The youth sent to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) are the state's most serious or chronically delinquent offenders. In fiscal year 2006 (9/05 - 8/06), 33% of new arrivals had committed violent offenses, the same percentage as in fiscal 2005. Overall, 39% of new arrivals were categorized as high risk offenders.
*
89% were boys.
*
11% were girls.
*
44% were Hispanic.
*
34% were African-American.
*
22% were Anglo.
*
34% admitted at intake that they are gang members.
*
Median age at commitment was 16.
*
Median reading achievement level was 6th grade (four years behind their peers).
*
Median math achievement level was 5th grade (five years behind their peers).
*
40% were identified as eligible for special education services.
*
7% of the TYC population were English language learners.
*
83% had IQs below the mean score of 100.
*
46% were chemically dependent.
*
41% had serious mental health problems.
*
76% had parents who never married or who divorced or separated.
*
36% had a documented history of being abused or neglected.
*
60% came from low-income homes.
*
74% came from chaotic environments.
*
52% had families with histories of criminal behavior.
*
12% had family members with mental impairments.
*
48% were in juvenile court on two or more felony-level offenses before being committed to TYC.
More detailed statistics are available in the TYC Commitment Profile.
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Friday, December 14, 2007
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
The "thousand points of light" symbolize the American citizen's spirit and a shining example of giving selflessly to care for 1 another'.... icry
Rockin' In The Free World
rocking in the free world.jpg
Neil Young Lyrics Analysis
Neil Young News
Lyrics, Tabs, And Chords for "Rockin' In The Free World" by Neil Young
Please comment and add your thoughts on "Rockin' In The Free World" in the guestbook
History and Commentary on "Rockin' In The Free World" lyrics by Neil Young
by Thrasher
[Note: This is one of a series of articles which provide an explanation of the meaning of Neil Young's classic song "Rockin' In The Free World". While the interpretation of lyrics presented here is composed of several viewpoints, there is little consensus on the exact meaning of Neil's songs. The themes and symbolism of Young's songwriting provide a rich tapestry on which to project various meanings and analysis.]
Neil Young's song "Rockin' In The Free World" from the album Freedom is one of his most popular, important and prophetic songs.
The song has become an iconic anthem and it's status continues to rise as more and more artists cover the song. Young's lyrics are considered to be an indictment of the politics of the 1980's. In today's post-9/11 world, the lyrics seem prophetic and even more meaningful than when originally written on the eve of the '90's.
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine selected "Rockin' in the Free World" as one of the 500 greatest songs of all times.
"Rockin' In The Free World" was first performed live in concert on February 21, 1989 at the Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA with Neil Young's band The Restless. Since then, the song has been performed 368 times through the Greendale tour's conclusion on March 21, 2004 at the Mullins Center in Amherst, MA according to The Neil Young Tour Statistics page.
The song is prominent in director Michael Moore's film 'Fahrenheit 9/11' where "Rockin' in the Free World" runs over the closing credits. A re-release of the song and a new music video directed by Moore is scheduled for the Summer of 2004. (See more below on the film and song.)
Analysis of "Rockin' in the Free World" Lyrics
(Listen to clip of acoustic version of "Rockin' in the Free World" and electric version.)
The newspaper USA Today has called the song:
"a savage attack on the policies of Ronald Reagan and the first President Bush ... (and) anything but a celebration of democracy."
On the contrary, a strong case can be made that the song is NOT "anything but a celebration of democracy." In fact, an argument can be made that the song is very pro-democracy and is a protest song that has advanced the argument about inequities in society. The song is clearly the work of someone who could be called a courageous patriot.
The song's lyrics contain the lines:
We got a thousand points of light
For the homeless man
We got a kinder, gentler,
Machine gun hand
The lyrics are a direct reference to President George Bush's (#41) campaign pledge to create a compassionate citizenry volunteering to help cope with society's ills. The "thousand points of light" symbolize the American citizen's spirit and a shining example of giving selflessly to care for one another's neighbor and brother. Along with "a kinder, gentler hand", Bush believed that each American could contribute to helping make the United States -- and the world -- a better place to live and work.
The song is strongly democratic and with pro-American ideals in that it is a condemnation of the supply-side/trickle down politics of President Ronald Reagan. "Reaganomics" involved massive tax cuts in the wealthiest brackets which supporters claimed would trickle down to lower brackets. In fact, the policies led to huge federal deficits and exploding unemployment and social decay, particularly in large urban American cities.
The economic realities of the 1980's with increasing social problems -- such as homelessness and drug abuse -- made Young mock the campaign promises of President Bush as hollow rhetoric. The drug problems ("she's gonna take a hit") refer to the crack epidemic which swept large American cities during the 1980's.
The lyrics of "Rockin' In The Free World" also refer to the rampant consumerism of American culture and the rise of the disposable society based on waste and pollution.
We got department stores and toilet paper
Got styrofoam boxes for the ozone layer
Got a man of the people, says keep hope alive
Got fuel to burn, got roads to drive.
The lyrics "Got a man of the people, says keep hope alive" refer to the Reverand Jesse Jackson's signature phrase to "Keep hope alive." Young contrasts President Bush's rhetoric and Rev. Jackson's religion as solutions to society's ills, when in actuality, they are nothing more than "feel good" slogans with little results to show.
According to Neil Young's biography Shakey, while on tour in the late 80s, Young and Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro looked at photos in a newspaper of the Ayatollah Khomeini's body being carried to his grave. These images showed mourners burning American flags in the street, which incited fear in Poncho due to the band's up coming European tour. Sampedro commented that 'whatever we do, we shouldn't go near the mideast. Its probably better we just keep on rockin' in the free world.' Then Young asked if he could make a song out of it. (source: Wikipedia)
China's Tiananmen Square Protests
On June 9, 1989, Chinese authorities confronted student protesters in Tiananmen Square, which led to the deaths of an untold number. From this event, the picture of a student standing before a line of tanks became the image that was broadcast around the world.
Neil Young, upon seeing this photo and video, began commenting before performing "Rockin' In The Free World" that the song was going out to that "Chinese boy in Tiananmen Square who stopped the tanks."
Similar to Young's '70's political protest anthem "Ohio", the song has become associated with peaceful, non-violent protest.
Saturday Night Live Neil Young Rockin
Saturday Night Live Performance
On Saturday Night Live in September '89, Neil served notice that he was back with a vengeance with his legendary performance of 'Rockin'. Considered to be one of the most intense live television studio performances ever, Young seemed possessed as he throttled his Les Paul guitar and shredded its strings before the audience. Wearing a Elvis Presley T-shirt, Young seemed to be bridging his 1970's classic "Hey, Hey, My, My" with the lyrics "The King [Elvis] is gone but not forgotten, this is the story of Johnny Rotten" with the end of the 1980's and the impending advent of the grunge-alternative music explosion.
Later, Young commented that he worked with a trainer before going onstage to work himself up to the encore intensity level when he normally performs the song after 2 hours on stage. Neil came on the set as if he had just performed the concert of his life and went from there. The song was selected as one of the best of Saturday Night Live musical performances of all time in broadcasts later in the 1990's for the 25th anniversary.
Critics were ecstatic about Young's return to form based on just the single broadcast and it marked a critical turning point in Neil's career. Jimmy McDonough writes in a Village Voice interview:
"With the September 30 appearance on Saturday Night Live, Young arrested any signs of rust - at least for the moment. Backed by Charlie Drayton, Steve Jordan, and longtime sideman Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro - a new band Young's tentatively calling Young, CS&P - he was all over the stage, jumping on the drum stand, lunging out of camera range, whipping off earsplitting solos that sounded like falling power lines. It was the loudest thing I've ever heard on TV, the lyrics to 'Rockin' in the Free World' barely audible. This is easily his best band since Crazy Horse.
Just the look on his face was enough. He really seemed insane.
YOUNG: 'Yeah, well I was. I don't like TV. Never have. It always sucks and there's nothing you can do about it. You can't just walk on and do 'Rockin' in the Free World,' or you'll look like a fuckin' idiot. To perform that song the way it's supposed to be performed you have to be at peak blood level, everything has to be up, the machine has to be stoked. To do that I had to ignore Saturday Night Live completely. I had to pretend I wasn't there.'
So Young developed 'a brand new technique for doing TV' - a half-hour before going on he worked out with his trainer, lifting weights and doing calisthenics to get himself wired. "
freedom album
Freedom is Released
In October, 1989, the album Freedom was released to considerable critical acclaim. A review on Pagewise declared: "If 'Freedom' is the first true alternative album, 'Rockin' in the Free World' is the first true alternative song."
The album Freedom contains two versions of 'Rockin' in the Free World' - acoustic and electric, similar to Rust Never Sleeps and Tonight's The Night. In an album Review, Jeff Dove writes:
" 'Rockin' in the Free World,' which opens and closes the album in different versions, recalls Rust Never Sleeps. The parallel goes beyond the similar tactic, used in 'Hey Hey, My My (Out of the Blue) / My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Black),' but the styles of the two recordings on Freedom match Rust Never Sleep's live acoustic A-side and Crazy Horse-raging B-side. As with 'Hey Hey...,' and for that matter as with 'Tonight's the Night' on the album of the same name, the two versions have some lyrical differences. The opening version of 'Rockin' in the Free World' is a live solo acoustic version from a Jones Beach, Long Island, NY show, while the closer is an electric ripper that is right in there with the best of the Horse. "
At the Jones Beach, New York concert on June 14, 1989, Young performed an acoustic version of "Ritfw" with a third verse that was removed from the LP.
Little did critics and fans realize that the album's signature song soon would be heard around the world.
berlin-wall-neil-grafitti
Before the Fall: Neil writes "Love Is All We Need" on the Berlin Wall in 1982
Berlin Wall Falls
On November 9, 1989 The Berlin Wall fell and Young's song lyrics "Keep on Rockin' In The Free World" could be heard over newscasts of the historic occasion. The song has since been established as a beacon of hope for repressed people throughout the world and a soundtrack for freedom - in it's every manifestation.
Neil Young Rockin video Neil Young Rockin video Rockin vid glasses Rockin video metal
"Rockin' In The Free World" Video
In the music video for "Rockin'", directed by Julien Temple, the performance footage is intercut with scenes of Neil as a homeless person pushing a shopping cart through city streets. As a homeless person, Neil encounters numerous pitiful situations but manages to inject some humor. For example, at one point as he pushes his worldly possessions along a sidewalk, he encounters an elderly woman who he gives money.
The music video also has a montage of television news footage of a variety of current events such as police busting drug dealers and other criminal activity interspersed with Wall Street dealers. The "Rockin' In The Free World" video also includes footage of China's Tiananmen Square protests.
Among the many bands performing "Rockin' In The Free World" are Pearl Jam who have covered the song over 100 times in concert, often as final encores.
pj & neil
Pearl Jam & Neil at the MTV Music Awards
Neil joined Pearl Jam onstage at the MTV Music Awards on September 2, 1993 to play an incendiary version of "Rocking in The Free World". After the broadcast, MTV commentator Kurt Loder observed that the interplay between Young and Pearl Jam was probably one of the most memorable live MTV performances ever.
Some of the other bands that have covered "Rockin'" include:
Van Halen
Patti Smith
Vines
Slobberbone
David Byrne
Phil Lesh & Friends
Indigo Girls
Richard Thompson
The song became a standard during the 1991 tour with Crazy Horse which began as the Persian Gulf war began. At the end of "Rockin' In the Free World" (listen to San Francisco, CA. 1991-04-06) segues into a homage to Bob Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind" for a most majestic feedback drenched finale.
Again, during the second war with Iraq, Young featured the song "Rockin' In The Free World" prominently during encores for the 2003 Greendale tour. The lyrics to the song were altered in the Greendale concerts to: "Boys are dying everyday because we didn't have a plan". The additional lyrics were censored for the Farm Aid 2003 broadcast on PBS on Thanksgiving Day.
Also during the Greendale tour, the feedback drenched finale of "Rocking in the Free World" segued into "Taps", Neil's gesture to the soldiers fighting and dying in Iraq.
In the post 9/11 world, the lyrics take on a sinister new meaning:
'There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead.
Don't feel like Satan but I am to them.'
It is very hard to listen to these words today and think about what they mean to people of various religious beliefs. How could Neil have possibly known the prophetic power which these lyrics hold today?
