Pericles' Politics

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!”

-Pericles

This week, Sly James, the mayor of Kansas City, MO, instituted a new 9 p.m. curfew in the city after “unruly youth” have been crowding The Plaza, the local popular entertainment and shopping venue in recent weeks. Last weekend, when Mr. James went to the Plaza with his entourage to assess the situation himself, gunshots rang out between three teens in an unrelated dispute. Mr. James’ entourage covered him up in a flower bed for protection, despite the fact that he was not the target of the violence.

The police say that the curfew enforcement went well this weekend, and that no tickets were issued.

In other news, Deryl Dedmon, a 19-year-old teenager is accused of a hate crime in Jackson, MS. Mr. Dedon is accused of murdering James Craig Anderson. Mr. Anderson was black.

I enjoy the Plaza. I’m no fan of big crowds that are being annoying, rude, or otherwise getting in your way because they are too inconsiderate to allow you to enjoy yourself too, but I’m a bit weary of telling all of the teens in Kansas City that they can’t be out at night past 9 on Friday and Saturday. (Hello… football games?) Yes, I’m aware of the fact that there are exceptions to the policy, such as being with your parents, but simply because you are young doesn’t mean you are a criminal. It equally doesn’t mean that you are up to no good. I recall many a times as a youth I went to the Plaza to hang out with my friends. We caused no trouble or harm to anyone. Knowing that some of those trips may have been “illegal” under the new law seems unfair.

…and what is a hate crime anyway? Let me get this straight… person A kills person B and person A goes to jail. OK, I can wrap my head around that. Person C kills person D and person C goes to jail longer than person A because person D is black. Excuse me? Since when did we start judging the severity of murder based upon race? Isn’t murder, murder? Isn’t it a deplorable tragedy no matter who is involved? Aren’t all murders hate crimes?

I know it’s a fairly random topic… teens at the center of laws and all. Nothing occurred in my life this week that necessarily prompted it. I very well could have chosen a myriad of other topics. Yet, with these two stories both showing up in newspapers this week, I felt it an adequate time to remind people in this otherwise (relatively) dormant political time of year that your government gave you your rights… and it can remove them, too. While elections are a ways away and we will see numerous ads on the TV talking about who is right and who is wrong soon enough, don’t forget that these discussions and debates are important.

I’m all too aware of the fact that many turn a blind eye to these discussions and debates, but simply because you don’t care doesn’t mean your leaders won’t pass policy that may target you. Get involved, stay informed, and hold your leaders accountable for the policies that they see fit.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!