The Black Informant | African American Commentary, News and Community Building

There is a right that people are going to exercise under all circumstances~survival! I cannot blame the man who was attacked for defending himself. The robber might have been attempting to provide for his family but the method he selected was risky~in this case life ending.

The irony of a robber making such a statement.

This is an example of the “mindset” of some people and it goes across all racial lines Totally selfishness and no regard for the other person. The robber felt he had the right to hurt, maim and even kill for what he wanted and yet he felt no compassion for that older man who was not bothering anyone. The robber felt that the man’s money was his for the taking and the heck with whether or not the older man had a family who cared about him.

Sad to say this is how lots of people think, I see it everyday in the arena where I work with young people. They get in trouble and blame everyone else if they get caught. They feel that the world owe all good things to them for the taking, and they should not have to go through the process of earning it. Whether through good behavior or just plain work.

This attitude is becoming very common.

“There is a right that people are going to exercise under all circumstances~survival!”

I instantaneously thought, “Crash” (as in the movie).

While I hate to sympathize with a criminal, I think the exchange between the young man (choosing to rob, steal, and even kill to feed his family) and the old man (having lost his son to a violent murder for God only knows what, now carrying a gun for his own protection) are symptoms of the greater problem of unemployment and poverty plaguing our communities. VB, I also try to work with inner city youth as much as I can, particularly because this is a vicious, tragic re-run in our urban communities that I want to help alleviate.

On another note…that is some foolishness. You rob me, I kick your butt (I know death is a different story, but still…), and you expect me to feel sorry for you. McDonald’s is a relatively safe place to work. Get a real job and your kids may not eat fillet mignon, but their bellies won’t protrude from malnutrition either.