Winter
Vacation Assignment-BLOG POST
Directions: In
preparation for the argument essay we will be writing after the break, please watch the National Geographic video on
MS 13 gang on either of the following 2 links (I found that the YouTube link is
better since there are no unwanted interruptions). Then, post a comment (1-2 paragraphs) to one of the
following prompts and a response to
someone else’s comment (1 paragraph) on the blog.
Video
links:
Prompt (choose one): What role
does self-esteem play in the individuals in the video joining the MS 13 gang
and making decisions that are life-altering?
or
What choices do you see the gang members making in this video? How do these choices create conflict?
or
What choices do you see the gang members making in this video? How do these choices create conflict?
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ReplyDeleteIt is quite evident that the use of self-esteem plays a big part in the recruitment process for new members for MS-13. Most, if not all, of the members are from low-income areas, such as the “ghettos” of Los Angeles or poor countries in Latin America. These kids probably suffer from a lack of self-esteem having to grow up in a rough environment. Additionally, the guys in the movie were missing some sort of family structure at home, and therefore joined the gang to feel apart of a “family”, something that they never had growing up. For example, in the movie, “Jester”, joined the gang at 8 years old.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, due to low self-esteem and the want to “be somebody”, this also causes people to make decisions that are life-altering. Going back to “Jester”, his want to be important and get respect led him to kill his first man at the age of 9 years old. This is certainly a life-decision that he made because of his low self-esteem. It is evident that throughout the film, the issue of self-esteem, or the lack thereof, causes many young men to join the gang and make life-altering decisions.
I really like how you said that they want to be somebody because a generous amount of the gang members are immigrants from Latin America who believe they can't succeed in the United States and with that in their mind they are forced to join a gang as they think this would provide a future for them and their families.
DeleteI like how you gave a huge summary and let the reader understand what you did. All of the points that you made where vet we'll thought and valid. You included very detailed examples from The story. The one that stood out to me the most was how you said how the people in gangs want to to be somebody and how they make life altering decisions just to be recognized by other members and gain the notoriety that they strive to get. Over all I liked what you included to make this a strong response.
DeleteNico, you did an exceptional job specifically answering the given question . i noticed how you kept the idea of low self-esteem tied to making life-altering decisions, this was also key to fully responding to your prompt. however, i found you could have elaborated more in certain areas, such as; providing a number of examples from the video, and connecting your response more to the documentary and not just the prompt. Good work overall.
DeleteSelf esteem plays a huge role when it comes to joining a gang. when gangs are "recruiting" members their targets are young street children from the ghetto, the children are either orphans or kids that do not have a strong family household. The reason they target children is so they can feel welcome in the gang and feel like they have a family and later on they would be trustworthy members who would die and kill for their gang. For example in the video snoopy was an orphan who felt like the gang was his family and he would do anything for them and jester was in the gang since he was 8 and he isn't afraid to kill anybody to protect his territory or gang.
ReplyDeleteGangs find it easier to target children rather than adults since adults are smarter and wiser than children. Children do not know what good or bad is they do not see life like an adult so it's easier to "teach" children the ways of a gang than it is to teach an adult. also if a kid is taught at young age how a gang works when they mature the gang life would be all they know and they become loyal and trustworthy gang members that would do anything for their gang.
Your point that gangs find it easier to target children rather then adults is very insightful, I had not thought about the innocence of a child's concept of good and bad. This compares to the Nazi's teaching Aryan children at a young age that Jews were bad. MS 13 brain-washes children so they are not affected by the violence and pain they inflict. Because they are recruited at such a young age, they are more likely to respect and adopt the values of authority, which they see in both of these circumstances.
DeleteI like how you interpreted the process of getting into the gang. You specifically explained how they manipulate children at a young age so they are pros by the time they're adults. You said how they start recruiting young kids because they are not as smart. I agree with you because they aren't as smart because they're raised in a home where there's no support & role models.
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ReplyDeleteSelf-esteem is a key factor in what causes the individuals to join MS 13. These members want to spread their word and become someone. They want to be publicized and feel like they've done something, whether it be positive or negative. They grow up in poorer regions and see ways to become big and "important", some good and some bad, unfortunately, the bad choices are the easier routes and are chosen more often. Another way in which self-esteem causes individuals to join the gang is they feel they can do nothing better than shoot someone and do acts of violence, when in all reality they could do acts of kindness and have an even greater, positive effect on the world they live in; caused by an inferiority complex.
ReplyDeleteBy becoming a member of a gang, the person feels that they've achieved self actualized, when in fact the gang causes them to make harmful choices and reduces their autonomy, or individuality, by putting the interest of the gang in front of their own interests and dreams. Lastly, most gang members grew up without as orphans so they have no role model and try to prove their independence and maturity through "masculine" acts of violence. Like Brenda Paz said in her interviews, gang members make the decision to put the gang as one of their main priorities, along with their own family and their faith, two things the average person wouldn't think of mixing up with such violent acts.
