President & Laura Bush to 'Take On' Bloods, Crips and Hip-Hop

[Rhythmikal]

President George W. Bush interrupted our regularly scheduled programs last night to present his second term initiatives, including an anti-gang proposal to be helmed by First Lady Laura Bush and aimed at the notorious Bloods, Crips and other inner-city gangs. Under the umbrella of his "faith-based" initiatives, the President introduced a three-year plan to "help young people out of gangs," a problem once confined to areas like California but now spreading rampantly to densely-populated cities like New York.

"Our government will continue to support faith-based and community groups that bring hope to harsh places," said the President to a rousing round of applause. "Now we need to focus on giving young people, especially young men in our cities, better options than apathy, or gangs, or jail."

The President proposed outreach by parents, pastors, coaches and community leaders to "show young men an ideal of manhood that respects women and rejects violence." Hip-Hop music, often criticized for its misogynistic lyrics and violent content, would be the indirect target of this new initiative. Jeff Chang, hip-hop journalist and author of the new title, "Can't Stop, Won't Stop," believes Bush's policies have a role in the proliferation of the gangs and violence he's trying to address.

"For hip-hop generation youths caught in the cycle of violence, positive messages alone won't solve the problem," Chang told SOHH.com. "As Bush's tax cuts and war economics continue to make many youths of color expendable, the level of violence and desperation has been creeping back up in many inner cities. The hip-hop generation needs real jobs and resources in the neighborhoods, community-centered problem-solving, and a long-term commitment to their emotional, mental, and physical health. Anything less is bad faith."

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this REALLY pisses me off!!!!!!! to all americans: you have dope hip hop and fine bitches, but your president is fucked up! im sure most of you will agree.

how is Bush gonna 'take on' hip hop. how is this actually possible? he cant physically stop people from writing rhymes or making hip hop beats.

And plans to take on Bloods and Crips?? the man is insane.

sAfE.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Yea, i dont think he can do it. I aint old enough to vote, so it aint my fault. HHe IS cray/stupid. I for 1 dont think he understands the people hes tryin to stop, so he has no clue what he's up against. I know some gangs round boston that could take out his secret service. This shit wont last. If he tries somethin stupiud to try an fuck up hip hop, i know most of yall will stand up to it.

 

[Cold Truth]

uh this is a bad thing how? what abuot this pisses you off exactly?

no, i do not think that bush is doing a whole lot ot HELP these communities per se, but to say that it pisses you off for the president to take steps to ease the gang problem, and it IS a problem, but you are over there in england and NOT here in california, again why the hell are you even speaking on things you dont know about? please, tell me when the last time yuo got into with some bangers, because i have had to deal with that shit my whole fucking life.

you love to listen to these dudes, fine, thats you, but you think that shits just entertaining or whatever but its real life here.

the guy has points about certain things (the reporter criticizing bush for this), but what he fails to realize is that there already are programs, there are things, i KNOW I WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT DOES THIS, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO DO THESE THINGS FOR A LIVING and you would be amazed at how many teenagers would rather bang then get a job, woul drather deal then get a job, i mean i have personally watched kids with full ride scholarships leave after a month to go prostitute themselves, i am not making this up.

YES, MEN SHOULD TEACH BOYS HOW TO BECOME MEN. thats a GOOD thing.

and yes, more can be done, and isnt, but again that comes down to the indivicual communities taking action, which has nothing to do with mr bush.

first, i WORK for an organization that provides job training to disadvatanged (poor, HOMELESS, gang members, juvenile hall, etc) youth, and second, i belong to a church BUILT around hip hop ministering to this exact population, doing exactly what bush is promoting here, i am a part of that same process... tell me how this is a bad thing?

sorry but you do not know what you are talking abuot.

 

[Cold Truth]

I for 1 dont think he understands the people hes tryin to stop, so he has no clue what he's up against. I know some gangs round boston that could take out his secret service. .

you think so, huh? you really belive that? your sadly misguided if that is the case....

so gangs are a good thing, huh? drugs in the community are a good thing? violence over what part of town you are from is a positive?

you guys make me sick. seriously. this is just sad, and this IS THE PROBLEM, right here.

what the hell is wrong with you guys? is this what you want?

communities always want to blame someone else, the cops, the governer, mom, dad, whoeevr, but nobody takes responsibility for their own actions......

sickening, just sickening. if yuo guys ever wind up in the ghetto, if yuo eevr get jumped or jacked, if yuor kid gets killed in a drive by, you will be well deserving of it.