In an analysis of "Rockin'" called "The Advantages of Using Rock and Roll in Teaching Social Studies by James Lane at the Orange High School he writes:
"The tune warns us of the complacency of our own lives and the lack of empathy we express for people who are not blessed with the benefits and cushy lifestyle the majority of Americans enjoy. The song is a musical signpost telling us not to lose sight of the problems our society and its less fortunate members face. It is a song of insight attempting to awaken us to the reality of a culture seen on a wider screen, one with 'a thousand points of light / For the homeless man / ...a kinder, gentler / Machine gun hand.'"
ritfw-moore-ch.jpg ritfw-moore-bomb.jpg ritfw-moore-lights.jpg ritfw-moore-neil-cu.jpg
Michael Moore's Film Fahrenheit 9/11 Soundtrack
In June 2004, filmmaker Michael Moore and Neil Young reached agreement to use Young's song 'Rockin' in the Free World' for the controversial film 'Fahrenheit 9/11''s closing credits. (For more, see June 2004 News page and Neil News page for updates.) From Thrasher's Wheat Guestbook, Bill posted:
"Michael Moore inexplicably edited out the most telling line - "Don't feel like Satan but I am to them" - which could be applied flexibly to Osama's hatred of the U.S. or the Right Wing's demonization of everyone they disagree with. Instead, he combined the beginning of the first verse with the end of the second verse, the one about the crack-addict and her child, so they came out:
'There are colours on the street
Red, white and blue
People shufflin' their feet
People sleepin' in their shoes
But there's a warnin' sign on the road ahead
There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead
That's one more kid that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love never get to be cool
A new video for "Rockin' In The Free World" directed by filmmaker Michael Moore was released in November 2004. The video intercuts footage from the film Fahrenheit 9/11 and performance footage of Neil Young and Crazy Horse performing the song on the 2003/4 Greendale tour.
ritfw-moore-kid.jpg
"There's one more kid that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love,
never get to be cool."
Conclusion
The song "Rocking in The Free World" continues to be a standard encore for Neil Young's concerts and most likely will continue as long as there is a need to rock in the free -- or more or less free -- world.
The use of the song "Rockin'" undoubtably put Young and his music in the political spotlight. In the summer of 2004, we asked what folks thought of a Moore's use of the song. The question was whether the use of the song in the film was a good idea? Or was it going to create trouble for Neil?
poll-f911
About 70% thought it was a good idea, 27% thought it would cause trouble, and less than 3% didn't much care about music & politics.
In November 2004, a music video for "Rockin' In The Free World" directed by Michael Moore was released.
So what did folks think of the video for "Rockin"? With nearly 600 votes, here are the results when the polls closed:
poll-rocking-free.jpg
77% (455 votes) voted "Yes, I like both the song and the video"
10% (58 votes) voted "No, I can't stand Young and Moore"
13% (78 votes) voted "Not sure because politics and music make me feel uneasy."
Please comment and add your thoughts on "Rockin' In The Free World" in the guestbook.
Also, check out the other Neil polls, so get off that couch, turn off that MTV and VOTE!
Lastly, here's a song parody by Skisics Surus:
"We got more failing stores and worthless paper
Got new coal burning for the ozone layer
Got a man who screws the people, helps his friends all thrive
Expensive fuel to burn, try not to drive
Bush keeps mockin' the free world"
"Rockin' In The Free World" lyrics by Neil Young
(Listen to clip of acoustic version of "Rockin' in the Free World" and electric version.)
See inside reference book pages of Music and Social Movements : Mobilizing Traditions in the Twentieth Century by Cambridge Cultural Social Studies for more on music relating to China's Tiananmen Square protests and the fall of Berlin Wall.
Also, see Gone Mild Blog article "Neil Young Keeps On Rockin' In the Free World".
Play and watch the video of "Rockin' In The Free World" here.
Freedom - Album Reviews
Neil Young Lyrics Analysis
Thrasher's Wheat - A Neil Young Archives
rocking in the free world.jpg
Neil Young Lyrics Analysis
Neil Young News
Lyrics, Tabs, And Chords for "Rockin' In The Free World" by Neil Young
Please comment and add your thoughts on "Rockin' In The Free World" in the guestbook
History and Commentary on "Rockin' In The Free World" lyrics by Neil Young
by Thrasher
[Note: This is one of a series of articles which provide an explanation of the meaning of Neil Young's classic song "Rockin' In The Free World". While the interpretation of lyrics presented here is composed of several viewpoints, there is little consensus on the exact meaning of Neil's songs. The themes and symbolism of Young's songwriting provide a rich tapestry on which to project various meanings and analysis.]
Neil Young's song "Rockin' In The Free World" from the album Freedom is one of his most popular, important and prophetic songs.
The song has become an iconic anthem and it's status continues to rise as more and more artists cover the song. Young's lyrics are considered to be an indictment of the politics of the 1980's. In today's post-9/11 world, the lyrics seem prophetic and even more meaningful than when originally written on the eve of the '90's.
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine selected "Rockin' in the Free World" as one of the 500 greatest songs of all times.
"Rockin' In The Free World" was first performed live in concert on February 21, 1989 at the Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA with Neil Young's band The Restless. Since then, the song has been performed 368 times through the Greendale tour's conclusion on March 21, 2004 at the Mullins Center in Amherst, MA according to The Neil Young Tour Statistics page.
The song is prominent in director Michael Moore's film 'Fahrenheit 9/11' where "Rockin' in the Free World" runs over the closing credits. A re-release of the song and a new music video directed by Moore is scheduled for the Summer of 2004. (See more below on the film and song.)
Analysis of "Rockin' in the Free World" Lyrics
(Listen to clip of acoustic version of "Rockin' in the Free World" and electric version.)
The newspaper USA Today has called the song:
"a savage attack on the policies of Ronald Reagan and the first President Bush ... (and) anything but a celebration of democracy."
On the contrary, a strong case can be made that the song is NOT "anything but a celebration of democracy." In fact, an argument can be made that the song is very pro-democracy and is a protest song that has advanced the argument about inequities in society. The song is clearly the work of someone who could be called a courageous patriot.
The song's lyrics contain the lines:
We got a thousand points of light
For the homeless man
We got a kinder, gentler,
Machine gun hand
The lyrics are a direct reference to President George Bush's (#41) campaign pledge to create a compassionate citizenry volunteering to help cope with society's ills. The "thousand points of light" symbolize the American citizen's spirit and a shining example of giving selflessly to care for one another's neighbor and brother. Along with "a kinder, gentler hand", Bush believed that each American could contribute to helping make the United States -- and the world -- a better place to live and work.
The song is strongly democratic and with pro-American ideals in that it is a condemnation of the supply-side/trickle down politics of President Ronald Reagan. "Reaganomics" involved massive tax cuts in the wealthiest brackets which supporters claimed would trickle down to lower brackets. In fact, the policies led to huge federal deficits and exploding unemployment and social decay, particularly in large urban American cities.
The economic realities of the 1980's with increasing social problems -- such as homelessness and drug abuse -- made Young mock the campaign promises of President Bush as hollow rhetoric. The drug problems ("she's gonna take a hit") refer to the crack epidemic which swept large American cities during the 1980's.
The lyrics of "Rockin' In The Free World" also refer to the rampant consumerism of American culture and the rise of the disposable society based on waste and pollution.
We got department stores and toilet paper
Got styrofoam boxes for the ozone layer
Got a man of the people, says keep hope alive
Got fuel to burn, got roads to drive.
The lyrics "Got a man of the people, says keep hope alive" refer to the Reverand Jesse Jackson's signature phrase to "Keep hope alive." Young contrasts President Bush's rhetoric and Rev. Jackson's religion as solutions to society's ills, when in actuality, they are nothing more than "feel good" slogans with little results to show.
According to Neil Young's biography Shakey, while on tour in the late 80s, Young and Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro looked at photos in a newspaper of the Ayatollah Khomeini's body being carried to his grave. These images showed mourners burning American flags in the street, which incited fear in Poncho due to the band's up coming European tour. Sampedro commented that 'whatever we do, we shouldn't go near the mideast. Its probably better we just keep on rockin' in the free world.' Then Young asked if he could make a song out of it. (source: Wikipedia)
China's Tiananmen Square Protests
On June 9, 1989, Chinese authorities confronted student protesters in Tiananmen Square, which led to the deaths of an untold number. From this event, the picture of a student standing before a line of tanks became the image that was broadcast around the world.
Neil Young, upon seeing this photo and video, began commenting before performing "Rockin' In The Free World" that the song was going out to that "Chinese boy in Tiananmen Square who stopped the tanks."
Similar to Young's '70's political protest anthem "Ohio", the song has become associated with peaceful, non-violent protest.
Saturday Night Live Neil Young Rockin
Saturday Night Live Performance
On Saturday Night Live in September '89, Neil served notice that he was back with a vengeance with his legendary performance of 'Rockin'. Considered to be one of the most intense live television studio performances ever, Young seemed possessed as he throttled his Les Paul guitar and shredded its strings before the audience. Wearing a Elvis Presley T-shirt, Young seemed to be bridging his 1970's classic "Hey, Hey, My, My" with the lyrics "The King [Elvis] is gone but not forgotten, this is the story of Johnny Rotten" with the end of the 1980's and the impending advent of the grunge-alternative music explosion.
Later, Young commented that he worked with a trainer before going onstage to work himself up to the encore intensity level when he normally performs the song after 2 hours on stage. Neil came on the set as if he had just performed the concert of his life and went from there. The song was selected as one of the best of Saturday Night Live musical performances of all time in broadcasts later in the 1990's for the 25th anniversary.
Critics were ecstatic about Young's return to form based on just the single broadcast and it marked a critical turning point in Neil's career. Jimmy McDonough writes in a Village Voice interview:
"With the September 30 appearance on Saturday Night Live, Young arrested any signs of rust - at least for the moment. Backed by Charlie Drayton, Steve Jordan, and longtime sideman Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro - a new band Young's tentatively calling Young, CS&P - he was all over the stage, jumping on the drum stand, lunging out of camera range, whipping off earsplitting solos that sounded like falling power lines. It was the loudest thing I've ever heard on TV, the lyrics to 'Rockin' in the Free World' barely audible. This is easily his best band since Crazy Horse.
Just the look on his face was enough. He really seemed insane.
YOUNG: 'Yeah, well I was. I don't like TV. Never have. It always sucks and there's nothing you can do about it. You can't just walk on and do 'Rockin' in the Free World,' or you'll look like a fuckin' idiot. To perform that song the way it's supposed to be performed you have to be at peak blood level, everything has to be up, the machine has to be stoked. To do that I had to ignore Saturday Night Live completely. I had to pretend I wasn't there.'
So Young developed 'a brand new technique for doing TV' - a half-hour before going on he worked out with his trainer, lifting weights and doing calisthenics to get himself wired. "
freedom album
Freedom is Released
In October, 1989, the album Freedom was released to considerable critical acclaim. A review on Pagewise declared: "If 'Freedom' is the first true alternative album, 'Rockin' in the Free World' is the first true alternative song."
The album Freedom contains two versions of 'Rockin' in the Free World' - acoustic and electric, similar to Rust Never Sleeps and Tonight's The Night. In an album Review, Jeff Dove writes:
" 'Rockin' in the Free World,' which opens and closes the album in different versions, recalls Rust Never Sleeps. The parallel goes beyond the similar tactic, used in 'Hey Hey, My My (Out of the Blue) / My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Black),' but the styles of the two recordings on Freedom match Rust Never Sleep's live acoustic A-side and Crazy Horse-raging B-side. As with 'Hey Hey...,' and for that matter as with 'Tonight's the Night' on the album of the same name, the two versions have some lyrical differences. The opening version of 'Rockin' in the Free World' is a live solo acoustic version from a Jones Beach, Long Island, NY show, while the closer is an electric ripper that is right in there with the best of the Horse. "
At the Jones Beach, New York concert on June 14, 1989, Young performed an acoustic version of "Ritfw" with a third verse that was removed from the LP.
Little did critics and fans realize that the album's signature song soon would be heard around the world.
berlin-wall-neil-grafitti
Before the Fall: Neil writes "Love Is All We Need" on the Berlin Wall in 1982
Berlin Wall Falls
On November 9, 1989 The Berlin Wall fell and Young's song lyrics "Keep on Rockin' In The Free World" could be heard over newscasts of the historic occasion. The song has since been established as a beacon of hope for repressed people throughout the world and a soundtrack for freedom - in it's every manifestation.