You made a great point about how it's much easier to make poor decides than good. This really ties into the theme of self-esteem. A lot of times people are scared to apply themselves to greater goods not in fear of succession but rather in failure. When someone is in an unknown environment and they aren't sure off what to do with there lives it's the easier route to take what's handed to you even if that's a gun than to start from scratch and make something of themselves. Very insightful.
Delete(Posted on behalf of Nico Britton):
DeleteI agree with you when you state that the kids who join the gang are in search of money, respect, and power. All of these kids are from low income regions, such as the "slums" of Los Angeles or poor countries in Latin America. Therefore these kids look toward gangs as "families" in which they will recieve respect, money, and power. For these reasons, joining a gang looks very attractive to these kids. Addtionally, the aristocracy of the gangs, much like the Feudal System in medival Europe, creates a sense of organization, something that has also been absent in lives of gang members.
"First is god, then your mother, then your gang. You live for god, you live for your mother, you die for your gang."
ReplyDeleteThese priorities lay down the foundation for the choices that members of MS 13 make. Many of the members are orphans, who do not have mothers to live for. Some find a love in the gang that they did not have at home. This motivation plus the threat to “join us or die” makes becoming a member of MS 13 a more attractive choice. But this choice to be loyal to the gang can create moral tension and violent conflicts. Once a person gets “jumped in” they have now chosen to follow MS rules. Members will do anything for their gang. As devotion grows, so do the requirements. Members must shoot an enemy to prove their loyalty and bravery. This creates tension between gangs and stimulates violence. They are also required to protect their territory. If an enemy is seen on their terf, they do not think twice about killing that person. “Territory is worth killing for.” How can gang members, so recently children, choose to commit these acts of violence? A former member illustrates it as if someone had put a curtain over his eyes. “Your mind closes off to reality, it’s like you live in darkness.” They did these things blindly, for the gang.
Members who were not blinded so effectively become “rats”. The choice to help the police can put them in conflict with other members of the gang. If they are found out, MS 13’s justice system will kick in. “Check courting” is when members beat up one of their own, for that person’s wrongdoing. This ritual can result in broken bones, internal bleeding and in some cases death. Moral conflict can also occur when this decision is made. One woman, who was part of MS 13, ratted them out, and despite her sorry continence, invited them into her safe house to party. These same friends stabbed her to death after finding that she talked to police. “Once you’re in MS 13 you’re in for life.” Members who choose to leave are held in a prison for their own safety. They face death for their disloyalty. The crucial choice is loyalty to MS 13, after this decision, endless consequences and conflicts await.
Camille,
DeleteYou very thoughtfully outline the choices or rather-the lack of choices-the members of MS 13 have at hand. The quote you start your post with stood out to me as well in the video as dramatic and chilling, especially in the light that the woman who so genuinely confesses it-is killed by her MS "friends" shortly after. I have had numerous conversations with students and former students about this topic and I am always stunned into silence by this idea of "choice-less choices". For many, NOT belonging is NOT a choice. I am still wondering, though, how much or to what extent this is true...
I like your point on how members can be blinded by the gang because they close your mind off to reality. One way they can close members minds off to reality like you mentioned is making the choice more attractive by saying "join or die."
DeleteGang members of MS 13 make it their responsibility to protect their territory. They will kill rivalry gang members if they are on MS 13 streets. If they find another gang member on their streets they will kill them without thinking twice about committing a crime. They do this because they are loyal to MS 13, and they have to follow the rules.
ReplyDeleteMembers of MS 13 often get recruited at a young age. When you are recruited you have to survive a jump in by the other MS 13 members, which last 13 seconds. Then you are told the rules of MS 13. While you are in the gang you have to complete murderous crimes, while protecting your territory.
Basically while you are in this gang you are loyal to them and do everything they tell you to do. It's like they are brain washed and live in a world of murder,money, and drugs. Unfortunately their fate is either sitting in prison for the rest of their life, being hospitalized for participating in a gang brawl, or dying by a rivalry gang member or your own gang member.
Danae,
DeleteYou outline some of the choices and life decisions the members of MS 13 are undertaking. What do these choices say about these members? About their families?
