Jose Lopez, 13 years old,
was murdered this week at a middle high school in Northwest Dallas.
This horrendous act has compelled me to try
to find some sort of explanation why this happened.
My first question:
Where are the suspect's parents?
Then you have to ask:
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Did
the suspect's parents have any idea what their
son has been up to? |
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Did they know where he was
the day he murdered a 13 year
old? |
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Did they know he smoked or
sold marijuana? |
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Did they know who his
friends were? |
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Did they know any of his
teachers? |
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Did they even look at his
report card? |
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Did they care at all? |
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Was the suspect so
uncontrollable his parents had no choices? |
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Who should society blame?
The Police? Gangs? Drugs? DISD? Poverty? Who? |
These questions
have been asked numerous times in the Mexican-American community of Dallas,
Texas, but too often the
Hispanic leaders of my community lack the backbone and intestinal fortitude to
take action in our neighborhoods, City Hall, Police Department, and in D.I.S.D.
Yes, the City of Dallas should take some blame for the crime that
plagues its citizens day in and day out.
I hear of more
police patrols needed on Lower
Greenville Ave. or in
Deep Ellum because of frequent muggings!
We have about 3,000 police officers who serve
in Dallas, but we can?t get routine police patrols
in our neighborhoods where crime occurs frequently
in the form of Murder and Rape.
Part of the problem is the failure of Dallas
Hispanic Leadership to unite and fight for the
services we are entitled to have. If we did
have simply more patrols (crime prevention), the
murder rate might drop. Even
if more patrols only prevent one murder,
it would be worthwhile.
A police presence on our
streets is badly needed. The city needs to stop crime now, tomorrow and in the
future!
The parents of children who commit horrendous crimes should also feel the
brunt of punishment.
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The parents of these young
Hispanic kids often let them ?hang? with "friends",
who often are drug dealers, car thieves or are involved in some
form of crime, be it serious or minor. |
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The parents themselves
sometimes partake in these illegal actions, only to subject their own kids
to a life of crime. |
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Some parents are felons
who are released from jail and who continue the life that got them there.
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Some Hispanic youth are caught up in the ?MTV? world they have created in
their own minds. They
listen to rap music an get lost in the lyrics
promoting guns, violence, drugs and sex.
Sagging pants and an attitude towards parents,
school and the law is a norm. Smoking
marijuana is as normal as smoking a cigarette. Shinny
new spinner rims, and a bassing sound system is the ultimate goal in life.
The thought of high
school graduation, much less
college, is locked up in prisons and juvenile.
Jose Lopez
should not have died at school. His parents
will never have the chance to see his graduations, celebrate his birthdays or
see him get married.
The story of Jose Lopez is a real tragedy, but one
that will be repeated if Dallas Hispanic Leaders do
not put their differences aside and do something now.
We must stop the blade that is destroying our families and our community.