Neil Young Rockin video Neil Young Rockin video Rockin vid glasses Rockin video metal
"Rockin' In The Free World" Video
In the music video for "Rockin'", directed by Julien Temple, the performance footage is intercut with scenes of Neil as a homeless person pushing a shopping cart through city streets. As a homeless person, Neil encounters numerous pitiful situations but manages to inject some humor. For example, at one point as he pushes his worldly possessions along a sidewalk, he encounters an elderly woman who he gives money.
The music video also has a montage of television news footage of a variety of current events such as police busting drug dealers and other criminal activity interspersed with Wall Street dealers. The "Rockin' In The Free World" video also includes footage of China's Tiananmen Square protests.
Among the many bands performing "Rockin' In The Free World" are Pearl Jam who have covered the song over 100 times in concert, often as final encores.
pj & neil
Pearl Jam & Neil at the MTV Music Awards
Neil joined Pearl Jam onstage at the MTV Music Awards on September 2, 1993 to play an incendiary version of "Rocking in The Free World". After the broadcast, MTV commentator Kurt Loder observed that the interplay between Young and Pearl Jam was probably one of the most memorable live MTV performances ever.
Some of the other bands that have covered "Rockin'" include:
Van Halen
Patti Smith
Vines
Slobberbone
David Byrne
Phil Lesh & Friends
Indigo Girls
Richard Thompson
The song became a standard during the 1991 tour with Crazy Horse which began as the Persian Gulf war began. At the end of "Rockin' In the Free World" (listen to San Francisco, CA. 1991-04-06) segues into a homage to Bob Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind" for a most majestic feedback drenched finale.
Again, during the second war with Iraq, Young featured the song "Rockin' In The Free World" prominently during encores for the 2003 Greendale tour. The lyrics to the song were altered in the Greendale concerts to: "Boys are dying everyday because we didn't have a plan". The additional lyrics were censored for the Farm Aid 2003 broadcast on PBS on Thanksgiving Day.
Also during the Greendale tour, the feedback drenched finale of "Rocking in the Free World" segued into "Taps", Neil's gesture to the soldiers fighting and dying in Iraq.
In the post 9/11 world, the lyrics take on a sinister new meaning:
'There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead.
Don't feel like Satan but I am to them.'
It is very hard to listen to these words today and think about what they mean to people of various religious beliefs. How could Neil have possibly known the prophetic power which these lyrics hold today?
In an analysis of "Rockin'" called "The Advantages of Using Rock and Roll in Teaching Social Studies by James Lane at the Orange High School he writes:
"The tune warns us of the complacency of our own lives and the lack of empathy we express for people who are not blessed with the benefits and cushy lifestyle the majority of Americans enjoy. The song is a musical signpost telling us not to lose sight of the problems our society and its less fortunate members face. It is a song of insight attempting to awaken us to the reality of a culture seen on a wider screen, one with 'a thousand points of light / For the homeless man / ...a kinder, gentler / Machine gun hand.'"
ritfw-moore-ch.jpg ritfw-moore-bomb.jpg ritfw-moore-lights.jpg ritfw-moore-neil-cu.jpg
Michael Moore's Film Fahrenheit 9/11 Soundtrack
In June 2004, filmmaker Michael Moore and Neil Young reached agreement to use Young's song 'Rockin' in the Free World' for the controversial film 'Fahrenheit 9/11''s closing credits. (For more, see June 2004 News page and Neil News page for updates.) From Thrasher's Wheat Guestbook, Bill posted:
"Michael Moore inexplicably edited out the most telling line - "Don't feel like Satan but I am to them" - which could be applied flexibly to Osama's hatred of the U.S. or the Right Wing's demonization of everyone they disagree with. Instead, he combined the beginning of the first verse with the end of the second verse, the one about the crack-addict and her child, so they came out:
'There are colours on the street
Red, white and blue
People shufflin' their feet
People sleepin' in their shoes
But there's a warnin' sign on the road ahead
There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead
That's one more kid that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love never get to be cool
A new video for "Rockin' In The Free World" directed by filmmaker Michael Moore was released in November 2004. The video intercuts footage from the film Fahrenheit 9/11 and performance footage of Neil Young and Crazy Horse performing the song on the 2003/4 Greendale tour.
ritfw-moore-kid.jpg
"There's one more kid that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love,
never get to be cool."
Conclusion
The song "Rocking in The Free World" continues to be a standard encore for Neil Young's concerts and most likely will continue as long as there is a need to rock in the free -- or more or less free -- world.
The use of the song "Rockin'" undoubtably put Young and his music in the political spotlight. In the summer of 2004, we asked what folks thought of a Moore's use of the song. The question was whether the use of the song in the film was a good idea? Or was it going to create trouble for Neil?
poll-f911
About 70% thought it was a good idea, 27% thought it would cause trouble, and less than 3% didn't much care about music & politics.
In November 2004, a music video for "Rockin' In The Free World" directed by Michael Moore was released.
So what did folks think of the video for "Rockin"? With nearly 600 votes, here are the results when the polls closed:
poll-rocking-free.jpg
77% (455 votes) voted "Yes, I like both the song and the video"
10% (58 votes) voted "No, I can't stand Young and Moore"
13% (78 votes) voted "Not sure because politics and music make me feel uneasy."
Please comment and add your thoughts on "Rockin' In The Free World" in the guestbook.
Also, check out the other Neil polls, so get off that couch, turn off that MTV and VOTE!
Lastly, here's a song parody by Skisics Surus:
"We got more failing stores and worthless paper
Got new coal burning for the ozone layer
Got a man who screws the people, helps his friends all thrive
Expensive fuel to burn, try not to drive
Bush keeps mockin' the free world"
"Rockin' In The Free World" lyrics by Neil Young
(Listen to clip of acoustic version of "Rockin' in the Free World" and electric version.)
See inside reference book pages of Music and Social Movements : Mobilizing Traditions in the Twentieth Century by Cambridge Cultural Social Studies for more on music relating to China's Tiananmen Square protests and the fall of Berlin Wall.
Also, see Gone Mild Blog article "Neil Young Keeps On Rockin' In the Free World".
Play and watch the video of "Rockin' In The Free World" here.
Freedom - Album Reviews
Neil Young Lyrics Analysis
Thrasher's Wheat - A Neil Young Archives
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Fact Sheet - The School-to-Prison Pipeline in the National Context
Home : Criminal Justice : Juvenile Justice
Fact Sheet - The School-to-Prison Pipeline in the National Context
* The "school-to-prison pipeline" describes an alarming trend wherein public elementary, middle and high schools are pushing youth out of classrooms and into the juvenile justice and criminal justice system.
o Under the banner of "zero tolerance," schools increasingly are relying on inappropriately harsh discipline and, increasingly, law enforcement, to address trivial schoolyard offenses among even the youngest students.
o Children are far more likely to be arrested at school than they were a generation ago. And these school-arrests are not for violent behavior. For example, in one Texas school district, 17 percent of school arrests were for disruptive behavior, and 26 percent were for disorderly conduct.(1)
o Defenders of the pipeline cannot attribute the explosion of school-based arrests to an increase in school violence. On the contrary, empirical evidence shows that between 1992 and 2002, school violence actually dropped by about half.(2)
o Rather than nurturing and educating children perceived to pose a disciplinary problem, schools are turning to law enforcement to simply get rid of the child.
* Unfortunately, children of color and children with disabilities bear the brunt of these harsh trends.
o Nationally, minority students are suspended at rates of two to three times that of other students. They are also more likely to be subject to office referrals, corporal punishment, and expulsion.(3)
o Children of color also are more likely to be referred by their school to the juvenile justice system.(4)
o Minority students with disabilities are particularly vulnerable. African American students with disabilities are three times more likely to receive short-term suspensions than their white counterparts, and are more than four times as likely to end up in correctional facilities.(5)
* Native American students in particular suffer harms from the pipeline, even when they are not incarcerated because of school discipline
o Alienated by school policies, students may perform poorly academically. In 2003, the U.S. Commission for Civil Rights reported that Native American children score lower than any other racial/ethnic group in standardized test scores.(6)
o In addition, they are more likely to drop out of school. Only 51 percent of Native American students graduate high school nationally, as compared to 75 percent of Caucasian students.(7)
1 The Advancement Project, "Education on Lockdown: The Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Track At-A-Glance," at 15, available at http://www.advancementproject.org//reports/FINALEOLrep.pdf. (March 2005)
2 Id. at 11.
3 Russ Skiba, "Zero Tolerance: The Assumptions and the Facts," 2 Indiana Youth Servs. Ass’n, Education Policy Briefs at 4 (2004)
4 "Education on Lockdown," supra n.1 , at 18.
5 Johanna Wald & Daniel Losen, "Defining and Redirecting a School-to-Prison Pipeline," Framing Paper for the School-toPrison Pipeline Research Conference (May 2003) (citing U.S. Dept. of Educ., Office of Special Education Programs, Data Analysis Systems (DANS)).
6 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, "A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian Country," (July 2003)
7 Gary Orfield, et al., Losing Our Future: How Minority Youth are Being Left Behind By the Graduation Rate Crisis, (March 2004)
Fact Sheet - The School-to-Prison Pipeline in the National Context
* The "school-to-prison pipeline" describes an alarming trend wherein public elementary, middle and high schools are pushing youth out of classrooms and into the juvenile justice and criminal justice system.
o Under the banner of "zero tolerance," schools increasingly are relying on inappropriately harsh discipline and, increasingly, law enforcement, to address trivial schoolyard offenses among even the youngest students.
o Children are far more likely to be arrested at school than they were a generation ago. And these school-arrests are not for violent behavior. For example, in one Texas school district, 17 percent of school arrests were for disruptive behavior, and 26 percent were for disorderly conduct.(1)
o Defenders of the pipeline cannot attribute the explosion of school-based arrests to an increase in school violence. On the contrary, empirical evidence shows that between 1992 and 2002, school violence actually dropped by about half.(2)
o Rather than nurturing and educating children perceived to pose a disciplinary problem, schools are turning to law enforcement to simply get rid of the child.
* Unfortunately, children of color and children with disabilities bear the brunt of these harsh trends.
o Nationally, minority students are suspended at rates of two to three times that of other students. They are also more likely to be subject to office referrals, corporal punishment, and expulsion.(3)
o Children of color also are more likely to be referred by their school to the juvenile justice system.(4)
o Minority students with disabilities are particularly vulnerable. African American students with disabilities are three times more likely to receive short-term suspensions than their white counterparts, and are more than four times as likely to end up in correctional facilities.(5)
* Native American students in particular suffer harms from the pipeline, even when they are not incarcerated because of school discipline
o Alienated by school policies, students may perform poorly academically. In 2003, the U.S. Commission for Civil Rights reported that Native American children score lower than any other racial/ethnic group in standardized test scores.(6)
o In addition, they are more likely to drop out of school. Only 51 percent of Native American students graduate high school nationally, as compared to 75 percent of Caucasian students.(7)
1 The Advancement Project, "Education on Lockdown: The Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Track At-A-Glance," at 15, available at http://www.advancementproject.org//reports/FINALEOLrep.pdf. (March 2005)
2 Id. at 11.
3 Russ Skiba, "Zero Tolerance: The Assumptions and the Facts," 2 Indiana Youth Servs. Ass’n, Education Policy Briefs at 4 (2004)
4 "Education on Lockdown," supra n.1 , at 18.
5 Johanna Wald & Daniel Losen, "Defining and Redirecting a School-to-Prison Pipeline," Framing Paper for the School-toPrison Pipeline Research Conference (May 2003) (citing U.S. Dept. of Educ., Office of Special Education Programs, Data Analysis Systems (DANS)).
6 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, "A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian Country," (July 2003)
7 Gary Orfield, et al., Losing Our Future: How Minority Youth are Being Left Behind By the Graduation Rate Crisis, (March 2004)
Sunday, July 29, 2007
My man was tagged by~ just wearing a white t`shirt~Build a White Wall~ for all the world to see
Local
In city vs. taggers, Garcia park, pool latest victims
By Barbara Ramirez (Contact)
Originally published 12:00 a.m., July 24, 2007
Updated 04:08 a.m., July 24, 2007
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Before the paint dries in one place, taggers have moved to another, officials with the city's Streets and Solid Waste Services Department said Monday.
