Rick Badie / My Opinion

By Michael H. Smith

June 21, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this

It should be interesting to see this documentary. The ones presented by the History Channel have been very revealing. Street gangs are more than a menace, they are in many cases the tentacles of prison gangs that operate as criminal organizations. The Mexican Mafia La Eme and the likes of the AB to mention a couple.

I have a co-worker who stands accused of a drive-by, though he is not a gang banger or even a gang member he is looking at 15 felony counts to date, 12 of them aggravated assaults. If convicted, any goals he may have had in life will be gone. If convicted, should he ever come out of prison, even as an old man, there is a possibility of deportation to his native country; which could mean an all but certain death sentence in Laos.

That is a very tough way to end life for a young man.

By "Charles", The Original

June 21, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this

There is one glaring problem with street gangs. They have not refined their craft through-out the years as other gangs have i.e. Freemasonry, The Illuminati, Knights of Columbus, The Bilderberg Group, Club of Rome, Order of the Bull’s Blood, Skull and Bones, Committee of 300, The trilateral Commission, Council on Foreign Relations, etc. Either one of those reconstructed gangs is more menacing and destructive to the well being of citizens than all street gangs combined.

In hypocritical societies like the United States and other countries, a fallen world, refined street gangs could replace the mission of the church. It’s generally accepted in most circles that the modern church has been infiltrated by criminals and apostates. And because most religious institutions and congregants receive their education from the government, they and the congregants serve as an immoral mouth-piece for the government at home and around the globe. It’s evident that gang members are keenly aware of the conspicuously bizarre transformation.

Contrary to what some people believe, street gang members don’t need an education to gain acceptability/entrance for the purpose of providing humble service in an already existing criminal enterprise. Such an education will corrupt an individual. Black street gang members can use so-called educated integrationist black people as prima facie evidence. A quality education is needed from institutions that street gangs have constructed and facilitated for the purpose of navigating a moral people through the deceit of criminal governments and citizens who provide them with aid and comfort.

What a great and noble challenge to street gangs.

By fred

June 22, 2008 3:15 AM | Link to this

I wish there was a delete option on the blog. I would delete my previous “contribution”. Given the illegal immigration on the campaign trail article that I just read, I’m ashamed that I responded to Rick’s race baiting tactics. Shame on me. I have been fooled by this man for several month’s.

Yeah Rick, speak out of both sides of your mouth. Talk about them evil Hispanic gangs THIS column and then call us all racists a few columns ago because some politico’s want to do something about it. I get it now……….

No, actually I DON’T get it. I will NEVER “get it” and I’m glad I don’t. Waller in your racism rant.

By Regular Joe

June 22, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this

Fred,

3:07 AM?

3:15 AM?

“No, actually I DON’T get it. I will NEVER “get it” and I’m glad I don’t. Waller in your racism rant.”

Get some rest man.

Good article Rick

By Curious

June 22, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

Have to agree with Fred. Why doesn’t Rick mention any other ethnic gangs? Guess it is because it is okay to talk about Latino Gangs but no other group. Seems like Hispanic or Latino bashing has become the only permited racism. It is amazing how many articles Rick Badie has written over the past year that mention Hispanics in a negative way. It appears that he himself is obsessed with the issue. Perhaps we should address the hatred blacks have towards Hispanics, starting with Rick Badie.

By Katie

June 22, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

There are all types of gangs in the metro Atlanta area—hispanic, black, asian and white. All are scum of the Earth. I hope they got arrested after the filming of this documentary. These little punks ruin neighborhoods and they don’t pay any property taxes. They label neighborhoods as ‘theirs’ yet make zero contributions. They demand respect for doing nothing. They’re street trash and we should do with them what we do with our household trash, throw them out.

By Bruce Wilcox

June 22, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

Rick was writing about a documentary by David Zelski, I believe which gangs are covered are his choice, not Rick’s. Besides Rick did say there are hundreds of street gangs in Gwinnett without placing one group over all others.

What scares me more than gangs is that there are still freds and curious’es out there.

“Charles”, The Original, some heavy insight in the begining then you kind of wander off, but interesting none the less.

By Jais

June 22, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

As do I, mark. As do I.

As for gangs, they are usually hispanic and black. Asian ‘gangsters’ around here are usually trust-fund babies with rich parents and nice cars who go around hopping pool halls for white girls =) Nobody here can or will provide me with EVEN ONE instance of an asian gang in the news lately. That’s because the asian kids of gwinnet- be they young- are not stupid.

rick, you need to go back to the streets and meet some real gang members, not retards who went clean and claim they were in a gang. It takes much moire than just saying you are a gang member to BE one.

