We youth at EvC are in Moral Decline

I am wondering how much of the increase may be due to changes in the definition of certain crimes. Specifically, the definition of violent crimes. A few years ago, in Oregon, the law was changed regarding what constituted such crimes, and sentencing became mandatory on the first offense. Many in the judicial and enforcement divisions have protested the changes because (among other evils) they can result in long prison terms for teenagers who become involved in fist fights. In my day that was a part of one's education. Learning what it was like to be assaulted. Learning how to avoid being assaulted. Defending your girl's honor. Keeping your lunch, or your jacket.If school yard scuffles are now ending up in the national crime statistic, then our clever overlords have found a new way to beg for money, in addition to a new way to fill our expensive new prisons.

Not at all. In fact that was my next question: What is the demography of these crimes? It has been shown that despite the glorification of Western violence in the nineteenth century, Eastern cities were much bloodier. Dodge City in 1888 had a lower crime rate than a number of Eastern cities. People in Dodge could openly carry guns. People in the East could not. Even so, there were more killings (per capita) in the East. [from an article I once read. Probably in a Gun Digest (unbiased source)]

Simply: Inaccurate. On the contrary, they are increasing. Another in a string of bold assertions. Can you offer corroborating evidence for any of this? I don't know where you live but it must be a very nice community. Or, perhaps you are not actually studying this in the field anymore. BTW, it's Loaves and Fishes, not "fishes and loaves."This was sent to me this morning by one of those pesky quasi-friends who daily clutters the email with forwarded funnies. Here is the first line of a rather long and humorous look at geographic truisms (some of them right on).

quote:

---

You Know You Live in California When...

1. You make over $250,000 and you still can't afford to buy a house.

---

This is an interesting discussion but somewhat of a tangent to our theme. That those who find themselves homeless may, with some effort, allay that grief is an aside. I am expecting that the fact they are homeless in the first place indicates they have difficulty paying rent. It would seem to go without saying that people who have difficulty renting a home are in no position to consider buying one.

Is this supposed to reflect the compassion of Christ?For someone who gives lip service to Christian ideals, you are certainly quick to heap scorn upon the unfortunate. Even so, your satanic attitude is founded in little more than scandalous rumor. If you could reform all the degenerates you think are out there, it would do little to assuage the horror of homelessness.I am reminded of a local family who lost their home and their bank account on the day their son was arrested for selling marijuana to a friend at school. They were unaware of their sons activity in this regard but nonetheless lost everything all at once. They had no place to stay. No money for food. No money to hire an attorney. It was the so-called "morality" of our drug laws which brought this upon them.Where is your Jesus when we need him? Apparently not with you.db------------------
Doesn't anyone graduate Sunday School?

The hazard of making broad generalizations is that someone out there is actually included. When you say, the youth don't have a clue, the young may take it personally. Do you think your words have no effect on others? What misleading? Is there anyone here who doesn't get the same impression? It is a pleasure to attack the venemous rhetoric and self-righteous vehemence which you set before us.db------------------
Doesn't anyone graduate Sunday School?

Our Little Rico (sp?) law (like the ones during Prohition in the 30's) allows the state to confiscate all of their assets, including bank accounts. And yes, due to the behaviour of their child. Guilty until proven innocent. The law was instituted in order to shut down pot farms and disable the infrastructure of drug dealers. Sounded good on paper, but ...As I recall, they were eventually exonerated but not before enduring mental anguish, abject poverty, social embarrassment, and homelessness. Imagine how this looks on their record. I wonder how can one hold a job under such circumstances. How does one shower, change clothing, eat breakfast, get to work? Will they be fired, now that they're felons? Will anyone hire them in the future?db

I'd say what I feel but then your husband would have to kill me.

Phew! What a relief. That you took so long to comment had me worried. I went over what I'd said a hundred times and began to think that I had offended you. Glad you're back. db

Very interesting. I did not know that. Gives a whole new meaning to the expression son-of-a-bitch.Are you aware that the Sumerian word for "sheep fold" was the same as their word for "vulva"? And the Hebrew word for "vulva" (AKA Womb or Matrix) means "fondle" and is used, in the Bible, as slang for girl ?db