 

[MarkN]

you think so, huh? you really belive that? your sadly misguided if that is the case....

so gangs are a good thing, huh? drugs in the community are a good thing? violence over what part of town you are from is a positive?

you guys make me sick. seriously. this is just sad, and this IS THE PROBLEM, right here.

what the hell is wrong with you guys? is this what you want?

communities always want to blame someone else, the cops, the governer, mom, dad, whoeevr, but nobody takes responsibility for their own actions......

sickening, just sickening. if yuo guys ever wind up in the ghetto, if yuo eevr get jumped or jacked, if yuor kid gets killed in a drive by, you will be well deserving of it.

Breathe man, breathe ! but i do see you point and where your coming from !

 

[Loose Cannon]

I dont think gang violence is good. I was ignorant on my post. But i dont think he really completely understands what hes trying to stop. If he makes an attempt, great. But its a nationwide problem. The drugs and the gangs (and he thinks hip-hop is a problem). I think he's taking on things that are too big to stop.

 

[Cold Truth]

oh, got it. its too much, so screw it, dont try.

everyone whines about him not taking care of home and fighting wars elsewhere, WELL, here he is trying to fight a worthy battle, and people are complaining about THAT.

of course he thinks hip hop is a problem. what does it represent these days? what is most peoples concept of hip hop?

women are sex objects, killing, dealing and pimping are acceptable and encouraged, so long as you are gettin paid doing it and not hating on others that are... being "hard" is prized over being educated, lets be real. you think that the public has a positive image of hip hop? you dont think the vibe awards, the murda inc scandal, you dont think hip hop is shooting itself in the foot with those things?you think that hip hop doesnt deserve its bad rep? it sure as hell does if y uoask me, and if you cant see that you are either, blind or in denial.

of course there is a vicious cycle here; blame the people who buy it, right? lets blame white corperate america for that, right? thats bull too. most minorities i know and have known arent interested in positive messages. that would just be "soft" and "pussy". oh i am sure that sounds racist, but it is true... im a minority so dont pull that card on me. whose fault is that? we going to blame whitey for our own mentality?

 

[DJ Hoppa]

Bush has no right to bring religion into this issue.

IM SO FUCKING SICK OF RELIGION IN THE WHITE HOUSE!


FUCKING BULLSHIT.

BULLSHIT BULLSHIT BULLSHIT.

Bush is a fucking turd.

Truth :: I feel you man, I've lived in a gang-infested area for a good part of my life, I've been run up on, whatever. But the fact he's trying to push faith on innercity kids is just garbage.

WHY THE FUCK ARE MY TAX DOLLARS GOING TO "FAITH-BASED" ORGANIZATIONS?!?!?!?!?

 

[DJ Hoppa]

as far as the men teaching boys thing, that's what we NEED.

Gangs aren't hip hop. hip hop aren't gangs. There's fucking violence everywhere. I dont know, too many thoughts to express right now...











fuck bush.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Cold,

I see your perspective and i understand and agree.

And what you wrote about hip-hop's rep too, i understand. I never really thought about it.


Maybe im just the nonpolitical type thinker, therefore i shouldnt be commenting on this, but thats just what i was thinking when i read the article.

 

[afriquedeluxe]

looking from the outside, alot of people dont realise the reality of the situations, i can see where cold truth is coming from. in a way rhythmikal sounded a little ignorant there. no one should knock bush for trying to get rid of the crips and bloods, he just wants safer neighbourhoods, but then again, his objectives can be somewhat questionable at times.