At least 80 percent of the 18 parks previously eradicated of graffiti earlier this year have been targeted again, said Lawrence Mikolajczyk, assistant director of Corpus Christi's Solid Waste Services.
"We wash it up and they come back three or four days later and tag it again," Mikolajczyk said. "It's a never-ending process."
The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Park on Greenwood was tagged this weekend. The gazebo and concrete slab of the pool and its building had been tagged. The cost of damage had not been calculated late Monday.
Last week, a Vietnam War memorial on Bloomington Street in Molina Veterans Park was tagged. The taggers used shoe polish to deface the marble slate, costing the city a minimum of $300 to clean, Mikolajczyk said. City crews also are working to clean the bayfront Selena statue, which also was vandalized last week.
Juvenile Enforcement Team Officer B. Teed said recent graffiti has come from several tagging crews.
As of last month, the police department knew of 32 tagging crews, with an estimated 100 members, Teed said. The tagging seems to be from rival crews, looking to outdo one another and claim domain, Teed added.
"Obviously it's going to be a never-ending process until some of these taggers get the message," Mikolajczyk said.
Contact Barbara Ramirez at 886-3792 or ramirezb@caller.com
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Post Your Comments
Posted by meaalmeida on July 24, 2007 at 5:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
they deserve to be caned, and chop their hands off,and! no welfare!
Posted by thadaeus on July 24, 2007 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it's bad enough that money was spent on that pathetic statue of a mildly famous local celebrity - now the city has to spend money cleaning it up. I say take down the statue of the "great" Selena. It was erected solely as a symbol of and for the benefit of her father's money grubbing conquests. With the statue gone, the city wont have to worry about spending money cleaning a needless statue and they will be able to spend money on more worthwhile endeavors - like feeding the homeless.
Posted by whoop97 on July 24, 2007 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those caught tagging should be publicly flogged then forced into 6-months of scrubbing graffiti off of city and private property with a toothbrush-sized wire brush and lye soap while at the same time wearing specially-made bright pink prison overalls. If they do it again, they should be taken to the marina for a proper keel hauling.
Posted by knoy on July 24, 2007 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How seriously can the city be taking this? They have one officer who oversees the tagging which occurs in our city. I've telephoned to report graffitti inside a rental home(which eliminates the suspects to three who reside there.....I'm still waiting for a return phone call from Officer Teed. He has to be overwhelmed. We now have wireless networking installed throughout the city and wireless internet cameras as low as $250.00(cost of clean up of Veteran's Memorial on Bloomington) we could simply review captured video of these people who find glory in destruction and pay them a visit around lunch time while they're sleeping.
Posted by rsanchez on July 24, 2007 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Thadaeus, any relation to Strom Thurmond or David Duke? You should move to greener pastures, maybe where hillbillies kick it and pump Garth Brooks. That statue will bring in more praise and adoration to it than u have ever gotten in your consumer driven life. Whats pathetic is not the statue, it's the fact that you live in that "go no where town" and actually expect more from it and it's hypocritical "conservative "leaders. You probably voted for Bush and still back him and the war.
Posted by arodriguez on July 24, 2007 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with whoop97 those kids need to be punished to the full extent. It is ugly and degrading for us as a society what these little punks are doing. The city needs to monitor the areas that are tagged the most with cameras and catch these kids. And when these kids are caught I also think the parents should pay a fine as well if they are under the age of 17. I have two teens and I wonder how these parents dont know where their children are in the middle of the night. I always check on my children and if I ever found one of them doing that I would definitely turn them in and then make them scrub every single sign or fence that has graffiti on it within our neighborhood.
Posted by sgran77482 on July 24, 2007 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thadeus, you obviously were not a fan of Selena and not Hipanic. I live in the "great northwest" and you would never think she was revered here, but guess what she is well known here and her music still popular. Having witnessed the international news media response to her death at the police department, calls from Spain, England,and South American countries jammed the lines clammoring for informationon of her death.
The taggers who today are tagging her statue are not gang members or least the gang members of 1995 who practically worshipped Selena. I would imagine that generation of gang members would kill the taggers who defaced the statue. they used to allow signing her mesages on the pedestal, but the statue was untouchable.
Posted by jpr110902 on July 24, 2007 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What needs to be done is parents need to start being more assertive with their children. My husband goes to work at 4am in the morning and he sees young boys riding their bikes. He calls the non emergency number to report it because they are probably up to no good. My question is where are their parents? The parents of the young men and women (not all grafitti is done by minors) should pay for the cleaning because the should know what their children are up to. As, for the adults causing property damage they should clean it themselves and all the other graffiti that is done in our area. They need to get a life and a job !!!!!
Posted by corpusbeach2 on July 24, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, in the end parents are responsible for this behavior. People in this town have children because it's the macho thing to do. These kids grow into their teen years feeling insignificant. They fail in school and wonder how they fit into this individualistic power struggle that this country promotes. Crime empowers these kids with little to no effort so that's the path they take.
Posted by lemosf on July 24, 2007 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Selena's statue on the bayfront was not erected by her father but by a generous Philanthropist. And guess what? He is of Caucasian origin. So get your facts straight.
Posted by josegutz on July 24, 2007 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Graffiti is Graffiti regardless of where it is, or what the target is...
It doesn't matter if it's a Quaker statue that got tagged!!
So this is news? Keep racism OUT of this! The guy just made a statement about selena doesn't mean he is a biggot or hillbilly. I myself am tired about hearing of Selena...SO Thadeus is not a fan. I am Not a fan myself, and I am of mexican descent. Not everyone that is latino is a fan you know. I was a fan in her early years with the Dinos and then her father tried to cash out. I lost interest when the radio started playing her music to the bone...Now I go nuts when I hear a Selena song, just tired of all the hoopla and overplay... Just quit with the stereotypes. let her Rest in Peace.
Posted by jpr110902 on July 24, 2007 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The bottom line is Corpus Christi can not be a sparkling city by the sea with such ugly display of trying to claim ownership of property. If the taggers would work and pay taxes then they would think twice before destroying the City's property. Shame on you taggers and eventually you will get caught!!!!
Posted by tjcox on July 24, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We live in a beautiful city, and one that has so much potential. I often agree that the people running this city do not want to change in a forward moving direction, they want to keep it status quo. This has much to do with everyone saying, blah blah there's nothing to do here blah blah. I agree! Which brings me to my point...
The taggers have nothing to do with how the city is run
(it's the fact that you live in that "go no where town" and actually expect more from it and it's hypocritical "conservative "leaders),
they are little criminals who are defacing private and public property because they haven't been taught the value of hard work and respecting the property of others. People should not be sterotyped, criminal behavior knows no race, it is what it is. These criminals should be charged and made to work off their debt first by scrubbing up the graffiti, and second by volunteering with less fortunate people.
Posted by fresacrema65 on July 24, 2007 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't want to criticize the police because I am sure there may be some reasonable explanation as to why the taggers are not being caught. But why not guard the areas that are being hit over and over again?
"We wash it up and they come back three or four days later and tag it again," Mikolajczyk said. "It's a never-ending process."
Is the pd trying to catch these taggers in the act - that is what I want to know.
Posted by jimd on July 24, 2007 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If I had to bet, 90% of the taggers are hispanic bangers.....as groups like LULAC, GI Forum, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce sit back and don't take a leading role in trying to install etiquette, consideration of other's property and just plain good ole wholesome values in their brown brothers. It's a cycle that will never be broken....kids breeding kids.
Need to set up a free vasectomy clinic for the 18 year old macho men who get their chulas pregnant and then take off only to repeat the act again.
Posted by racerrick22 on July 24, 2007 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JimD you hit the nail squarely on the head. Those groups do nothing but promote racism. It's been going on for thirty years or more. They are taught to poke the eyes of the white man starting at birth. Sad but true. Why? I don't know. This town is 70% hispanic yet all we here is how the hispanics are miss treated, blah, blah, blah. The song hasn't changed for three decades. If you want a real eye operner, go the the Social Security Office anytime of day and look around. You'd expect to see gray hair folks there yet all I see is young hispanics covered in gang tatoos, male and female, with several small kids running around terrorizing the other citizens. Why? Because when a gang member is shot or stabbed, the tax payers have to pay for them and there kids for the rest of there life because they aren't able to work. What a joke. That's why SS is going broke but, you never hear a word about it in the news. A great lie is being laid on the American people...is it ever going to stop? And you ask, where are the parents....smoking crack and teaching the kids all the bad stuff that we see in the streets of CC. It's terrible whats happened to Corpus Christi (the body of Christ) in the last 30 years. It hasn't always been this way as the old folks know. Very sad.
Posted by josegutz on July 24, 2007 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with what jimd said. It's about time LULAC and GIFORUM got into this and spoke out to the public about the young hispanic population getting these (chulas) pregnant then NOT being responsible for their actions. They are bangers alright...Bang and leave...and bang again. More awareness is needed.
Posted by rhdj on July 24, 2007 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does it really matter what race the taggers were.... No way! For years I heard about how the hispanic was treated like a second class citizen, I was young.. I said , nah this town is a hispanic majority, no way. Then I entered the work force and found out the hard way, it is true. Even with a college education I was treated badly. The stories I can tell you! The main problem is people make assumption based on race without even knowing the person. Think about it ..are hispanics the only ones that have the problems pointed out in the posts above, the answer is NO. My dad was in the GI forum, never did I here a racist word out of his mouth, but you assume the worst. My parents taught me respect for everyboby, yet you assume. I have been to the SS office with my mother several times, seems diverisity is alive and well there, you see want you want to see and ignore the big picture to fit your view. Odds are the taggers were hispanic, I do have eyes and see what is going on in this town. I disagree with the idea that hispanics are breed to hate. Do not let the action of a few define our hispanic population, the same can be done for everybody if you really wanted. It bothers me when thugs give hispanics a bad name, but it bothers me when the assumption is made we are all thugs. It bring tears to my eyes to read the hate in some of these posts. Why?!
Posted by rhdj on July 24, 2007 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Taggers disrespected everybody with their action. Everyboby should be be up in arms against them. The police can not do it alone, we need to get involved and watch our streets, this is happening in every part of town. If we work together, this can be stopped. The people in our block watch and listen for trouble and try to stop it if possible. It started with minor problems, but we got together and stopped before it was a major problem. We outnumber them(taggers) this can work.
Posted by josegutz on July 24, 2007 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rhdj,
No hate from me brother...We are all brothers here. Every man is a brother to another. I just think it's time to get along and work together.
Posted by kennymc69 on July 24, 2007 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, I never knew racism was so strong in Corpus Christi. It doesnt matter what race these taggers are, the fact of the matter is, what they are doing is NOT ART!!! By population numbers hispanics definitely outnumber any race in our city, but to make racist remarks and say hispanic organizations should control their people is just dispicable. Its people like you that give this city a bad name. The hispanic population is strong in Corpus Christi, but not all hispanics are pregnant chulas, or gangbangers, and to suggest otherwise is disgusting. Why don't you take a look at yourself, and figure out what you can do to help with the problem. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
Posted by josegutz on July 24, 2007 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Look around and see...It's sad.
too bad...can't do anything on my part but pray.
Posted by arthur6889 on July 24, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am part of the tagger problem, yessiree, bobby, sure am. And, I'm staying that way.
Why? Because at one time I was surrounded by gang members called the "Ace of Spades". Left their mark all over the neighborhood.
Being a neighbor and being friendly, I endured myself to them.
I asked the father also a gang member (40 year old plus) what the point was for tagging. He wouldnt answer. I wanted him to talk.
Basically it's "their territory". To rob, steal, smoke dope, sell dope, protect their sisters, mothers and themselves. An Hispanic man had erected a long wooden fence. Next morning completely covered with their "messages".
A garage at the intersection of two streets tagged so often it probably has 20 coats of cover-up paint.
A friend told me when school lets out, they will sleep until noon, boredom will set it, then it starts breaking out., when school starts back up the hard core will be dodging the truant officers.
In my neighborhood they like empty houses to smoke blunts and plan.
The Selena statue was a gift to the citizens of Corpus Christi. Some people have contrary opinions about its location. And, depending on visual impressions what defines vandalism. When the statue first went up the city had to erect a barrier to protect the site from writing on the brick flooring and statue.
It must be some kind of human necessity to express grief by writing and disrespect for oneself by tagging.
When you sincerely ask them why they do the things they do, they have a similiar sincere response, "because that's the way we are".