I know a few gang members, former and present, and their ‘Gangs’ as you put them are nothing more than circles of friends who look out for eachother. Organized criminal elements are a different thing etirely.

the documentary you saw was what I call ‘yard gangstaz’. They are always big bad ganstaz in their momma’s yards. The second you stop your car and shake your fists they scramble inside and hide. THESE ARE NOT GANGSTERS and comprise around 80% of what the stupid assed police call ‘gangs’.

once, a detective from the Duluth PD came to my old neighborhood and accused one of my guitar students of being a gang leader in front of his parents. all four of us laughed so hard the dummy threatened us with disorderly conduct and failure to cooperate with a police investigation. We informed the stooge that no, he wasn’t going to be charging anyone with anything, and that he was now free to leave and not come back without a warrant. He never did.

part of the gang problem is the stupid, poorly-educated police in this state. I have about 8 more years of education than ANYONE (ANYONE)that works for any police department in this state. That is scary, people. The folks we charge with our saftey here in georgia are hardly worth placing any amount of faith in. If we as citizens were to conduct drills and test to see their response time and methods…we would all be electing new police officials. Our current forces are lazy, undereducated, underpaid, undermanaged and frankly impotent to do a damn thing they are supposed to.

don;t take what a cop says to heart. It’s been my experience that a cop will say anything he wants you to believe until he is indicted for it or gets away with it.

there is something to be said for gangs and cops, and the sad, stupid state of affairs those in power have chosen to make in our state.

we as citizens are not powerless, either. I have a big-a* loaded gun for any gang member who thinks he’s going to rob me. It’s also there for any ‘corrupt’ people who might try and lean on a good man just to do it, which is not unheard of in this white-trash state. Either way, nobody is doing me wrong, period. Ever.

By "Charles", The Original

June 22, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Bruce Wilcox,

Gang members know that something is seriously wrong with the way people live their lives. I’m sure that you can see the contradiction in what people say and what they do. Most people profess to be good and decent but the reality is they are misled and generally support evil. Due to frustration, gang members do what children do; they mistakenly strike out at the world blindly.

Now there are street gang members who are innately smarter than any person who has graduated from an elite university. It’s those members that I have challenged to transform street gangs into a force for righteousness sake. If you know anything about the spiritual world, God, nature, luck, etc. will assist them in their transformation for moral leadership. Due to the failure of the church, that type of force is largely absent on the earth.

By Bruce Wilcox

June 22, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

“Charles”, The Original, thanks for the explaination, it cleared up a few questions. It will be awhile before any transformation takes place, they rob and intimidate their own within their tuft. Until they realize they should be protecting everyone and everything in their tuft not much will change.

Back in the 1800’s volunteer fire departments were like gangs, each controled an area, each protected their district from another department, all were politically active and held a great number of votes. The difference is they provided a valuable service to the community.

I think it will be awhile before gangs of today will be on the same level.

By "Charles", The Original

June 22, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this

Just for the sake of discussion, in order for evil institutions/governments to exist and prosper, they must convince average people to join them; to give aid and comfort to evil parading as good. I am reminded of the Black Panther Party of Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. Their organization wanted to do as you indicated, “protecting everyone and everything in their turf”. But history shows us that evil institutions/people, no matter how subtle, are threatened by great and noble efforts. The powers that be sought to annihilate and imprison members of the Black Panther Party for doing well; for providing day care centers, hot lunches, legal advice, businesses, self defense, and properly educating young people, etc.

In a nutshell, if street gangs transform themselves into a serious moral leadership force, they will receive greater levels of harassment, brutality, imprisonment, ridicule and scorn; not less. That’s why a spiritual component to moral transformation is important. The greatest threat to evil is a righteous transformation.

I agree with Bruce, as long as street gangs continue in their present activities, striking out blindly at the hypocrisy of this present world and each other, they can only be an asset to a corrupt system and nothing substantial will change. They are simply playing the devil’s game.

I hope volunteer fire departments didn’t join the criminal enterprise like the so-called educated integrationist criminalized Negroes. You make the call

By "Charles", The Original

June 22, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this

Now there are always hypocrites who pretend that they don’t understand my message. And there are those who honestly don’t get it. Well, let me explain myself in daily experiences.

Let us say that you got a new job and it pays well. You’ve decided to play by the rules; you are a dedicated and responsible employee. You suddenly discover that most of the employees are stealing and deceitful in one way or another. And they notice that you are as clean as a whistle. You’ve refused to participate in such immoral practices.

You will soon discover that your boss is uncomfortable with you as well as other colleagues. Now you have a tremendous decision ahead. You join in the thievery and deception in order to become acceptable to all or you begin another search for employment.

The greatest threat to evil and corruption is a moral righteous transformation.

The so-called educated integrationist Negroes decided to join them. Y’all feel me?

By Analchord

June 22, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this

Charles the original, U R 2 B commendated for the way you Serpico’d your coworkers. You have to admire the rare american who refuses to compromise.