Mrs Dima
The pressing points that guide the decision to join a gang are much more serious than the decision itself. A lot of times these members start out at a very young age. "Jester" received his "jumping in" initiation at the mere age of eight. Young children are influenced easier by what looks "cool" and have not yet developed good judgement in making life-altering choices. They aren't aware of what their life is going to become. Many people who join these gangs feel a void at home. When there are problems at home, people feel the need to break away and venture out to find something that will fill this void. Being apart of a gang provides the sense of family and belonging that they don't have at home. Flore, a member of the 18th Street Gang, stated that when she left hoe at twelve she didn't feel love from her family and she found that love when she joined her gang. This video makes it blatantly apparent that the vast majority of the members of these gangs are illegal immigrants. Going into a new environment can be very difficult; especially when concerns of income and jobs and education arise. There's also a sense of loneliness. Most of these immigrants travel by themselves without any guidance or knowledge of what the show do in this new place. This is exactly what Saul went through when he went out to the US. MS 13 showed him an different life where they would "take care of him" and gave him people he would be able to band with.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is not that of the gang itself, but rather the reasons why people decide to join. If there is a solution to the root of the problem, then all conflicts that arise form it will disperse. Outside influences have great impact on these choices. Issues that effect personal decisions should not excuse wrongdoings. However, if there is a solution to these outside influences so that people are more informed and see alternative lives for themselves, then there will be no more conflicts.
Jodi,
DeleteYour post made me deeper reflect on the intrinsic causes of gang creation. As you outline, we-as a society-should look past the gangs themselves, into the real causes as to why people decide to join: poverty, immigration, lack of societal support for new or undocumented immigrants, survival-in its most basic form-in the end. I believe what you are so genuinely asking is: "How much are we-as a society-at fault?" In reverse-the question that also arises is: " Why do some people cave in to adversity in search of easier solutions, while others manage to stay true to more dignified and humane solutions?"
Your view is incredibly refreshing to see someone taking. Often all the blame is cast onto gang members, which isn't exactly right but it's not totally wrong either. If we look at the source of gangs, they tend to be mainly from low-income areas,where if children have any family at all it's often broken and abusive. Even if gang members come from a good home, like Jester said, they have so many representatives in schools that peer pressure would surely kick in. Is it possible that gangs are inevitable in our society?
DeleteThe choices that the MS 13 gang members greatly affect their lives, like the man who killed Brenda Paz said that they’re only three places you can go if you’re a member of the MS 13. The three paths are jail, the hospital, or death. The ultimate choice of joining the MS 13 gang is negative. Like the gang member Snoopy said “If you make the wrong decisions it can cost you your life.” An example of this is when Brenda Paz after being protected by the police from the MS 13 gang decided to meet up with them and have a party. At the party her friends found a journal that contained evidence that she had ratted them out to the police. Now, that she had made that decision to join up with the gang again it cost her, her life because they found out she had told the police things about the gang she shouldn’t had. For instance if you wanted to leave the gang you couldn’t, they would kill you, because you made the choice to join the gang. Once you become a part of the gang you are locked in for life. So, the choice to join the gang may make you want to quit the gang which creates conflict because if you want to quit the gang you will get killed. There are consequences to joining the gang like Duke had been shot three times, also he said that being in jail wasn’t a big deal because you were in the gang for life and people were ok to still be a part of the gang even if they were in jail. The consequences of joining the MS 13 gang are being shot or stabbed, going to jail, or dying by your own gang or another.
ReplyDeleteIt is clearly evident that the gang members associated with the infamous gang MS-13 have a lack of self esteem but in some way they find a way to mask it with their roughness and toughness.This is what I think a gang is made for, a bunch of kids or adults that lack family structure and a stable support system.i also think that gang members join to get necessities that they cannot get acess to which leads them to commit crimes with others who have the same struggles as them. When the gangs commit brainless and decisions that don't make sense it gives the gang the reputation that most gangs aquire this reputation through out their gang life.when these things happen it causes rival gangs to catch on to them and target them because they might own turf that they want.
ReplyDeleteThese attacks from MS-13 are well organized although the attacks are gorey and disturbing. When the actions are carried out by the members they seem like they have no soul and don't care they took someone's life away. One action that stood out to me was when the pregnant woman who turned informant was murdered by her former gang members and her so called friends.this shows how serious the oath of the gang is "First is god, then your mother, then your gang. You live for god, you live for your mother, you die for your gang." I wonder how the members of the families felt. I got a small inside on how some families deal with these deaths.I never knew about how serous this gang was. Until I seen this video I fondant know that this gang was "the most dangerous gang in the world".
I like how you connected back to the family point of view of these deaths happening in their families. I was not thinking about that and this could help in understanding why these deaths happen and how loyal they are to their gangs that they don't notice the effect it has on their families.since you think that the gangs are well organized why do you think they are? Why do you think after all of these killings and thoughtless bad actions would they have had the need to make it more organized?
