There is much discussion in this country right now on the topic of racial prejudice. Recent events in Ferguson, Missouri have pushed it to the forefront of national media and local minds alike. But what is prejudice? “Prejudice is prejudgment, or forming an opinion before becoming...
Working closely with young gang members in Southern California helped me to better understand the drive many feel to “get even”. Revenge seems to offer protection from being hurt, something we all desire. A young lady recently told me, “Nice people get walked on. If I...
In 1990 I sat in my office with five or six young men, aged 16 to 18. We had been talking about the gang activity that led to their being sentenced to the residential treatment program where I worked, and where they lived. A little...
It can be very discouraging to watch your children veer away from the values you hold dear and embrace those of their peers. Most parents are surprised to see just how temporary those meanderings are. Informed parents can take hope and not get distracted by...
I was fourteen years old when I saw Robert eat the baby mouse. He and his friends found five nearly-naked rodents under a hay bale outside of Midway Junior High and dared each other to eat one. I watched from a distance as Robert excitedly took...