Also, I noticed you display a very intimate knowledge of gang recruitment motives. You seem to grasp why some young men feel the need to Tupac some poor homie what dont expect to get Fiddy Cent’d.

Your efforts to reform fence-sitting snoop dogs would go a long way toward defanging notorious BIG wannabes.

We need more of your kind, sir. Go forth and be fly, Sly.

By jimmy

June 22, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this

I am 64 years old and grew up in a very different time. But, when I grew up, there were bullies that had to be dealt with or they would ruin your life at that time.

I was small, only 5 foot eight inches tall and only 120 pounds. So I was the perfect candidate to be bullied.

I learned how to box and how to street fight. When a bully picked on me, I would kick the hell out of him. Sad as it may be, I actually came to enjoy kicking the hell out of them.

Though I was small, in time, the word got out not to mess with me.

My point is this, gangs prey on the weak and defenseless. They are not brave warriors who go out to conquer the strong. These people are punks.

Though it may not be legal, I believe the way to defeat these people is to identify who they are and then attack them whenever possible. Do not let them rest. Make them so scared to go out on the street that they dress like women and hide in beauty salons.

Take my word for it, they are punks. They scare others but in truth, they are the ones who are scared and they can be forced to hide in their holes.

Counseling is a waste of time but pushing their face in the ground and standing on their bodies will have an impact on their outlook on life.

I know. I’ve done it.

By Bruce Wilcox

June 22, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this

“Charles”, The Original, let me explain the comparison between volunteers and outright gangs, volunteers derived from the gangs, of course I’am talking up North. They were replaced by career firefighters, but the volunteers of the big cities formed or joined a fraternal organizations and still held their power, as you pointed out in your first comments.

Now you want to use “so-called educated integrationist Negroes” as an expample. I say any college educated person has a liberal hopeful view of the world that they believe they can contribute to change. All this is changed after graduation by income level, the difference of your beliefs for many is dictated by $$$$ and hopes of change become nothing more than a memory.

It is not defined by race or upbringing, but by the soul that is within.

By Bruce Wilcox

June 22, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this

Jimmy I know what you’re saying, but there is a big difference between when we grew up and now. Guns have replaced fists and you will find very few young men will stand up to a gun.

The bullies now join together to be strong, because todays bullies need the support of others, because they are weak. I wish it was different Jimmy.

By Michael H. Smith

June 22, 2008 10:54 PM | Link to this

The Georgia Gang Investigators Association has a Website

http://www.ggia.net/

Know Gangs is another Website that was of interest.

http://www.knowgangs.com/

Thanks for placing The Georgia Gang Investigators Association into your column Mr. Badie.

By "Charles", The Original

June 22, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this

Bruce,

In our case, it has everything to do with race. In the South, most black people accepted integration with the understanding that Negroes would attend white universities and return with those skills to improve specifically black people. A similar situation happened to Africans. African countries sent some of the best students to western countries to be educated. They thought that their children would return home to improve Africa. But even today, much of black Africa is suffering from brain drain because the overwhelming majority of the students refuse to return to Africa with those needed skills to improve black Africans.

Prior to integration, we were a moral people in the South, and our goal was to improve the lives of our brothers and sisters; not simply to make money. In mid-stream, the so-called educated integrationist Negro’s point of view shifted to rugged individualism. And there is no way in hell that I’m going to allow criminals like Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, among a host of others to get off scot-free with betrayal/treason.

The so-called educated integrationist Negro is directly responsible for the genocide taking place in the black community. And they should be tried by an impartial jury and found guilty. They should be shown the way to the gallows like Saddam Hussein and hanged.

By "Charles", The Original

June 22, 2008 11:33 PM | Link to this

Well, it’s time to say good night everybody. You know, I can’t win for losing. The bishop of our organization gave me some well deserved time off, and what do I do with it. I use most of the day talking to people on one blog or another. Oh well…

I will talk to you all tomorrow; God willing.

By Paul

June 23, 2008 1:09 AM | Link to this

Charles, please spare us… don’t talk to us tomorrow….

By "Charles", The Original

June 23, 2008 5:51 AM | Link to this

Let me tell you something Paul. As soon as these gangs, Freemasonry, The Illuminati, Knights of Columbus, The Bilderberg Group, Club of Rome, Order of the Bull’s Blood, Skull and Bones, Committee of 300, the trilateral Commission, Council on Foreign Relations, etc. have finished with America and Americans, you will pray to hear a word of wisdom from me; and I will not utter one word.

The same thing applies specifically to the so-called educated integrationist Negroes. After having made deals with those gangs and taken their money, very soon the minions will have little or no value; they will become expendable. They will meet a brutal end similar to that of Saddam Hussein; and I won’t utter one word of support for them.

Everyone should take heed, listen and respond, while you still have time.

By Paul

June 23, 2008 7:07 AM | Link to this

Charles, you should see a doctor.

