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Louisiana - third world?

Is this really the image we want to portray?

I often sit and wonder what it will take for Louisiana – New Orleans and Baton Rouge, in particular – to find a way to quell juvenile crime and most importantly, to guide our youth to the next level. By “the next level”, I do not mean graduating from juvenile lockup to adult prison. I am referring to that next level in life where they move from high school to college and on into the world around them as a productive citizen. I have no idea what the answer is, but I do know that what we are presently doing is not working, in any way, shape or form.

 

This is a topic of conversation that I encounter nearly daily. I struggle to make sense of the world around me, but I could not imagine growing up in a home that was conducive to nothing but violence and criminal activity. The majority of us are fortunate enough to not ever have to deal with that directly. Despite that, we must remember that those problems could one day become our own. This could easily happen if we encounter an individual who did grow up like that on a sidewalk, in a parking garage or wherever crime takes roots. We must remember that no matter what, juvenile crime affects all of us. If nothing else, we pay for it in increased taxes, but ultimately, in human lives. We must figure out how to prevent our children from becoming criminals in the first place. But how? 

 

I have penned several articles (“The Crescent City and Crime”, "What Makes A Criminal?” and “Do Louisiana’s failures in healthcare and education lead to crime?”) in order to start a dialogue on the subject. While I am in no position to make a huge difference, all of us together can achieve this. I received many emails from readers with their thoughts on the subject. Many respectfully disagreed with me, but all were in agreement regarding the root cause of crime – the lack of personal responsibility and the propensity for us, as Americans, to blame others for problems that quite often begin at “home”. But how do we achieve this?

 

I came across a very interesting article last night on the Digital Journal website. It is entitled, “Louisiana and Somalia World’s Harshest In Treating Juvenile Crime”. While I found the article thought provoking, I am at odds with many of the points it attempts to make. After reading it, it really made me think about something that happened over the weekend. My boyfriend’s daughter, who is a proud Louisiana native, called me on Saturday and if I described her demeanor during the call as being “perturbed”, that would be an understatement. She was on a highway in Maryland, where she resides and works as a physical therapist when a vehicle passed her. She noticed that it had Pennsylvania tags, but a bumper sticker that read, “Louisiana – Third World & Proud Of It.” She was distraught at the thought that the rest of the world really believes that about us. After all, she graduated high school and college with honors and went on to be an honor graduate from a prestigious east coast university and now she can proudly proclaim that she is a physical therapist – one who helps people on a daily basis. As she so accurately pointed out, the good are suffering for the few who helped earn us that title. Though one could argue that it may be a well deserved one, we all know that those with the third world mentality do not outnumber our progressive, intelligent citizens and natives. Unfortunately, ignorance and stupidity sell more magazines, TV shows, etc., therefore that is what the world sees of us.   

 

We must do better at projecting the true image of Louisiana to the rest of the world. We must show the world that not only are we a blend of unique cultures, but that we are good, hardworking people for the most part and that we should mean something more to the rest of the world, than to be the butt of jokes, more often than not. This all starts with figuring out what to do with our criminal justice system and most importantly, it begins with getting rid of the politicians that have helped to create the school of thought that brands us with the “third world” image. We should never, ever allow ourselves to be compared to Somalia. Never.