What About the Children?

 

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What About the Children?

In Brooklyn Park there is a section of the city that has suffered greatly from absent landlords, overcrowded apartment complexes, poverty, and gang wars. On the south border of this section is Brooklyn Boulevard.  On the north end, it is 85th Avenue.  On east end, it is Highway 252. On the West end, it is Zane Avenue.  There is a gang called Zone63 involved in most of the shooting as they interact with other gangs.

But what America is seeing is violence transcends gang interaction.  Regular Ma and Pa Parent is resorting to violence over games kids play.  Case in point, on 8/17/22, in Dallas, a kids’ football game was played and after the game a fight broke out between the parents.  The melee only broke up because five shots rang out and caused a panic.  This event was caught on video and at the end of the video was a head coach lying dead on the ground from the shots.  Here is a link to the video: https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/15/us/lancaster-texas-youth-football-shooting-yaqub-talib/index.html

A little closer to home last fall, as I was monitoring the fields during 5th grade game, a Minneapolis parent had brought two pit bulls to the game as a spectator right next the sideline.  I kindly asked him to remove from the park and school premises.  He asked where I am supposed to take my dogs.  I replied respectfully, “That is something you will need to determine, but they cannot remain on school and park property”.  His response was to open his jacket point to his firearm and say, “Does this say they can remain?”.  I grab my phone and say, “I am dialing 911”.  He of runs off.  I ask other parents if they knew who this person was.  They clam up of course.

Additionally, last year, I had to call the police up to a park because Minneapolis and Saint Paul team were playing each other and much like what happen in Dallas, the parents charged the field during game and chased off the officials.

Parents are unhinged.

In the last year, there have been shootings in Brookdale Park (located on the border of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park), near Central Park, and last week, Norwood Park near Highway 252.  All of these shootings have occurred in the section of Brooklyn Park I noted above.

My experience and park shootings led me to meet with the Mayor, Park Board director, Police Chief, members of the City Council to figure out ways to protect our volunteers and kids in youth activities.  In the meeting, the Police Chief touted their “programs”.  The council members offered nothing.  The Park Director was sympathetic.

Anytime you have this problem, there is a lot of talk about programs.  I told them this is well and good; but what about the optics of something happening; we are not seeing it.  The city administration and police department are not communicating anything and there is nothing visible changing. High Schools events have cops on site, Viking games have cops on site, Twins games have cops on site, and Timberwolf games have cops on site.

I told them I need a cop presence during practices and games to send a message to gangs and parents . . . Not Here, Not Now.  They all agreed except for one council member who stated the community might be offended with a cop presence. I said I would offend them and have a safe, living child than a dead one because we are trying to avoid hurt feelings.

Next week, the new program and the passes the optics test begins.

You say why bother, Christ had a special place in His heart for children (Luke 18:16, But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these) .  I am a Christian (that is I imitate the actions of Christ because I am a follower, Acts 11:26) ergo, I must advocate for the safety of these children.

Omni-Sci News Report



Song of Week

Aptly . . . “What About the Children”, 1995, Yolanda Adams.  Ballad, building, wonderful crescendo.  Written by BeBe Winans.

“What About the Children” lyrics

Tears streaming down, her heart is broken
Because her life is hurting, so am I
He wears a frown, his dreams are choking
And because he stands alone, his dreams will die
So, humbly I come to you and say
As I sound aloud the warfare of today
Hear me, I pray

What about the children
To ignore is so easy
So many innocent children would choose the wrong way
So what about the children
Remember when we were children
And if not for those who loved us and who cared enough to show
us
Where would we be today

Sir, where is your son
Where lies his refuge
And if he can't come to you, then where can he run
Such a foolish girl, yet still, she's your daughter
And if you will just reminisce your days of young
You see, it's not where you've been, nor what you've done
Because I know a friend who specializes in great outcomes
See His love overcomes

What about the children
To ignore is so easy
So many innocent children would choose the wrong way
So what about the children
Remember when we were children
And if not for those who loved us and who cared enough to show
us
Where would we be today

Where would we be today
Where would we be today
Where would we be today
What about the the children

 

 

 

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