 

[Cold Truth]

this is isnt "pushing" faith on anybody. its called "providing an alternative".

obviously, someone such as myself doesnt object to religion in the white house, especially Christianity being represented.

so the hardcore liberals are a better option?

im not trying to turn this into a religion thread, but it is an element of the discussion, so i will apeak on it. there is nothing wrong, in my eyes, with providing kids that alternative. my old church has over 200 kids who come wednesdays because there are snacks and other kids to hang out with, white black mexican indian whatever...

most of them dont "really" believe, or even care. a lot of them are just troublemakers. this isnt "pushing" anything. faith based organisations of all types are generally focused on the same objectives, but many dont do the things that they are supposed to be doing- i.e, taking a part in their communities.

if my church were to leave the city, people would know it, and there would be a great impact. a NEGATIVE impact. we have purchased books that the school could not afford; paid for scholarships, fed the football team weekly, helped pay for road work and other things the city has needed but lacked the funds to do so. we run food drives, give presents to families with a parent who is incarcerated, among many other things. we pay child support to women in or congregation who are single parents. these are the things that faith based organizations should be doing. bush is simply encouraging those things. he HAS every right to let his faith guide his choices, sorry to say.

i know, i know, this whole "seperation of church and state" thing.... i get all that. but just as the liberal left makes choices and has agendas based on their personal beliefs, YEAH THE CONSERAVTIVE RIGHT WING DOES TOO.

you think people of faith arent bothered when we have an adulterous liberal in office? when their agendas are based on things that the religious community do not stand for? that happens to be th emajority of this nation; shouldnt their interests be represented as well? everything is liberal now. everything. everyone is liberal it seems, and liberals cant stand the religious crowd-unless they are liberal in their beliefs. everyone wants everyone else to be completely open minded, to just be tolerant of everything and to have situational ethics like the liberals do, UNLESS you happen to have a religious mindset, in which case that ISNT tolerated. liberals are ok with anything a person does, to live their life how they please, so long as it isnt of a religious- ESPECIALLY-Christian mindset.

it is ok, it seems, for the liberal left to propagate their agendas in a political forum, while the conservative right isnt allowed that priveledge...

and to that, i say, i an understand some of the objections; i am from the church and believe me i see so many things taht are wrong within it, i see even my own sins and m yown falsehoods and hypocracys and you know what, i can unbderstand how much that can bother someone. religous institutions, much like hip hop's glorifiying the scum of their surroundings, have not done much to showcase the integrity they all profess to have, now have they? i get that. i feel the same way, and i often sense that certain boundaries are not respected where they should be. i actually agree wit hthe frustrations of a lot of liberals who complain about he conservative institution of the last few years; it really is a political weapon now, a proverbial crutch.

what i am saying though, is that this is a GOOD thing, whether or not you agree with the religious element.

 

[SketchUp]

the idea of stoppin or gettin rid of crips and bloods is a good thing, because it is way out of hand, but the fact that in three years he plans to stop it just sounds complete bullshit. Also that hip-hop is bein targeted is wrong. Why not just target the bloods,crips etc.(needless killings), than target rap/hip-hop(rhymes/beats)! Hip-hop is always pointed out when things get fucked up, it's the only thing that the US government seem to blame for a lot of shit.

 

[DJ Hoppa]

Truth, you're a smart guy. I feel you. I also wasn't aware you were very religious.

Funny thing is, My dad was a catholic missionary and a priest - no joke. When I was young, we used to have church at HOME. - NO JOKE.

Anyway, I believe the church does a lot of good things, and what you are doing is an especially good thing for you, the community, everyone.

However, I have a distaste for bush... and a lot of his supporters for their views and everything, but what can i do, right? He's in it for 4 more years so I better deal with it......

anyways, point taken. I don't retract my words, but I do see your side of the coin.

 

[Cold Truth]

this article says nothing about bush targeting hip hop. SOMEBODY ELSE syas that it would be the "indeirect target" of this initiative. it is a part of the whole picture; of course it is an indirect target. that is unavoidable.

as far as the religious thing, as well, it says

"outreach by parents, pastors, coaches and community leaders"

read: COMMUNITY.

the hypocracy here, to anyone who objects to hip hop being included?

its that most of us here reject that mentality and that element of hip hop anyways, and yet, we are somehow opposed to someone ELSE taking ACTUAL ACTION against what we can all (for the most part) agree is a BAD, NEGATIVE SHADOW on the hip hop community? against the VERY SAME ELEMENTS WE COMPLAIN ABUOT HERE DAILY?

