From today's Delcotimes.com...
(Freeway Rick) Ross will speak about the ills of gang violence and drugs and discuss the importance of assistance for ex-offenders at 9:30 this morning in the Chester City Hall community room.
(Mayor) Butler said he anticipates a large turnout.
“What is America? We’re built on second chances,” Butler said. “I’m hoping the message that he delivers resonates with the young people, that a life of crime is not the path that they should be taking. He should be able to give them first-hand points of what he went through.”
I get the discussion on assistance for ex-offenders, but I get don't why this guys is being paraded in front of young people.
Aren't these the guys we want to keep away from our kids? Can't we find people that we want our kids to become, not people that we don't want our kids to become?
I'm confused. Am I alone?
Will there be an autograph session with the kids at the end of the session?
I wonder if somebody will ask Rick if he is going to pay restitution to the City of Chester for his drug dealings. The only place he belongs is in jail, not in front of people so that he can talk about his glory days...
ReplyDeleteI must say I'm a little surprised at these comments. Rick's speech was actually very good and more young people need to hear it. He didn't glorify his drug life at all. He spoke of how it all led him on a downward spiral to a hell on earth. He may have saved a life or 2 and if that's the case, it was well worth bringing him to the city to share his testimony. Kudos to Mayor Butler!
ReplyDeleteI was not there to comment on his speech but I am glad it was well received. We could probably empty the jails with great speakers. My only concern is that we must present speakers from all walks of life.
ReplyDeleteDr. Ben Carson, the baddest neurosurgeon in the world who just happens be from the streets of Baltimore, spoke at Widener and not a single Chester kid was there. But a bus load of kids came in from Bala Cynwyd.
Just sayin'.
I know "baddest" is slang for you but I don't think Dr. Carson would appreciate the use in this case.
ReplyDeleteThanks for ur concern for language.
ReplyDeleteAny comment on the issue? That is where I would like for these comments to take us.
I don't care if you spell every word wrong and butcher grammar and punctuation as long as the message is clear.
Maybe if Widener would have contacted the department of rec or dj Cory ak or the cyc or the chambers foundation then some CHESTER kids would have been there to hear him speak. Just a thought
ReplyDeleteEveryone else saw the announcement in the Daily Times or this blog. It was open to everyone. You really believe Chester organizations require special invitations?
ReplyDeleteCommenting on what Stefan said, I think there is a disconnect between Widener & Chester City - The gap is closer than it has ever been, but needs to be CLOSED- for Widener to be the only university in the city, more information would allow more citizens to make a choice to participate; the question is whether that is a goal or not? They do an amazing amount of programming, but it gets very little airplay. Something to think about indeed.
ReplyDeleteSorry Stefan everybody does not read the Daily Times and if you miss a day on your Blog it may go to the older post and may get missed. No i do not think there should be a special invitation, I never said that. I beleive that i would have had advertisement throughtout the city if that was an event i was sponsoring Dr Carson is an ICON.
ReplyDeleteI am with you. I never buy a Daily Times but if one is sitting around, I probably flip thru it. I am just not that interested in Delaware County news. I buy a Philly Daily News if I spend my 75 cents.
ReplyDeleteI am amused when people ask me why I did not attend an event because it was listed in the Daily Times. My response is that the same person who informed the Daily Times would have informed me if they wanted me to cover it.
And the blogs do gets buried fast, which is why the free subscription is the way to go.
I am sure that someone from city government and the school district saw the Dr. Carson announcements. Why didn't they spread the word?
To be fair, if Widener was to blanket Chester with this announcement, wouldn't that alienate Darby, Wilmington, Camden, Chadds Ford, and every other town in the area?
I really don't think Widener cared if Chester kids showed up or not. The event was going to occur with or without our kids.
If the event was a big secret or invitation only, I'd have a problem. But, it was an open invitation.
The school district should be connected by the hip with Widener. Doesn't Widener operate a charter school in our district?
There's no excuse for Chester school kids not being at that event. NONE!
I agree with your last comment there's no excuse as to why there were no Chester children at that event.
ReplyDelete