Posted by ord2001mike on July 24, 2007 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
taggers.... ??... is it really cool to call yourself a "tagger" now? how lame is that... what should really be done is a look into the life of a tagger.... then look at the older taggers and show the world what losers they really are, and maybe then, kids will see the light...
also, for those who don't like this city.... get the f**k out then... whats stopping you? this city could do with less of your crappy attitude...
Posted by jimd on July 24, 2007 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When tagging is considered cool, and LULAC does not take an active role against it, you best know it's time to get out, which I did. Mama didn't raise no fool.
Enjoy your "art", pander to your criminals.
Posted by natasofthedeepestpitofhell on July 24, 2007 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If only they had not shot the guy with the machete...
If we could have redrected his anger and machete toward the taggers our problems would be solved...somewhat.
Where is Karl Childers when you need him?
Posted by thadaeus on July 25, 2007 at 6:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
1) no – im not related to Duke or Thurmond, and I HAVE moved to MUCH “greener” pastures…I was born and bred in Sparkling City by the Sea, but I currently reside in Washington DC. Question for you, though…what “praise” and “adulation” does the statue bring to CC? My conservatism has nothing to do with latinos who have nothing to hold them up other than the memory of a MILDLY famous celebrity. Let’s all just hope that Eva Longoria doesn’t bite the dust…if, God forbid, that ever happened, there would sightings of her likeness in tortillas all over South Texas for years to come. And yes – I DO support President Bush, and I DO back the war (Ive served in it twice so far). As a 14 year veteran STILL serving in our military, I PROUDLY support the war and our great President.
2) YES, I was a fan of Selena (albeit not a “huge” one), and I AM Latino. I danced many a night to her music at Hollywood Nights back in the ‘90s, and I had her first 2 CDs. I don’t deny Selena’s celebrity. But I don’t pretend it was greater than it was. Im sure the story caught the attention of international media – but im also sure it wasn’t as “huge” a story as you remember it being. I was HERE in the US – stationed in North Carolina, and I DISTINCTLY remember the story being a “news tidbit” on NC tv stations.
3) I admit – I’m uneducated as to the origins of the statue – and the ethnic persuasion of said philanthropist is irrelevant. The fact still remains – Selenas father exploits her existence. The fact still remains – were it not for the movie on her life, she would have faded away into obscurity. The fact remains - the city is SPENDING MONEY cleaning up graffiti on that statue…and the fact still remains – that is money that could be better spent by the city.
Posted by jimd on July 25, 2007 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The graffiti is bad enough, but one of the most despicable acts is when Selena's adorers steal flowers from others graves at Seaside Memorial to place on her grave. What scum, what disrespect! This (inconsiderate) culture has no respect for others' property or feelings.
Posted by thadaeus on July 25, 2007 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL at selena addorers stealing flowers from other graves at Seaside Memorial park to place on her grave.
Posted by narc on July 25, 2007 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Isn't the term hispanic or latino referring to ethnicity and not race? Is there a hispanic race, and if so, who is winning?
Posted by arthur6889 on July 25, 2007 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
narc: now that's interesting enough to respond to.
In my opinion there is no such thing as a Latino. I'm not even sure Hispanic is correct.
At one time in human history there was a thing called the Roman Empire that spread its influence like any good Empire.
It seems to me they spoke a language called LATIN, I might be wrong?
From them came the so-called ROMANance languages. As I barely remember, I think they were SPANISH, FRENCH, ITALIAN, and ROMANian.
Sometime or another the ROMAN Catholic Church started and began their own religious influence.
Along comes somebody named Columbus a ROMANance language speaker who heads out over the deep blue sea to parts unknown. He "finds/discovers" a virgin country already "found" a hundred times before.
His second or third trip he is accompanied by Catholic priests who condon stealing anybody's gold because after all he's not paying for the voyage. Queen Isabella is. And, also condoned is the burning of "savages" accumulations of mother-earth knowledge and understandings.
So, these ROMANance languages priests began teaching the savages a ritual called, "Holy Mass", spoken not in savagery but a new language for them called, LATIN.
Well, time went on and the Catholic religion grew in leaps and bounds. After a while this "virgin" land who had never been discovered was called, "LATIN AMERICA".
Then to add insult to injury. Christopher Columbus began calling the savages "Indio". And, from that day forward all the savages in South and North America were called "Indians" , because he thought they were from the continent INDIA.
Ask an old timer "savage/indian" what he is and he will say, not indian and certainly not savage, but something like Apache, or Dakota, or flat-nose, or Nez-Pierce or something like that. What does Eskimo mean? PEOPLE.
And, what happened to ROMANance speaker Columbo? They got mad at him and when died they buried him in an unmarked grave, until it was time to be cool and erect a statue for him
I really don't thing any HISPANIC or LATINO can speak low, middle or high LATIN. Well, maybe some Catholic Priest at high and Holy Mass.
Posted by jimd on July 26, 2007 at 8:27 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by josegutz on July 26, 2007 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who's laughing now? Hmm? Not all are chulas but a HECK of a lot (majority) are...
http://www.caller.com/news/2007/jul/25/t...
And sadly the highest rate is among latinas, which is what was all over the news these past few days.
So this is why we fail...because of irresponsible mentality and denial of failure. Keep it up and see where this society takes you.
I know we all have choices and we all start by raising our children responsibly.
Posted by louie_8201 on July 26, 2007 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thadaeus and the rest of you HATERS no one cares about your racial comments. Keep your pie hole shut and deal with LIFE. If unhappy do us ALL a favor and crawl back under the rock you came from. Blah, blah, blah.
Posted by louie_8201 on July 26, 2007 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thadaeus what a pathetic name.
Posted by changemost256 on July 26, 2007 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is this city so whack w/ art ideas for the youth in your city??
Why cant this city be more like San Antonio and support local artist?
Build something that allows local artist to show there creativity and exression, "real artist"!!! I'm not talking about the kid who just created his/her first throw-up last week!!!! I'm talking about the real dedicated artist out there who have been doing this for a decade+ now, it would really be good for the city to support the youth down there as opposed to what ya'll are doing to them by locking them up for a weekend until Mom or Dad gets a hold of them. A program will bring a lot of the youth together plus if it starts around the city again "in an illegal manner" well all the cops would have to do is go to the "local artist spot provided by the city" and find the same artist name there and bam, you will have your suspect. Simple!
-proud artist
LOVE ART NOT HATE!
Posted by craney106 on July 26, 2007 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Officer B. Teed said he knows of 32 tagging crews with 100 members. Well, the job is not finished is it ? I am not a cop, but I think next comes 100 warrents. Then Judge, Your Honer, sir..I suggest 200 hours community service for each tagger and no more than 30 days to do the time. This tagging could be under control with-in a week. By the way, one officer? Gee, why can"t the others help???
Posted by arthur6889 on July 26, 2007 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not naming which HEB (we are talking about art?), but there is a young Hispanic girl who is absolutely and stunningly beautiful.
I saw her today, just glanced, didnt want to stare, and thought, OMG what art is this?
They move her around the store, so she disappears for a time. The face of pure innocence. It almost like you want to fall into her and love her soul.
Posted by baircub on July 27, 2007 at 10:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
changemost256, uhm, not that I'm against art, but I don't consider graffiti and tagging art. I call it vandalism. which is a crime. This is not about supporting art, or not supporting art....this is about going after thugs and criminals...and I don't care what their race, ethnicity, or background, or socioeconomic status is. I don't care if they're misunderstood youth, or angry youth, or troubled youth. They committed a crime, and we need to stop it. There is nothing racist about it. if the taggers were white, or asian, or whatever, I'd say the same thing to them as I would to anyone else. "You do the crime, you pay the consequences." No second chances, no leniency. no slap on the wrist. No, you commit vandalism, you don't get probation, where all that happens is that you get a stern talking to by a judge. Nor should you even go to a juvenile detention facility to sit on your butt and feel sorry for yourself. I don't care if you're some stupid runt of a 14 year old, or even a 12 year old, or a 26 year old, or whatever the age. Here's what you get. You get to face the people who's property you damaged. You get to face the music, and yeah, even have your name published in the paper, along with your photograph even. Maybe a little humiliation would be good for you. Then you get to go out, and pay off your debt to society by cleaning up not only the mess you made, but what other thug brats like yourself have committed. Get hot, get sweat soaked, get sore and exhausted doing a lot of hard work. I hope your arms are sore, and your back aches, and your head pounds. Because that's what the property owners have to put up with cleaning after the mess you brats have made. And these gangbanger thugs talk about how they demand respect...they deserve no respect at all, until they've EARNED respect HONORABLY! And that's by being a good and decent citizen, not some stupid punk thug.
Posted by dannoynted1 on July 29, 2007 at 2:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why don't y'all build a WALL for them ?
Posted by dannoynted1 on July 29, 2007 at 3:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
U could call it the taggers wall of fame or frame.
Posted by dannoynted1 on July 29, 2007 at 3:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jimd and ricko are bred to hate......they are the problem with "workforce/source" issues.
They hate because it is the "macho" thing to do where they come from and I would be surprised if they even have kids.
This is the reason they want to throw away education.
I especially believe they do not care about anyone in the Body of Christ except themselves.
In city vs. taggers, Garcia park, pool latest victims
By Barbara Ramirez (Contact)
Originally published 12:00 a.m., July 24, 2007
Updated 04:08 a.m., July 24, 2007
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Before the paint dries in one place, taggers have moved to another, officials with the city's Streets and Solid Waste Services Department said Monday.
At least 80 percent of the 18 parks previously eradicated of graffiti earlier this year have been targeted again, said Lawrence Mikolajczyk, assistant director of Corpus Christi's Solid Waste Services.
"We wash it up and they come back three or four days later and tag it again," Mikolajczyk said. "It's a never-ending process."
The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Park on Greenwood was tagged this weekend. The gazebo and concrete slab of the pool and its building had been tagged. The cost of damage had not been calculated late Monday.
Last week, a Vietnam War memorial on Bloomington Street in Molina Veterans Park was tagged. The taggers used shoe polish to deface the marble slate, costing the city a minimum of $300 to clean, Mikolajczyk said. City crews also are working to clean the bayfront Selena statue, which also was vandalized last week.
Juvenile Enforcement Team Officer B. Teed said recent graffiti has come from several tagging crews.
As of last month, the police department knew of 32 tagging crews, with an estimated 100 members, Teed said. The tagging seems to be from rival crews, looking to outdo one another and claim domain, Teed added.
"Obviously it's going to be a never-ending process until some of these taggers get the message," Mikolajczyk said.
Contact Barbara Ramirez at 886-3792 or ramirezb@caller.com
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Post Your Comments
Posted by meaalmeida on July 24, 2007 at 5:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
they deserve to be caned, and chop their hands off,and! no welfare!
Posted by thadaeus on July 24, 2007 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it's bad enough that money was spent on that pathetic statue of a mildly famous local celebrity - now the city has to spend money cleaning it up. I say take down the statue of the "great" Selena. It was erected solely as a symbol of and for the benefit of her father's money grubbing conquests. With the statue gone, the city wont have to worry about spending money cleaning a needless statue and they will be able to spend money on more worthwhile endeavors - like feeding the homeless.
Posted by whoop97 on July 24, 2007 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those caught tagging should be publicly flogged then forced into 6-months of scrubbing graffiti off of city and private property with a toothbrush-sized wire brush and lye soap while at the same time wearing specially-made bright pink prison overalls. If they do it again, they should be taken to the marina for a proper keel hauling.
Posted by knoy on July 24, 2007 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How seriously can the city be taking this? They have one officer who oversees the tagging which occurs in our city. I've telephoned to report graffitti inside a rental home(which eliminates the suspects to three who reside there.....I'm still waiting for a return phone call from Officer Teed. He has to be overwhelmed. We now have wireless networking installed throughout the city and wireless internet cameras as low as $250.00(cost of clean up of Veteran's Memorial on Bloomington) we could simply review captured video of these people who find glory in destruction and pay them a visit around lunch time while they're sleeping.
Posted by rsanchez on July 24, 2007 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Thadaeus, any relation to Strom Thurmond or David Duke? You should move to greener pastures, maybe where hillbillies kick it and pump Garth Brooks. That statue will bring in more praise and adoration to it than u have ever gotten in your consumer driven life. Whats pathetic is not the statue, it's the fact that you live in that "go no where town" and actually expect more from it and it's hypocritical "conservative "leaders. You probably voted for Bush and still back him and the war.
