Gangs

5 Pages 1357 Words

Gangs
Gangs are a violent reality that people have to deal with in today's cities. What has made
these groups come about? Why do kids feel that being in a gang is both an acceptable and
prestigious way to live? The long range answer to these questions can only be speculated upon,
but in the short term the answers are much easier to find. On the surface, gangs are a direct result
of human beings' personal wants and peer pressure. To determine how to effectively end gang
violence we must find the way that these morals are given to the individual. Unfortunately, these
can only be hypothesized. However, by looking at the way humans are influenced in society, I
believe there is good evidence to point the blame at several institutions. These include the forces
of the media, the government, theater, drugs and our economic system.
On the surface, gangs are caused by peer pressure and greed. Many teens in gangs will
pressure peers into becoming part of a gang by making it all sound glamorous. Money is also an
crucial factor. A kid (a 6-10 year old, who is not yet a member) is shown that s/he could make
$200 to $400 for small part time gang jobs. Although these are important factors they are not
strong enough to make kids do things that are strongly against their morals.
One of the ways that kids morals are bent so that gang violence becomes more acceptable
is the influence of television and movies. The average child spends more time at a TV than
she/he spends in a classroom. Since nobody can completely turn off their minds, kids must be
learning something while watching the TV. Very few hours of television watched by children are
educational, so other ideas are being absorbed during this period of time. Many shows on
television today are extremely violent and are often shown this from a gang's perspective. To a
child this portrays a violent gang existence as acceptable. 'The Ends Justifies the Means'
mentality is also t...