Better Decision Making

It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time

Hardy L. Brown

In San Bernardino last week, a young 15-year-old boy from Barstow was visiting some friends in San Bernardino when a local 16-year-old boy shot and killed him over the color of his shoes.  Witnesses said the 16-year-old boy approached the 15-year-old victim and ordered him to take off his shoes and when the boy did not, the 16-year-old pulled out a gun and killed him. In my opinion, neither boy is old enough to own a pair of shoes they could buy themselves let alone kill someone over the color of them. This is being reported as gang related because the shooter was a member of a gang but the victim was not.

Both of the shootings leave us shaking our head as to why they could do something so stupid. Why would a man shoot a man instead of filing charges against the thief and putting him in jail for stealing the bike? Why would a sixteen year old shoot and kill a fifteen year old for his shoes? No one really has a clear picture of why, other than stupidity, anger and a few other choice descriptive words that cannot be stated. In both shootings, it is clear we have our work cut out for us when it comes to raising our male youth in decision-making. It also points out that as we grow in knowledge the more we stay the same.

In the book of Genesis I remember reading the story of Joseph "the dreamer" and how his brothers hated him so much they wanted to kill him. The brothers would have killed Joseph but feared their dad would kill them if they did. Well one day their dad gave Joseph a very colorful jacket and the brothers decided to get rid of Joseph but before they did they said let us take the jacket. It was also stupid of Joseph brothers to do what they did but they did it any way. They decided to put Joseph in a pit to die. Then they decided to sell him to a passer-by as a slave. Now if you could ask the brothers why, I'm sure they would respond that it seemed like a good idea at the time. This was a gang of brothers with the same father. In the case of the man getting shot over the bike the shooter would say, if ask the question, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I'm sure the same is true of the sixteen year old. In all three of these evil acts something material was part of the reason a crime was committed but the real crime was in their heart without a careful thought plan to get what they wanted.

Bad decision making in each situation has negative consequences to the attackers and the victims. The shooters will wind up behind bars while the victims relatives will seek revenge and will be hurt for ever. No amount of money or prison sentence will replace the lost of life.

Therefore it behooves all of us to seek ways we can correct these bad decision making processes and then teach it in our homes, schools, churches, groups, organizations and neighborhoods. We must seek ways to regulate gun with out violation our rights to bear arms. We must give them options other than fighting, shooting and killing to settle differences. As I heard a reporter say on CBS News Tuesday nothing stops a bullet faster than a job.

Democrats, Republicans: Who Will Bring A Change?

I had the opportunity to watch the so-called presidential debates of the Democrats and Republicans. There are some differences in the Democrats presentation and the people making the presentation. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards are offering change but one has to wonder if the real decision makers will want change. The Democrats offer us diversity in race and gender, which is refreshing to see and the public is reacting positive to them. We as a nation know that we must change the situation in Iraq and the entire Middle East. We can no longer recognize the rights of one side without considering the impact it will have on the other side. We must realize that being a superpower has a greater role and responsibility to play than "I will beat you up if you don't want to play by my rules." One lesson learned so far about the war in Iraq is all of your high tech bombs; guns, tanks, satellites and well-educated forces cannot match a determined people with patience and persistence. Everyone is saying now we cannot win this war by military alone but with diplomacy. You know what diplomacy is? Sitting down and talking about your differences.

The Democrats are speaking more on local meat and potato issues like healthcare, education, small business opportunities, jobs, high drug costs, high energy costs and the tax cuts given to the wealthy.

This appears to be what the Democratic candidates are offering if elected. 

Now I look at our Republican candidates. I see no diversity in race, gender or conversation. They even dress alike: dark suits, dark shoes, striped ties and white shirts. As a matter of fact we could keep George Bush if we want a Republican (without Dick Cheney of course). For the past eight years, the only thing good coming out of it has been the rich have gotten richer while the poor have received less. The income gap between the groups is as wide and deep as the Grand Canyon. The so-called middle-class is extinct as the dinosaur and can only be found in history books and viewed on the Discovery Channel. Our Homeland Security could not even keep a citizen with TB out of the country and they knew what he looked like, had his name, where he was coming from, even talked with him, yet he got in. Billions of dollars went somewhere, yet we are not any safer as a country regardless of what they say. Our borders are open at the north and south. Our seaports are not inspected. Our food supply has everyone afraid to eat imported produce. Our pets have died from poisoned food imported from China. We are hated around the world all because of a bumbling administration that loves to keep secrets from the people.

This administration was unable to neither rescue its poor citizens after a hurricane nor give them water to drink and there is no sign of improvement if another hurricane occurred this season. This administration got us into a war but lacks a plan on how to get out and the candidates seeking office also lacks a plan.

So we the people must get involved with the candidates and ask hard questions like the people did on You Tube Monday night. Don't wait until Election Day because that will be too late. Get engaged now.