Posted by arodriguez on July 24, 2007 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with whoop97 those kids need to be punished to the full extent. It is ugly and degrading for us as a society what these little punks are doing. The city needs to monitor the areas that are tagged the most with cameras and catch these kids. And when these kids are caught I also think the parents should pay a fine as well if they are under the age of 17. I have two teens and I wonder how these parents dont know where their children are in the middle of the night. I always check on my children and if I ever found one of them doing that I would definitely turn them in and then make them scrub every single sign or fence that has graffiti on it within our neighborhood.
Posted by sgran77482 on July 24, 2007 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thadeus, you obviously were not a fan of Selena and not Hipanic. I live in the "great northwest" and you would never think she was revered here, but guess what she is well known here and her music still popular. Having witnessed the international news media response to her death at the police department, calls from Spain, England,and South American countries jammed the lines clammoring for informationon of her death.
The taggers who today are tagging her statue are not gang members or least the gang members of 1995 who practically worshipped Selena. I would imagine that generation of gang members would kill the taggers who defaced the statue. they used to allow signing her mesages on the pedestal, but the statue was untouchable.
Posted by jpr110902 on July 24, 2007 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What needs to be done is parents need to start being more assertive with their children. My husband goes to work at 4am in the morning and he sees young boys riding their bikes. He calls the non emergency number to report it because they are probably up to no good. My question is where are their parents? The parents of the young men and women (not all grafitti is done by minors) should pay for the cleaning because the should know what their children are up to. As, for the adults causing property damage they should clean it themselves and all the other graffiti that is done in our area. They need to get a life and a job !!!!!
Posted by corpusbeach2 on July 24, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, in the end parents are responsible for this behavior. People in this town have children because it's the macho thing to do. These kids grow into their teen years feeling insignificant. They fail in school and wonder how they fit into this individualistic power struggle that this country promotes. Crime empowers these kids with little to no effort so that's the path they take.
Posted by lemosf on July 24, 2007 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Selena's statue on the bayfront was not erected by her father but by a generous Philanthropist. And guess what? He is of Caucasian origin. So get your facts straight.
Posted by josegutz on July 24, 2007 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Graffiti is Graffiti regardless of where it is, or what the target is...
It doesn't matter if it's a Quaker statue that got tagged!!
So this is news? Keep racism OUT of this! The guy just made a statement about selena doesn't mean he is a biggot or hillbilly. I myself am tired about hearing of Selena...SO Thadeus is not a fan. I am Not a fan myself, and I am of mexican descent. Not everyone that is latino is a fan you know. I was a fan in her early years with the Dinos and then her father tried to cash out. I lost interest when the radio started playing her music to the bone...Now I go nuts when I hear a Selena song, just tired of all the hoopla and overplay... Just quit with the stereotypes. let her Rest in Peace.
Posted by jpr110902 on July 24, 2007 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The bottom line is Corpus Christi can not be a sparkling city by the sea with such ugly display of trying to claim ownership of property. If the taggers would work and pay taxes then they would think twice before destroying the City's property. Shame on you taggers and eventually you will get caught!!!!
Posted by tjcox on July 24, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We live in a beautiful city, and one that has so much potential. I often agree that the people running this city do not want to change in a forward moving direction, they want to keep it status quo. This has much to do with everyone saying, blah blah there's nothing to do here blah blah. I agree! Which brings me to my point...
The taggers have nothing to do with how the city is run
(it's the fact that you live in that "go no where town" and actually expect more from it and it's hypocritical "conservative "leaders),
they are little criminals who are defacing private and public property because they haven't been taught the value of hard work and respecting the property of others. People should not be sterotyped, criminal behavior knows no race, it is what it is. These criminals should be charged and made to work off their debt first by scrubbing up the graffiti, and second by volunteering with less fortunate people.
Posted by fresacrema65 on July 24, 2007 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't want to criticize the police because I am sure there may be some reasonable explanation as to why the taggers are not being caught. But why not guard the areas that are being hit over and over again?
"We wash it up and they come back three or four days later and tag it again," Mikolajczyk said. "It's a never-ending process."
Is the pd trying to catch these taggers in the act - that is what I want to know.
Posted by jimd on July 24, 2007 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If I had to bet, 90% of the taggers are hispanic bangers.....as groups like LULAC, GI Forum, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce sit back and don't take a leading role in trying to install etiquette, consideration of other's property and just plain good ole wholesome values in their brown brothers. It's a cycle that will never be broken....kids breeding kids.
Need to set up a free vasectomy clinic for the 18 year old macho men who get their chulas pregnant and then take off only to repeat the act again.
Posted by racerrick22 on July 24, 2007 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JimD you hit the nail squarely on the head. Those groups do nothing but promote racism. It's been going on for thirty years or more. They are taught to poke the eyes of the white man starting at birth. Sad but true. Why? I don't know. This town is 70% hispanic yet all we here is how the hispanics are miss treated, blah, blah, blah. The song hasn't changed for three decades. If you want a real eye operner, go the the Social Security Office anytime of day and look around. You'd expect to see gray hair folks there yet all I see is young hispanics covered in gang tatoos, male and female, with several small kids running around terrorizing the other citizens. Why? Because when a gang member is shot or stabbed, the tax payers have to pay for them and there kids for the rest of there life because they aren't able to work. What a joke. That's why SS is going broke but, you never hear a word about it in the news. A great lie is being laid on the American people...is it ever going to stop? And you ask, where are the parents....smoking crack and teaching the kids all the bad stuff that we see in the streets of CC. It's terrible whats happened to Corpus Christi (the body of Christ) in the last 30 years. It hasn't always been this way as the old folks know. Very sad.
Posted by josegutz on July 24, 2007 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with what jimd said. It's about time LULAC and GIFORUM got into this and spoke out to the public about the young hispanic population getting these (chulas) pregnant then NOT being responsible for their actions. They are bangers alright...Bang and leave...and bang again. More awareness is needed.
Posted by rhdj on July 24, 2007 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does it really matter what race the taggers were.... No way! For years I heard about how the hispanic was treated like a second class citizen, I was young.. I said , nah this town is a hispanic majority, no way. Then I entered the work force and found out the hard way, it is true. Even with a college education I was treated badly. The stories I can tell you! The main problem is people make assumption based on race without even knowing the person. Think about it ..are hispanics the only ones that have the problems pointed out in the posts above, the answer is NO. My dad was in the GI forum, never did I here a racist word out of his mouth, but you assume the worst. My parents taught me respect for everyboby, yet you assume. I have been to the SS office with my mother several times, seems diverisity is alive and well there, you see want you want to see and ignore the big picture to fit your view. Odds are the taggers were hispanic, I do have eyes and see what is going on in this town. I disagree with the idea that hispanics are breed to hate. Do not let the action of a few define our hispanic population, the same can be done for everybody if you really wanted. It bothers me when thugs give hispanics a bad name, but it bothers me when the assumption is made we are all thugs. It bring tears to my eyes to read the hate in some of these posts. Why?!
Posted by rhdj on July 24, 2007 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Taggers disrespected everybody with their action. Everyboby should be be up in arms against them. The police can not do it alone, we need to get involved and watch our streets, this is happening in every part of town. If we work together, this can be stopped. The people in our block watch and listen for trouble and try to stop it if possible. It started with minor problems, but we got together and stopped before it was a major problem. We outnumber them(taggers) this can work.
Posted by josegutz on July 24, 2007 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rhdj,
No hate from me brother...We are all brothers here. Every man is a brother to another. I just think it's time to get along and work together.
Posted by kennymc69 on July 24, 2007 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, I never knew racism was so strong in Corpus Christi. It doesnt matter what race these taggers are, the fact of the matter is, what they are doing is NOT ART!!! By population numbers hispanics definitely outnumber any race in our city, but to make racist remarks and say hispanic organizations should control their people is just dispicable. Its people like you that give this city a bad name. The hispanic population is strong in Corpus Christi, but not all hispanics are pregnant chulas, or gangbangers, and to suggest otherwise is disgusting. Why don't you take a look at yourself, and figure out what you can do to help with the problem. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
Posted by josegutz on July 24, 2007 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Look around and see...It's sad.
too bad...can't do anything on my part but pray.
Posted by arthur6889 on July 24, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am part of the tagger problem, yessiree, bobby, sure am. And, I'm staying that way.
Why? Because at one time I was surrounded by gang members called the "Ace of Spades". Left their mark all over the neighborhood.
Being a neighbor and being friendly, I endured myself to them.
I asked the father also a gang member (40 year old plus) what the point was for tagging. He wouldnt answer. I wanted him to talk.
Basically it's "their territory". To rob, steal, smoke dope, sell dope, protect their sisters, mothers and themselves. An Hispanic man had erected a long wooden fence. Next morning completely covered with their "messages".
A garage at the intersection of two streets tagged so often it probably has 20 coats of cover-up paint.
A friend told me when school lets out, they will sleep until noon, boredom will set it, then it starts breaking out., when school starts back up the hard core will be dodging the truant officers.
In my neighborhood they like empty houses to smoke blunts and plan.
The Selena statue was a gift to the citizens of Corpus Christi. Some people have contrary opinions about its location. And, depending on visual impressions what defines vandalism. When the statue first went up the city had to erect a barrier to protect the site from writing on the brick flooring and statue.
It must be some kind of human necessity to express grief by writing and disrespect for oneself by tagging.
When you sincerely ask them why they do the things they do, they have a similiar sincere response, "because that's the way we are".
Posted by ord2001mike on July 24, 2007 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
taggers.... ??... is it really cool to call yourself a "tagger" now? how lame is that... what should really be done is a look into the life of a tagger.... then look at the older taggers and show the world what losers they really are, and maybe then, kids will see the light...
also, for those who don't like this city.... get the f**k out then... whats stopping you? this city could do with less of your crappy attitude...
Posted by jimd on July 24, 2007 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When tagging is considered cool, and LULAC does not take an active role against it, you best know it's time to get out, which I did. Mama didn't raise no fool.
Enjoy your "art", pander to your criminals.
Posted by natasofthedeepestpitofhell on July 24, 2007 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If only they had not shot the guy with the machete...
If we could have redrected his anger and machete toward the taggers our problems would be solved...somewhat.
Where is Karl Childers when you need him?
Posted by thadaeus on July 25, 2007 at 6:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
1) no – im not related to Duke or Thurmond, and I HAVE moved to MUCH “greener” pastures…I was born and bred in Sparkling City by the Sea, but I currently reside in Washington DC. Question for you, though…what “praise” and “adulation” does the statue bring to CC? My conservatism has nothing to do with latinos who have nothing to hold them up other than the memory of a MILDLY famous celebrity. Let’s all just hope that Eva Longoria doesn’t bite the dust…if, God forbid, that ever happened, there would sightings of her likeness in tortillas all over South Texas for years to come. And yes – I DO support President Bush, and I DO back the war (Ive served in it twice so far). As a 14 year veteran STILL serving in our military, I PROUDLY support the war and our great President.
2) YES, I was a fan of Selena (albeit not a “huge” one), and I AM Latino. I danced many a night to her music at Hollywood Nights back in the ‘90s, and I had her first 2 CDs. I don’t deny Selena’s celebrity. But I don’t pretend it was greater than it was. Im sure the story caught the attention of international media – but im also sure it wasn’t as “huge” a story as you remember it being. I was HERE in the US – stationed in North Carolina, and I DISTINCTLY remember the story being a “news tidbit” on NC tv stations.
3) I admit – I’m uneducated as to the origins of the statue – and the ethnic persuasion of said philanthropist is irrelevant. The fact still remains – Selenas father exploits her existence. The fact still remains – were it not for the movie on her life, she would have faded away into obscurity. The fact remains - the city is SPENDING MONEY cleaning up graffiti on that statue…and the fact still remains – that is money that could be better spent by the city.
Posted by jimd on July 25, 2007 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The graffiti is bad enough, but one of the most despicable acts is when Selena's adorers steal flowers from others graves at Seaside Memorial to place on her grave. What scum, what disrespect! This (inconsiderate) culture has no respect for others' property or feelings.
Posted by thadaeus on July 25, 2007 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL at selena addorers stealing flowers from other graves at Seaside Memorial park to place on her grave.
