How safe are the children?

greetings and good morning,

might one venture to ask what "people other than us" is in reference too?
give thanks

guidance

I think crime can affect innocent bstanders whereever you are. I would hope by "other than us" Ms. Information meant criminals.

The fact that this was a front page story tells me it is not an every day occurance. I still contend that the majority of violent crime in the USVI is drug related and "criminal on criminal". Another large segment is domestic. That doesn't leave much for the average person/ tourist to be concerned about.

What are "people other than us"?

I tend to try to protect the VI's reputation and tell friends that the high number of murders here comes from the "projects" where "people other than us" are out of control. quote]

Gee, how do you really feel?

 

hmmmmm interesting other than us/ Martians?

"other than us" Confirms my opinion of many contributors to this forum.
Just an opinion mind-you.

hmmmmmmm

still yet to see an answer as to what "people other than us" was in reference too.

tapping foot, shaking head......twirling thoughts......

hmmmmmmm

guidance

We don't know what this person meant yet so I will withhold judgement. She could've simply meant those "who are criminal's" but I think we are all waiting for the OP to clarify.

Eagle Ray, it sounds like by letting the words of one confirm suspicions you have about others your are practicing exactly what I think you are accusing others of. Racism is nothing more than one of the most evil forms of collectivism where one's race gets him pre-judged as part of a certain collective regardless of his/her other traits. This statement sounds like you are prejudging many people based on the words of one. I'd caution that doing so is exactly in line with the paradigm of racism. Not an attack, just an opinion!

Sean

greetings

the original post is what could be construed as racist.
but since ms information has yet to raspond to the questions by MANY as to what was meant by said statement of "people other than us"....i will withhold from any discourse dealing with what it SOUNDS/TYPES like.....
but it does REEK of the "R" word. especially in the context she typed.
truly.

guidance

I must be naive as hell. I read the post and thought that "people other than us" meant criminals and hulligans. Race never crossed my mind. Oh well.

Now the other than us remark.........we are all but one......HUMAN.......our exteriors are different, our beliefs are different, but we are all the same. If I cut you, will you not bleed? If I insult you will you not cry?

Putting the possible racial thing aside, back to the point she was trying to make, when does one finally get mad about all the violence & start demanding some action!

I tend to agree with Ric. "People other than us" seems to mean those people unwilling to work, too lazy to get educated and get a real job and ending up supported by welfare, living in "projects" and smoking or drinking their children's meals away; criminals who would just as soon shootyou for $10.00 as treat you honestly. Of course, this does not mean all people living in the 'projects" nor does it mean all people of any particular race. It has nothing to do with race at all. What would it take to get past this "race" thing, the "native Virgin Islander" thing, and move on to the really important and very real problems the we "islanders" all have?
'

to be honest, i was raised in the projects and on welfare and i have yet to shoot anyone. not everyone who is living in the projects is a criminal, many are hardworking and law-abiding and hope for better, i am a witness to it. that being said, i will let the original post pass for its intent rather than its content.

this did not start yesterday and it cannot be wrapped up in a day either. it's a symptom, not the problem. 15 years later, after the demise of the programs that kept those beautiful babies from falling through the cracks, and we are faced with adults whose hearts are not tender - they either never learned or had it beaten out of them. what to do? if you have info, provided it to authorities... and rescue those we can. we can't stop a bullet in flight, but that moment is long, long, long in planning and does not come out of a vacuum.

i once heard someone on a talk show say that "rehabilitation" assumes that the person has been "habilitated" in the first place. in many cases, it's not the case.

I agree with the posters who say the bus shooting is an outrage. Kids are kids, and it breaks my heart for them to experience this kind of terror. Now the police are so concerned with community outreach to make sure the kids "feel safe" - how safe would you feel if someone just got shot on your elementary school bus ride?

Instead of those vague motivation bulletin boards outside the school (virtue, etc., etc.) could they just make a big sign that says, "DON'T SHOOT PEOPLE." And maybe the cops could arrest people who break the rule...
🙂

She probably meant "people other than those of us who are sitting around on this forum"... given that you, me, and the rest of the readers make an "us" and the likely and probably correct inference is that if you're here helping people learn about the island, you're probably not out shooting school children.

Anyone who read "racism" into that more than likely feels defensive about the reality of life here or is just looking for a fight (kinda like "those people")

newarrival, ur barking up the right tree in my opinion...

but i'd rather the sign said, "keep our children safe".

our young men have not been doing that, and the men in any community are supposed to be trained to keep it safe for the women, the children, the babies and the elders.

young men, young lions. return to what it is that you are supposed to do, get your honor and dignity back.

this can be done. we just have to make up our minds that it already is. the tide can begin to turn in just this instant, when we decide what we want and give it our attention.

I have been away for a bit, so I didn't notice the direction this thread had gone. I was surprised by the self righteous attacks on me by one or two posters. You do not know me, the content of my soul or the color of my skin.

I was concerned because I was seeing little of the outrage that I felt about the school bus shooting. I won't try to define or explain my words as that will continue to confuse the central issue. The issue is that a child was shot and could have been killed. The issue is that there is a lawless element here that needs to be policed. Have a nice day.

good afternoon ms information.....

i do not see where anyone was self righteous OR attacked you.

i see seven posts that simply asked what you meant by "people other than us".

that is it.

and that question has still not been answered.

i for one, attacked no one.....and i do not think others did either.

again....I just saw questions pertaining to the comment you made in your original post.

you have a nice day too.

guidance

I love your post, Anita. You have such a positive message. Would you feel comfortable writing an editorial to the Avis, or somewhere with a bigger audience? I agree with you that once the community stops tolerating this reckless/murderous behavior it will have to stop.

I feel a little weird, as a transplant, to be preaching about how things should be, but most of the people I meet here are wonderful and I know they would agree that the lawless element is hurting everyone. Peaceful people speak up! We should have anti-violence rallies! Ministers could preach a non-violent message at least once a month! The community needs to rise up and reject the violence!

i live by the philosophy "what you resist, persists".

so, in order to have peace, i do things that resonate peace. this is why i ask to protect our children.

if everyone does one thing towards protecting the children, whether that is coaching a team, donating $ to a local charity that offers intervention services, gives help to a harried young parent who does not know what to do, or takes the young child without a parental role model under wing, we are all protecting the children.

look a person in the eyes and find something to appreciate about them. try, each time. you may come up empty but someone else may hit the mark. at least you will have tried. it will become easier and easier over time. if we all at least try to stand in the other person's shoes.

by the way, it's not necessary for me to publish this anywhere but where it is now. it's the vibration that i count on sharing. it will reach where it should reach, on its own. but, thanks for your kind words. they make my day.

Here is an interesting article about the turnout of parents at a conference about this incident:

http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News:Local&p=1223618335

FTA - I think this is the real problem there; a lack of interest of parents for children:

"I was sad that I was the only parent here [of all the kids riding the bus]," Jacqueline Claxton said.

how to protect the children? show them this, this is really cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nktBsI0PYPs

Very true! Thank you!