plan, strategy or code to follow.
Members typically blindly follow a leader like a puppet, in an effort to show that they are "down" and to receive props from other members and from others who might admire them.
The gang life eventually causes an exclusion of everyone else in the community, starting with immediate family. For the young gang initiate, grades drop, frequent drug use becomes a commonality, and a youngster spirals downward to a life of regular incarceration, drug dependence, a loss of a potentially bright future and possibly death.
The directions one can go when in a gang or very limited and usually not very positively promising.
While a gang member himself is ultimately responsible for the decision he makes in his life, the community is also greatly responsible for helping a youngster to made good choices. Parents are the key to prevention.
It takes a village. 
copyright 2007
Operation No Gangs, ARYBA TX-NM
All Rights Reserved:
Operation Prevention (505) 346-0679 Anthony, NM
No
Gangs
Education
Jail Diversion
Advocacy
El Paso, TX
Cd. Juarez, Chih
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