hip hop deserves to get pointed out; it isnt the whole culture being talked about- in all likelyhood,they do not even realize another side of it exists- and we all know it, and unless you propogate those same negative mentalities, you have NOTHING to worry about.

funny thing. hip hop is touted as the "voice of the people", but when it comes under fire for the way it chooses to that voice, it doesnt want to hear it. it wants to blame someone else, it wants to ask "why" its always coming under fire, it wants it to be a black vs white thing, it wants no part of the responsibility that (like it or not) comes with that voice...

it is not realistic to say that gang activityt will be eradicated; all this says, is taht they are aiming for OUTREACH TOWARDS, NOT WAR AGAINST. obviously the two are hard to seperate.... because reality is the two are the same, but it is the method tha tmatters. the method here is outreach, it is providing better alternatives, more community action to help save future generations, its called PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.

i am just disgusted. i cant belive how many of yuo object to this.
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and hoppa, much respect to you. nobody should have to retract their words, and you gave me something from that...

becausethe one thing i always wanted from people, to see between secular and religious sects, is just understanding..... like, we can work together, wecan build together, etc.

i am not a bush fan at all. but i wholeheartedly support this particular initiative. i am all about changing our communities from within, and taht is the main goal of this.

as far as my religious faith, i have walked far away from it in a lot of ways this last year, but i am slowoly inching back to taht place, i know i am called to do certain things and i can not do them apart from God. i am working my way back to a place of prominence in that.

 

[x-squizet]

look man what is yall problems, i am glad bush is doin this, atleast he is doin somethin, because i know when i grow up i don't want my kids in no fuckin gang, dealin drugs, and shit, nobody wants that for their kids, and i know what ya mean cold because churches has helped me alot, i mean on christmas they have givin me presents and clothes when i did'nt have nothing, so i am glad bush is bringin religion into this we need something positive, beside guns, cars and sex,

 

[classic]

Hmm interesting.. u know I had to drop my 2 cents….


I think the root of this argument is this. Their are a lot of people on this site(and around the world), that really don’t know what its like to grow up in a impoverished urban neighborhood(ghetto) in the USA.
Since this is a prevalent topic in hip hop, which is heard around the world, people think they can relate to that environment and understand because it they hear it all the time from their favorite rapper

For example, your fav rapper says a quote about gang violence, or selling dope in the hood

The outsider is gonna think-- “damn that line was tight, I like how it flowed with the track his lyrics are dope”

While classic thinks-- “ damn that makes me think of my best friend smiley , who is doing 15 years in the feds for that shit” Or “damn I miss my cousin, who was killed in a driveby over some turf”


Im not trying to turn this into a “who’s hood is harder” thing cause, or a “my life was hard thing” because I was blessed to have a mother and father that raised me right.

But the simple fact of the matter is that some people just don’t understand that this shit is REALTITY for A LOT of people and ANY HELP we can get ,even if its from bush, is needed.

I hate bush, but im not gonna sit there and say no! He is trying to do what many people were suppose to do along time ago.

THIS SHIT IS REAL!!!!


class....

 

[iLLVA1]

Fact is hip hop isn't the only type of music that speaks on negative subjects...Some of that hard rock and marilyn manson shit is just as bad. But they can't always put the blame on music anyway, sometimes it needs to be looked at as a form of entertainment. Just like movies are forms of entertainment, but people get praised for movies. It's all peaches and cream to see people in movies shooting another but as soon as somebody speaks on it in a song it's bad. Music is also a form of expression and sometimes thats all people have seen on the streets so thats what they speak on.

But as far as trying to stop the gangs that's a good step right there. Who knows how much of a change this will do but it's good to try. Help your own at home before you help others is my philosophy.

 

[The Bastard]

President George W. Bush interrupted our regularly scheduled programs last night to present his second term initiatives, including an anti-gang proposal to be helmed by First Lady Laura Bush and aimed at the notorious Bloods, Crips and other inner-city gangs. Under the umbrella of his "faith-based" initiatives, the President introduced a three-year plan to "help young people out of gangs," a problem once confined to areas like California but now spreading rampantly to densely-populated cities like New York.