Posted by narc on July 25, 2007 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Isn't the term hispanic or latino referring to ethnicity and not race? Is there a hispanic race, and if so, who is winning?
Posted by arthur6889 on July 25, 2007 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
narc: now that's interesting enough to respond to.
In my opinion there is no such thing as a Latino. I'm not even sure Hispanic is correct.
At one time in human history there was a thing called the Roman Empire that spread its influence like any good Empire.
It seems to me they spoke a language called LATIN, I might be wrong?
From them came the so-called ROMANance languages. As I barely remember, I think they were SPANISH, FRENCH, ITALIAN, and ROMANian.
Sometime or another the ROMAN Catholic Church started and began their own religious influence.
Along comes somebody named Columbus a ROMANance language speaker who heads out over the deep blue sea to parts unknown. He "finds/discovers" a virgin country already "found" a hundred times before.
His second or third trip he is accompanied by Catholic priests who condon stealing anybody's gold because after all he's not paying for the voyage. Queen Isabella is. And, also condoned is the burning of "savages" accumulations of mother-earth knowledge and understandings.
So, these ROMANance languages priests began teaching the savages a ritual called, "Holy Mass", spoken not in savagery but a new language for them called, LATIN.
Well, time went on and the Catholic religion grew in leaps and bounds. After a while this "virgin" land who had never been discovered was called, "LATIN AMERICA".
Then to add insult to injury. Christopher Columbus began calling the savages "Indio". And, from that day forward all the savages in South and North America were called "Indians" , because he thought they were from the continent INDIA.
Ask an old timer "savage/indian" what he is and he will say, not indian and certainly not savage, but something like Apache, or Dakota, or flat-nose, or Nez-Pierce or something like that. What does Eskimo mean? PEOPLE.
And, what happened to ROMANance speaker Columbo? They got mad at him and when died they buried him in an unmarked grave, until it was time to be cool and erect a statue for him
I really don't thing any HISPANIC or LATINO can speak low, middle or high LATIN. Well, maybe some Catholic Priest at high and Holy Mass.
Posted by jimd on July 26, 2007 at 8:27 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by josegutz on July 26, 2007 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who's laughing now? Hmm? Not all are chulas but a HECK of a lot (majority) are...
http://www.caller.com/news/2007/jul/25/t...
And sadly the highest rate is among latinas, which is what was all over the news these past few days.
So this is why we fail...because of irresponsible mentality and denial of failure. Keep it up and see where this society takes you.
I know we all have choices and we all start by raising our children responsibly.
Posted by louie_8201 on July 26, 2007 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thadaeus and the rest of you HATERS no one cares about your racial comments. Keep your pie hole shut and deal with LIFE. If unhappy do us ALL a favor and crawl back under the rock you came from. Blah, blah, blah.
Posted by louie_8201 on July 26, 2007 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thadaeus what a pathetic name.
Posted by changemost256 on July 26, 2007 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is this city so whack w/ art ideas for the youth in your city??
Why cant this city be more like San Antonio and support local artist?
Build something that allows local artist to show there creativity and exression, "real artist"!!! I'm not talking about the kid who just created his/her first throw-up last week!!!! I'm talking about the real dedicated artist out there who have been doing this for a decade+ now, it would really be good for the city to support the youth down there as opposed to what ya'll are doing to them by locking them up for a weekend until Mom or Dad gets a hold of them. A program will bring a lot of the youth together plus if it starts around the city again "in an illegal manner" well all the cops would have to do is go to the "local artist spot provided by the city" and find the same artist name there and bam, you will have your suspect. Simple!
-proud artist
LOVE ART NOT HATE!
Posted by craney106 on July 26, 2007 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Officer B. Teed said he knows of 32 tagging crews with 100 members. Well, the job is not finished is it ? I am not a cop, but I think next comes 100 warrents. Then Judge, Your Honer, sir..I suggest 200 hours community service for each tagger and no more than 30 days to do the time. This tagging could be under control with-in a week. By the way, one officer? Gee, why can"t the others help???
Posted by arthur6889 on July 26, 2007 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not naming which HEB (we are talking about art?), but there is a young Hispanic girl who is absolutely and stunningly beautiful.
I saw her today, just glanced, didnt want to stare, and thought, OMG what art is this?
They move her around the store, so she disappears for a time. The face of pure innocence. It almost like you want to fall into her and love her soul.
Posted by baircub on July 27, 2007 at 10:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
changemost256, uhm, not that I'm against art, but I don't consider graffiti and tagging art. I call it vandalism. which is a crime. This is not about supporting art, or not supporting art....this is about going after thugs and criminals...and I don't care what their race, ethnicity, or background, or socioeconomic status is. I don't care if they're misunderstood youth, or angry youth, or troubled youth. They committed a crime, and we need to stop it. There is nothing racist about it. if the taggers were white, or asian, or whatever, I'd say the same thing to them as I would to anyone else. "You do the crime, you pay the consequences." No second chances, no leniency. no slap on the wrist. No, you commit vandalism, you don't get probation, where all that happens is that you get a stern talking to by a judge. Nor should you even go to a juvenile detention facility to sit on your butt and feel sorry for yourself. I don't care if you're some stupid runt of a 14 year old, or even a 12 year old, or a 26 year old, or whatever the age. Here's what you get. You get to face the people who's property you damaged. You get to face the music, and yeah, even have your name published in the paper, along with your photograph even. Maybe a little humiliation would be good for you. Then you get to go out, and pay off your debt to society by cleaning up not only the mess you made, but what other thug brats like yourself have committed. Get hot, get sweat soaked, get sore and exhausted doing a lot of hard work. I hope your arms are sore, and your back aches, and your head pounds. Because that's what the property owners have to put up with cleaning after the mess you brats have made. And these gangbanger thugs talk about how they demand respect...they deserve no respect at all, until they've EARNED respect HONORABLY! And that's by being a good and decent citizen, not some stupid punk thug.
Posted by dannoynted1 on July 29, 2007 at 2:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why don't y'all build a WALL for them ?
Posted by dannoynted1 on July 29, 2007 at 3:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
U could call it the taggers wall of fame or frame.
Posted by dannoynted1 on July 29, 2007 at 3:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jimd and ricko are bred to hate......they are the problem with "workforce/source" issues.
They hate because it is the "macho" thing to do where they come from and I would be surprised if they even have kids.
This is the reason they want to throw away education.
I especially believe they do not care about anyone in the Body of Christ except themselves.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Civics Failure in Public Education
March 02, 2007
Civics Failure in Public Education
Paul Soglin:
While everyone is weighing in on the best way to teach our kids, I cannot get over the failure to educate youngsters about American institutions.
The more inclusive and more truthful curriculum about our nation's history that is taught today is a vast step forward. However, when I graduated from high school I could discuss the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the the Declaration of Independence and their inherent contradictions. I knew the three branches of government and their powers.
There are some teachers who emphasize civics. A great teacher friend recently mentioned "if we're doing such a good job with the students, why are so few people asking questions of our government?" Posted by Jim Zellmer at March 2, 2007 05:17 AM
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Civics Failure in Public Education
Paul Soglin:
While everyone is weighing in on the best way to teach our kids, I cannot get over the failure to educate youngsters about American institutions.
The more inclusive and more truthful curriculum about our nation's history that is taught today is a vast step forward. However, when I graduated from high school I could discuss the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the the Declaration of Independence and their inherent contradictions. I knew the three branches of government and their powers.
There are some teachers who emphasize civics. A great teacher friend recently mentioned "if we're doing such a good job with the students, why are so few people asking questions of our government?" Posted by Jim Zellmer at March 2, 2007 05:17 AM
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Friday, April 06, 2007
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Scott Elliff among CCISD final four candidates
By adriana garza Caller-Times
April 6, 2007
CCISD trustees will consider at least one local candidate when they resume discussion about superintendent candidates at their Monday meeting.
Corpus Christi Independent School District's Acting Superintendent Scott Elliff confirmed Thursday that he was one of four candidates for the job and that board members interviewed him in closed session Wednesday.
The board has disclosed neither the names nor the home districts of the remaining candidates.
According to state law, school boards are not required to reveal the names of candidates until they are designated finalists. The law does not define what makes a candidate a finalist.
According to an agenda released Thursday, board members are expected to discuss their notes and thoughts from the interviews in closed session, which could begin as early as the board's budget workshop at 3 p.m. if time permits, said Board President Louis Garza.
Also on the agenda is the discussion and possible action regarding finalist or finalists for position of superintendent.
"I am hopeful we will come up with some facsimile of a finalist or finalists," Garza said.
Trustee John Longoria said that he is sure some type of action will be taken, adding that board members won't know who the finalists may be until all members discuss scores given to each candidate.
During a series of public meetings where board members received community input for the superintendent profile, dozens of community members expressed support for Elliff, who has served as acting superintendent since August.
More than half of the approximately 900 people who responded to an on-line survey about the superintendent profile earlier this year indicated they favored a local candidate for the job.
Contact Adriana Garza at 886-3618 or HYPERLINK mailto:garzaa@caller.com garzaa@caller.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bring CCISD selection process into light of day
The secrecy surrounding the current search for a new superintendent is indefensible. Did we learn nothing from the previous fiasco?
April 6, 2007
The selection process that will ultimately produce a finalist for superintendent of the Corpus Christi Independent School District is up and running.
On Wednesday the trustees interviewed four candidates for the post - including Scott Elliff, interim superintendent since the resignation of Jesus Chavez in February 2006.
<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://adsremote.scripps.com/event.ng/Type=click&FlightID=2033826&AdID=2041322&TargetID=2016958&Targets=2028094,2009209,2001053,2003385,2017031,2004033,2009540,2016958,2006392,2023725,2024418,2027983&RawValues=&Redirect=http:%2f%2fwww.advertisersite.com"><IMG SRC="http://images.scripps.com/1x1.gif" WIDTH=120 HEIGHT=600 BORDER=0></A>
That much we know of a certainty. It also seems safe to assume that the four individuals in question could fairly be considered the finalists from the field of 25 applicants who were being considered for the position.
However, should we at this late date be dealing in "seems" and "assume" when it comes to the process that will determine who is to lead the city's largest school district?
The question arises: Why has the Board of Trustees gone to such lengths to keep the public from getting anything more than a fleeting glimpse of the action? After all, the previous superinten-dent hunt, which saw Shoney Bria first accept, then decline the post, was grievously marred by the secrecy that surrounded it.
But - again - the board apparently believes that the releasing of names could prove ruinous for the applicants back in their home districts.
That, however, looks more and more like a smoke screen. School districts throughout the length and breadth of the nation are seeking leaders, and up-and-coming administrators are looking to move into superintendencies in larger districts.
The curtain of confidentiality is, at long last, nonsensical. More to the point, it does a disservice to the community. Consider: As matters now stand, we do not even know how many of the contenders will find favor with the trustees and be presented to the public. It could be one. Then again, it could be two, perhaps even three.
Concern for confidentiality is, or should be, trumped by another, vastly more important consideration: the public's right to know, and its right to have at least some role to play in the process.
The trustees' refusal to lay out the cards is beyond irritating; it borders on the outrageous.
Particularly disturbing is the fact that three new trustees elected last year - Carol Scott, John Longoria and Dwayne Hargis, all of whom emphasized their intent to bring new openness to the board - appear to have bought into the mum's-the-word ethos that has dominated this exercise.
To be sure, they (and their colleagues) could, and should, reverse their field - but the time remaining in which to keep this selection process from being grievously tainted is rapidly running out.
Editorial~4/6/2007
Scott Elliff among CCISD final four candidates
By adriana garza Caller-Times
April 6, 2007
CCISD trustees will consider at least one local candidate when they resume discussion about superintendent candidates at their Monday meeting.
Corpus Christi Independent School District's Acting Superintendent Scott Elliff confirmed Thursday that he was one of four candidates for the job and that board members interviewed him in closed session Wednesday.
The board has disclosed neither the names nor the home districts of the remaining candidates.
According to state law, school boards are not required to reveal the names of candidates until they are designated finalists. The law does not define what makes a candidate a finalist.
According to an agenda released Thursday, board members are expected to discuss their notes and thoughts from the interviews in closed session, which could begin as early as the board's budget workshop at 3 p.m. if time permits, said Board President Louis Garza.
Also on the agenda is the discussion and possible action regarding finalist or finalists for position of superintendent.
"I am hopeful we will come up with some facsimile of a finalist or finalists," Garza said.