By "Charles", The Original

June 23, 2008 7:13 AM | Link to this

Paul, I am a doctor. You should see me.

By "Charles", The Original

June 23, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this

Paul, I know that the medicine I’ve prescribed to my patients is bitter to the taste and senses. But this is a miracle drug. Once it’s ingested, you will instantaneously regain your spiritual, physical, mental, and intellectual balance.

By Katie

June 23, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this

How did the topic go from gangs to Black Americans or Africans?
Jimmy, when I was a teen people were moving from fighting with their fists to picking up handguns (I was born in 1970). It truly is a shame when someone feels the need to hide behind a gun. It tells me that they’re scared to fight it out and move on. With fist fighting, you live to see another day. Picking up a handgun is the easy way out and lands you in jail for the rest of your life—ya, that makes you tough, big prison boy. These punks today think they’re so tough carrying weapons—they really are pathetic little chickens who have to terrorize innocent people because they are way too stupid to get an education and acceptable jobs. They are a waste on society. We should be able to euthanize them for societies well being. Harsh, no!!.

By "Charles", The Original

June 23, 2008 7:50 AM | Link to this

Some people see the world in divisions. They believe that some things are not connected to the others.

I believe that all things are connected.

No man is an island, entire of itself every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls it tolls for thee.

— John Donne

By "Charles", The Original

June 23, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this

I’m off to work everybody. Hopefully, time will permit me to talk to you sometime during the day; God willing.

By Mark

June 23, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

Badie, the most racist “journalist” at the AJC removes my post because he feels it’s racist. What a hypocrite!!

By B

June 23, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

It is interesting that no one sees that the gang problem are outsiders moving here and bringing that garbage with them. Gwinnett County was once a nice quiet place to live, then the explosion of people that moved here to “get away” from the same problems that Gwinnett is fighting.

By Mark

June 23, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

Has anyone noticed that gang members are non whites? Think about it.

By Cindy

June 23, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

Jais, you said…*part of the gang problem is the stupid, poorly-educated police in this state. I have about 8 more years of education than ANYONE (ANYONE)that works for any police department in this state. That is scary, people. The folks we charge with our saftey here in georgia are hardly worth placing any amount of faith in. If we as citizens were to conduct drills and test to see their response time and methods…we would all be electing new police officials. Our current forces are lazy, undereducated, underpaid, undermanaged and frankly impotent to do a damn thing they are supposed to. *

Correct me if you’re not in Gwinnett County, because the following wouldn’t necessarily apply. But last I checked, nobody certified to run again Sheriff Conway. Seems to me like we’d see your name on the ballot, being as how you’re so much more qualified to hold his position…will your name be there?

no? That’s because nobody could even claim the ability to do a better job.

Step up or step back.

By norcross

June 23, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

I have alot of friends that are Police officers, all have 4 year degrees, a few have masters, 2 have PHd’s. These are not really high ranked officers either.

Jais,

How many PhD, JD, MD or other dr level degrees do you have to have 8 years more education that ANY officer in Georgia?

I have meet and heard Officer Silva speak. He knows his stuff and is honest and real.

Dealing with a 12 year old who wants to join a gang is not easy. Hoping to prevent someone who could earn $200 bucks just by standing on the corner watching out is difficult.

By Just saying

June 24, 2008 5:32 AM | Link to this

Norcross, don’t waste your fingers, Jais is a moron. If he/she was as educated as he/she says they are then they would have found a way to say what he/she said more intelligently.

By Katie

June 24, 2008 6:42 AM | Link to this

Jais, I’m not sure where you were educated but your English teacher failed to teach you how to write properly.

By StevenCee

June 25, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this

What kills me is how very little we see the importance of looking at things beneath the surface, accepting statistics & “symptoms” at face value…

Perhaps the reason for so many gangmembers being black (altho in more multi-cultural cities gangs represent a UN of nationalities), has something to do with over 40 years of racial profiling in the enforcement of the “war on drugs”?

When you systemically begin locking up a disproportionate number of the young men of any race or cultural group, especially a less-empowered minority, you will find them, unable to access college & tracks to professional careers & incomes, on the road to more & more criminal behavior.

Far too many incarcerated men are for non-violent, usually drug-related, offenses, and 2005 DOJ statistics bear that out! In fact 8 of 10 drug arrests are for mere possession.

Those very same govt. stats show that despite 66% of crack-users being white, blacks make up 80% of those sentenced, with less than 7% being white. And that same outrageous, even unconstitutional, example of blatant racial profiling applies to other drugs as well.

I guarantee you if we saw a 1,000% increase in the numbers of white drug-users incarcerated, even though it would be proportionate to their numbers, not only would it create complete havoc, but we would see an entire national mobilization to correct this! But, since those lives ruined, decade after decade, are black & brown, no one really cares…..