"Our government will continue to support faith-based and community groups that bring hope to harsh places," said the President to a rousing round of applause. "Now we need to focus on giving young people, especially young men in our cities, better options than apathy, or gangs, or jail."

The President proposed outreach by parents, pastors, coaches and community leaders to "show young men an ideal of manhood that respects women and rejects violence." Hip-Hop music, often criticized for its misogynistic lyrics and violent content, would be the indirect target of this new initiative. Jeff Chang, hip-hop journalist and author of the new title, "Can't Stop, Won't Stop," believes Bush's policies have a role in the proliferation of the gangs and violence he's trying to address.

"For hip-hop generation youths caught in the cycle of violence, positive messages alone won't solve the problem," Chang told SOHH.com. "As Bush's tax cuts and war economics continue to make many youths of color expendable, the level of violence and desperation has been creeping back up in many inner cities. The hip-hop generation needs real jobs and resources in the neighborhoods, community-centered problem-solving, and a long-term commitment to their emotional, mental, and physical health. Anything less is bad faith."

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this REALLY pisses me off!!!!!!! to all americans: you have dope hip hop and fine bitches, but your president is fucked up! im sure most of you will agree.

how is Bush gonna 'take on' hip hop. how is this actually possible? he cant physically stop people from writing rhymes or making hip hop beats.

And plans to take on Bloods and Crips?? the man is insane.

sAfE.

I THINK YUR ILL INFORMED. BUSH NEVER SAID HE WAS GOIN AFTER HIP HOP. SOME GUY AT SOHHWHATEVER.COM DID . MOST OF THOSE SO CALLED ''HIP HOP SITES'' ARE GARBAGE AND ARE JUST THERE TO CREATE CONTRAVERSY IN THE ''ONLINE COMMUNITY''

 

[M!nd_Ctrl]

uh this is a bad thing how? what abuot this pisses you off exactly?

no, i do not think that bush is doing a whole lot ot HELP these communities per se, but to say that it pisses you off for the president to take steps to ease the gang problem, and it IS a problem, but you are over there in england and NOT here in california, again why the hell are you even speaking on things you dont know about? please, tell me when the last time yuo got into with some bangers, because i have had to deal with that shit my whole fucking life.

you love to listen to these dudes, fine, thats you, but you think that shits just entertaining or whatever but its real life here.

the guy has points about certain things (the reporter criticizing bush for this), but what he fails to realize is that there already are programs, there are things, i KNOW I WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT DOES THIS, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO DO THESE THINGS FOR A LIVING and you would be amazed at how many teenagers would rather bang then get a job, woul drather deal then get a job, i mean i have personally watched kids with full ride scholarships leave after a month to go prostitute themselves, i am not making this up.

YES, MEN SHOULD TEACH BOYS HOW TO BECOME MEN. thats a GOOD thing.

and yes, more can be done, and isnt, but again that comes down to the indivicual communities taking action, which has nothing to do with mr bush.

first, i WORK for an organization that provides job training to disadvatanged (poor, HOMELESS, gang members, juvenile hall, etc) youth, and second, i belong to a church BUILT around hip hop ministering to this exact population, doing exactly what bush is promoting here, i am a part of that same process... tell me how this is a bad thing?

sorry but you do not know what you are talking abuot.

Good point Truth. I'm not into pushing "faith", but if it helps then I'm all for it. It's a sad reality that peeps growing up in certain cities in the U.S. are destined to bang and sell drugs. I'm sure deep down inside they don't want to, but they do it to survive in their communities. I have personally lived a very good life in suburban cali, so I don't actually know what it's like growing up in a city like South Central, but believe me I know those peeps have it hard. I worked in Downtown LA for years and drove some of my employees home to SC, most of whom had been robbed at gunpoint at least once in the past few years. Our society automatically looks upon residents of inner cities (actually most of society views African Americans) as deviants. This sucks and can only be changed through programs like the one Bush may implement. As long as Bush doesn't try to kill Hip Hop then I say let him try to do some good for our peeps (this is coming from a person who HATES Bush).


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