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Peace Signs

from Ghost Town Rockers by Stray Bullets

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about

Summertime in the city...bike rides, backyard barbecues, drinking beers on the stoop...and street violence practically doubles. Academic theorists have posited a variety of reasons for the spike in crime, from the fact that there are more outdoor social gatherings in the summer months to the idea that most of those perpetrating these acts aren't in school during this time and have no other way to occupy themselves besides blowing each other to pieces. Governmental efforts have historically been nothing more than an increased police presence in “problem areas”, but this is akin to trying to cure AIDS with a bandaid (or, as we've been seeing through the increased use of military hardware and tactics by local police as of late, maybe trying to cure AIDS with cancer would be a more fitting description). So, what's the solution? Strong arm measures, while sometimes serving to get the numbers down, don't address the root of the problem. Maybe prevention, rather than suppression, should be examined as an alternative. Maybe the neighborhood pride, bravado, and need to belong that lead kids to turn towards ultimately destructive things like street gangs, and subsequently street violence, could be expressed and utilized in a more constructive way. “All the kids want something to do”, as the old song goes, so let's give it to them. Let's empower the youth instead of sweeping them under the rug. Let's tell our local politicians to put that increased police budget towards accessible summer programs. Let's organize and mobilize BEFORE another kid gets shot, instead of having to hold a vigil afterwards. Here in Boston, some of the more notable groups that are trying to promote a positive change are the Center For Teen Empowerment in Dorchester and Roxbury (www.teenempowerment.org), the Hyde Square Task Force in Jamaica Plain (www.hydesquare.org), and Zumix in East Boston (www.zumix.org) and they all need support to continue their work. A quick web search will give you a list of similar organizations in your area. You want your city back? Take it, but with a megaphone instead of a MAC-10, and a paintbrush instead of a pistol. Be the change you want to see. Namaste, motherfuckers.

Jon Cauztik
Stray Bullets

lyrics

I RIDE BY PEACE SIGNS PAINTED ON THE WALLS OF THE TENEMENTS, A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR TO THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS, HOPEFUL BUT NEVER REALLY ECHOING THE SENTIMENTS, OF THE ONES WHO WOULD CONTROL THESE AVENUES...NOW THE TEMPERATURES RISE AND TEMPERS FLARE, BUT HE WON'T RUN NO HE'S NOT SCARED, AND A MOTHER'S WAILING FILLS THE AIR, ON ANOTHER LOVELY SUMMER'S AFTERNOON...

SUN'S OUT GUNS OUT DRAW OR DIE AS THE HEAT BEATS DOWN FROM THE CLEAR BLUE SKY AND THE QUICKEST TRIGGER WILL SURVIVE THE DAY, COS WHEN THAT CORNER'S ALL YOU'VE GOT CAN'T WASTE NO TIME ON WARNING SHOTS DEFEND THE BLOCK OR PERISH IN THE FRAY...

I RIDE BY STREET SIGNS EMBLAZONED WITH THE NAMES OF DEAD PRESIDENTS, THOUGH THEY NEVER SET FOOT AND NO THEY NEVER WERE A DENIZEN, EMPTY SHELLS ON THE GROUND BEING CATALOGED AS EVIDENCE, JUST ANOTHER FOOTNOTE ON THE NEWS AT TEN...AND A YOUNGER BROTHER COMES OF AGE, HE'S LEARNED WELL HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED, AND WITH MISPLACED RAGE AND A TWENTY GAUGE, THIS VICIOUS CYCLE CAN BEGIN AGAIN...

SUN'S OUT GUNS OUT DRAW OR DIE AS THE HEAT BEATS DOWN FROM THE CLEAR BLUE SKY AND THE QUICKEST TRIGGER WILL SURVIVE THE DAY, COS WHEN THAT CORNER'S ALL YOU'VE GOT CAN'T WASTE NO TIME ON WARNING SHOTS DEFEND THE BLOCK OR PERISH IN THE FRAY...

I RIDE BY BIRDS AS THEY CHIRP IN THE TREES, AND I CAN FEEL THE OCEAN BREEZE, AND ANOTHER GENERATION BLEEDS, WE NEED A LITTLE MORE EFFORT DOWN HERE, THAN JUST PEACE SIGNS PAINTED ON THE WALLS OF THE TENEMENTS...

SUN'S OUT GUNS OUT DRAW OR DIE AS THE HEAT BEATS DOWN FROM THE CLEAR BLUE SKY AND THE QUICKEST TRIGGER WILL SURVIVE THE DAY, COS WHEN THAT CORNER'S ALL YOU'VE GOT CAN'T WASTE NO TIME ON WARNING SHOTS DEFEND THE BLOCK OR PERISH IN THE FRAY.

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from Ghost Town Rockers, released October 7, 2014

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