Trustee John Longoria said that he is sure some type of action will be taken, adding that board members won't know who the finalists may be until all members discuss scores given to each candidate.
During a series of public meetings where board members received community input for the superintendent profile, dozens of community members expressed support for Elliff, who has served as acting superintendent since August.
More than half of the approximately 900 people who responded to an on-line survey about the superintendent profile earlier this year indicated they favored a local candidate for the job.
Contact Adriana Garza at 886-3618 or HYPERLINK mailto:garzaa@caller.com garzaa@caller.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bring CCISD selection process into light of day
The secrecy surrounding the current search for a new superintendent is indefensible. Did we learn nothing from the previous fiasco?
April 6, 2007
The selection process that will ultimately produce a finalist for superintendent of the Corpus Christi Independent School District is up and running.
On Wednesday the trustees interviewed four candidates for the post - including Scott Elliff, interim superintendent since the resignation of Jesus Chavez in February 2006.
<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://adsremote.scripps.com/event.ng/Type=click&FlightID=2033826&AdID=2041322&TargetID=2016958&Targets=2028094,2009209,2001053,2003385,2017031,2004033,2009540,2016958,2006392,2023725,2024418,2027983&RawValues=&Redirect=http:%2f%2fwww.advertisersite.com"><IMG SRC="http://images.scripps.com/1x1.gif" WIDTH=120 HEIGHT=600 BORDER=0></A>
That much we know of a certainty. It also seems safe to assume that the four individuals in question could fairly be considered the finalists from the field of 25 applicants who were being considered for the position.
However, should we at this late date be dealing in "seems" and "assume" when it comes to the process that will determine who is to lead the city's largest school district?
The question arises: Why has the Board of Trustees gone to such lengths to keep the public from getting anything more than a fleeting glimpse of the action? After all, the previous superinten-dent hunt, which saw Shoney Bria first accept, then decline the post, was grievously marred by the secrecy that surrounded it.
But - again - the board apparently believes that the releasing of names could prove ruinous for the applicants back in their home districts.
That, however, looks more and more like a smoke screen. School districts throughout the length and breadth of the nation are seeking leaders, and up-and-coming administrators are looking to move into superintendencies in larger districts.
The curtain of confidentiality is, at long last, nonsensical. More to the point, it does a disservice to the community. Consider: As matters now stand, we do not even know how many of the contenders will find favor with the trustees and be presented to the public. It could be one. Then again, it could be two, perhaps even three.
Concern for confidentiality is, or should be, trumped by another, vastly more important consideration: the public's right to know, and its right to have at least some role to play in the process.
The trustees' refusal to lay out the cards is beyond irritating; it borders on the outrageous.
Particularly disturbing is the fact that three new trustees elected last year - Carol Scott, John Longoria and Dwayne Hargis, all of whom emphasized their intent to bring new openness to the board - appear to have bought into the mum's-the-word ethos that has dominated this exercise.
To be sure, they (and their colleagues) could, and should, reverse their field - but the time remaining in which to keep this selection process from being grievously tainted is rapidly running out.
Editorial~4/6/2007
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Tagged by Corpus Christi police, 2 teens were arrested at King High School
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Students arrested after cars tagged
March 31, 2007
Corpus Christi police arrested two 15-year-old boys Friday after several cars were spray painted on the 5000 block of Bevly Drive early Sunday, police said.
Residents on Bevly Drive near Janssen Drive woke up Sunday morning to find 11 cars tagged with blue spray paint that caused more than $2,000 in estimated damages, police Capt. David Cook said.
Police received an anonymous tip that keyed them toward two King High School students, Cook said. The teens were arrested at King High School on suspicion of criminal mischief, he said.
They remained in the Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center on Friday evening, police said.
- David Kassabian
Officials at the Corpus Christi Police Department provided this information. Numbered addresses refer to block numbers
Students arrested after cars tagged
March 31, 2007
Corpus Christi police arrested two 15-year-old boys Friday after several cars were spray painted on the 5000 block of Bevly Drive early Sunday, police said.
Residents on Bevly Drive near Janssen Drive woke up Sunday morning to find 11 cars tagged with blue spray paint that caused more than $2,000 in estimated damages, police Capt. David Cook said.
Police received an anonymous tip that keyed them toward two King High School students, Cook said. The teens were arrested at King High School on suspicion of criminal mischief, he said.
They remained in the Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center on Friday evening, police said.
- David Kassabian
Officials at the Corpus Christi Police Department provided this information. Numbered addresses refer to block numbers
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Ken Brunkenhoefer, 65, said police caught the taggers who had sprayed bicycle-sized symbols and vulgar words on his fence.
Click here to view a larger image.
Todd Yates/Caller-Times
Sarra Humpal, a 16-year-old junior at Carroll High School, sits in front of a 50-foot mural that she painted during spring break. The homeowner was fed up with looking at graffiti.
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Carroll junior gives taggers the brushoff
Sarra Humpal's 50-foot mural replaces graffiti
By Mike Baird Caller-Times
March 26, 2007
Thwarting graffiti turned out to be an artistic delight for Carroll High School's Sarra Phea Humpal - and she was paid $160 to do it. "I really hate graffiti," said Sarra, a junior and the school newspaper's graphic artist. "One spray ruins property, it's distasteful and ugly."
During spring break Sarra, a 6-foot 1-inch-tall 16-year-old, designed and painted a 50-foot mural over gang symbols on the back of a private-property privacy fence that faced the playground at Jones Elementary, her former school.
Property owner Ken Brunkenhoefer, 65, said police caught the taggers who had sprayed bicycle-sized symbols and vulgar words on his fence. "I had to do something with it, but smearing paint over it would stand out," said the insurance claims adjuster.
Brunkenhoefer said he "killed two birds," ridding his fence of graffiti and helping Sarra with money for her senior trip to Europe. He bought supplies - primary-colored paints that Sarra mixed into more than a dozen colors. Sarra said her height helped her paint the fence without a stool.
Brunkenhoefer is concerned that the painting could be tagged with graffiti, but said he is willing to have it repainted as necessary. He wished his next door neighbors would have their fences painted, too, so the children could enjoy them, even though his neighbors' fences haven't been tagged.
He, Sarra; her mother, Lissa Humpal; and a friend, Lauren Barker, began priming the defaced fence March 15.
"It snowballed," said Lissa Humpal, a teacher for 16 years. "The white base paint seeped through the wood and it was a lot of work brushing it thick enough into the course grooves of the wood." But Sarra remained steadfast, working daylong through Sunday when she put the final touches on 5-foot smiling flowers, butterflies and bunnies.
Many of the children and parents in his neighborhood have said they really enjoyed the painting, Brunkenhoefer said.
Onlookers appreciate the change Sarra brought to the playground. "Isn't it cool?" said Galen Hoffstadt, principal at the elementary. "I came in this weekend and went, 'Oh my gosh we have a new mural.' "
She learned Wednesday it was created by a former student.
"Sarra was always one of those great gals who believed when life gave you lemons, you should make lemonade," Hoffstadt said. "She turned that rudeness into beautiful art. What talent."
Hoffstadt e-mailed her colleagues after lunch.
"It looks like we have our own Mighty Marlin (the school's mascot) painter angel," Hoffstadt's e-mail to teachers and administrators read. "Let's say thank-you to Sarra for our delightful new view by helping her fund her trip." The principal told the faculty that an envelope for donations will be in her office until the end of the month.
The trip to London, Rome, Venice, Pompeii and Paris - all in three weeks next July - was worth having come back to school Monday with green, white and yellow acrylic paint highlights in her auburn hair, Sarra said.
"My friends were like, 'What's in your hair?' " Sarra said.
Her reply: "It's the European countryside."
Sarra always has been artistic, her mother said. While other children chalked sidewalks with hopscotch boxes, Sarra drew cartoon characters, Humpal said. "Sarra made ice-box drawings like all little kids," Humpal said, "but she didn't just color a blue house, it had three shades of blue." Sarra learned highlighting and shading skills as a sixth-grader at Grant Middle School, her mother said. "After that her drawings were always chosen for display at the art museum or the mall."
Sarra qualified last month for the state competition in the University Interscholastic League's Visual Arts Scholastic Event, coming up next month in Houston, said Tony Armadillo, her teacher in her advanced placement art design class.
Last year she won second place.
"Sarra is a great person," said Armadillo, an art teacher for 30 years, "who will bring great changes to any community."
Contact Mike Baird at 886-3774 or HYPERLINK mailto:bairdm@caller.com bairdm@caller.com
Todd Yates/Caller-Times
Sarra Humpal, a 16-year-old junior at Carroll High School, sits in front of a 50-foot mural that she painted during spring break. The homeowner was fed up with looking at graffiti.
PRINT THIS STORY | E-MAIL THIS STORY
Carroll junior gives taggers the brushoff
Sarra Humpal's 50-foot mural replaces graffiti
By Mike Baird Caller-Times
March 26, 2007
Thwarting graffiti turned out to be an artistic delight for Carroll High School's Sarra Phea Humpal - and she was paid $160 to do it. "I really hate graffiti," said Sarra, a junior and the school newspaper's graphic artist. "One spray ruins property, it's distasteful and ugly."
During spring break Sarra, a 6-foot 1-inch-tall 16-year-old, designed and painted a 50-foot mural over gang symbols on the back of a private-property privacy fence that faced the playground at Jones Elementary, her former school.
Property owner Ken Brunkenhoefer, 65, said police caught the taggers who had sprayed bicycle-sized symbols and vulgar words on his fence. "I had to do something with it, but smearing paint over it would stand out," said the insurance claims adjuster.
Brunkenhoefer said he "killed two birds," ridding his fence of graffiti and helping Sarra with money for her senior trip to Europe. He bought supplies - primary-colored paints that Sarra mixed into more than a dozen colors. Sarra said her height helped her paint the fence without a stool.
Brunkenhoefer is concerned that the painting could be tagged with graffiti, but said he is willing to have it repainted as necessary. He wished his next door neighbors would have their fences painted, too, so the children could enjoy them, even though his neighbors' fences haven't been tagged.
He, Sarra; her mother, Lissa Humpal; and a friend, Lauren Barker, began priming the defaced fence March 15.
"It snowballed," said Lissa Humpal, a teacher for 16 years. "The white base paint seeped through the wood and it was a lot of work brushing it thick enough into the course grooves of the wood." But Sarra remained steadfast, working daylong through Sunday when she put the final touches on 5-foot smiling flowers, butterflies and bunnies.
Many of the children and parents in his neighborhood have said they really enjoyed the painting, Brunkenhoefer said.
Onlookers appreciate the change Sarra brought to the playground. "Isn't it cool?" said Galen Hoffstadt, principal at the elementary. "I came in this weekend and went, 'Oh my gosh we have a new mural.' "
She learned Wednesday it was created by a former student.
"Sarra was always one of those great gals who believed when life gave you lemons, you should make lemonade," Hoffstadt said. "She turned that rudeness into beautiful art. What talent."
Hoffstadt e-mailed her colleagues after lunch.
"It looks like we have our own Mighty Marlin (the school's mascot) painter angel," Hoffstadt's e-mail to teachers and administrators read. "Let's say thank-you to Sarra for our delightful new view by helping her fund her trip." The principal told the faculty that an envelope for donations will be in her office until the end of the month.
The trip to London, Rome, Venice, Pompeii and Paris - all in three weeks next July - was worth having come back to school Monday with green, white and yellow acrylic paint highlights in her auburn hair, Sarra said.
"My friends were like, 'What's in your hair?' " Sarra said.
Her reply: "It's the European countryside."
Sarra always has been artistic, her mother said. While other children chalked sidewalks with hopscotch boxes, Sarra drew cartoon characters, Humpal said. "Sarra made ice-box drawings like all little kids," Humpal said, "but she didn't just color a blue house, it had three shades of blue." Sarra learned highlighting and shading skills as a sixth-grader at Grant Middle School, her mother said. "After that her drawings were always chosen for display at the art museum or the mall."
Sarra qualified last month for the state competition in the University Interscholastic League's Visual Arts Scholastic Event, coming up next month in Houston, said Tony Armadillo, her teacher in her advanced placement art design class.
Last year she won second place.
"Sarra is a great person," said Armadillo, an art teacher for 30 years, "who will bring great changes to any community."
Contact Mike Baird at 886-3774 or HYPERLINK mailto:bairdm@caller.com bairdm@caller.com
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