The Problem With Diversity

Hawaiian Gardens, CA

Southern California is one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the nation. Pretty much every racial group is represented here. This is a good thing. People get exposed to other cultures, have their minds expanded to other possibilities, learn to work and live with people who have a different frame of reference.

Unless they're assholes.

A hundred and fifty members of the Varrio Hawaiian Gardens gang has been hit with a racketeering charge that covers drugs, guns, kidnapping, shooting, intimidation and hate crimes against African Americans. Seems they don't like them. Apparently they have been suggesting for some time that they leave the area.

Forcefully. With guns and knives and, in one instance, a rake.

We're seeing RICO being used more and more against gangs. The Mongols, Vineland Boyz, these guys. But only a few times have they asserted that the crimes are racially motivated.

Locally not a lot of government types seem to want to come out and say that Latino gangs are targeting African Americans. Understandable. Nobody wants more noise. But it's not like it's news. Whether it's true or not, a lot of people believe it. This is why we have things like Jamiel's Law floating around and attempts to kill SO 40.

It's one of those topics that hits almost every hot button issue out there; immigration, gun control, gang violence, racism. It's not going away any time soon and if cities don't start dealing with this issue more openly instead of having the Feds do the heavy lifting, it's not going to go away at all.

So I ask you, assorted freaks who wander by and read my ramblings, what do you think? Got any ideas?