Deletei like how you included "the gang's lack of self esteem but in some way they find a way to mask it with their roughness and toughness" because i have to agree with you.in my opinion, that's why some of the gang members decided to remove tattoos or leave the gang. resulting with their death
DeleteIn a gang like ms 13 they don't really have a choice but to do what they are told unfortunately. In the video, I saw many people making many different decisions but the outcome all remains the same. Death. The only way you're leaving is by getting killed. There is proof that there's no easy way out.
ReplyDeleteTake Brenda Pas for an example. She had enough and no longer wanted to be part of the gang. She decided to talk bad about ms-13 and even give some confidential information away . What happened to her? She got murdered by two people who were "friends" with her, who are also associated with the gang.
But then there's the guy who first got interviewed who chose to stay with the gang because he knows that he can't change his life around, so there would be no point. He's been in ms-13 since he was 8 and killing people and selling drugs is the norm for him.
No matter if someone decides to run and hide from ms-13 or continue to kill for them conflict is caused. People in higher power get upset because their drugs aren't being sold or their enemy down the street isn't being shot at. It's gross to think that people live like this but they have no other choice. It's not like an after school program where if you don't have any interest in it you can leave. Because in an after school program your life isn't depending on it. Someone that's been in ms-13 for years knows the routine and knows it is the same everyday unless told so.
In this video I witnessed two people who regret what they've done in the past. Alex Sanchez who is actually one of the guys who started the gang, and then one of Brenda's killers. They are both advising teens to not get involved in any gang activity because it leads to no good. They used their own lives as examples, with one being in jail for life and the other having several people chasing after him wanting him dead. My point is no choice is a good choice in this type of lifestyle. You're in for life.
I agree, i think it's said that kids end up in this type of lifestyle and it's worse some don't realize what they've done or that the MS-13 isn't what they want until it's to late. I also think it;s a shame because even when some do want to change their life around they can't because once your in MS-13 there's no turning back.I liked that you used Brenda Pas as an example. I feel she truly wanted out and wanted a better life for herself, but yet again someone from her past came back to haunt her, and the one that killed her said she wasn't a bad person, she was a nice girl, but he had to do it for his gang, it was life or death for him. It's a shame that at such a young age they have a kill or be killed mindset.
DeleteAs shown in the video low self esteem is very prominent in the members of the ms 13 gang.Many of the members have grown up in rural areas which cause them to have a desire to claim "a real family" many of them being at such young ages like jester, who was first put into the group at age 8.they are told that they will be taken care of and will be helped more. They are blinded by this illusion/ dream.
ReplyDeleteAs described by Brenda Paz, a 17 year old girl who was in Ms 13 at age 13 and ended up being killed because of her decisions.she said that there was only 3 ways to get out of the gang jail, hospital, or death. Many of them kill and Hurt people and do illegal acts to prove loyal to gangs.they have know the 13 rules and they still abide by them knowing if ignoring these rules lead to death.i think they think that to continue killing and honoring their gang that they Will rise respect and will seem more of asset.this still leads to the idea of self esteem and family structure.By doing all the negative things it gets harder to get out of the group and getting a life because you have a life sentence with the gang as shown by freya, the girl who is in the gang 18 and wanted to hide her tattoos to bring a better life to her and her family. After telling them this she went back to to join the gang. I guess you always feel this gratitude to the gang. They are blindly doing these actions and are not let realizing completely who or what they are doing it for thinking this will rank them in their imaginary "family"
I agree with your point about how once you're inside the gang, and have become a member there is no reasonable way out. You stated that once you enter the gang it will be much more difficult to later be capable of starting an effective life for yourself. You are right about how they are very blind to what they are getting themselves into in the beginning, and how difficult it will be to break away from in the future. I personally believe they aren't thinking about their future in the beginning when they first join, they are more concerned with being accepted and gaining some self-esteem.
DeleteSelf esteem is often listed as one of human's five basic needs, and it's no surprise that gangs often form in low class neighborhoods with mainly people of color. Between the racism and class-ism that's faced in such areas, people are often totally outcast from society. It's no surprise that people bond together in such situations, and thus gangs are formed. Violence is likely just a side effect of the previously suppressed anger at basically being forced into such a position, where they have nothing and are expected to give everything. The risk taking behavior exhibited by all gang members(save perhaps the leaders) is borderline suicidal, yet killing others and rising up the ranks(thus raising self esteem) probably provides a sort of 'high' for the person in question. With the targeting of young children, MS 13 has gotten to the point where it's marketable to schoolchildren, through the 'be like your friends' strategy, a common advertising strategy that most of us see day to day when we watch TV. If we were to begin working to sort out racism and class-ism, gangs would dissipate, or at least become less violent. Unfortunately, capitalism actually functions on such oppressions, so a true worldwide revolution would be necessary to destroy gangs. Till then, there's really no good strategy to get rid of any gang, especially MS 13
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ReplyDeleteThrough out the video is it very obvious that self esteem plays a huge role when it comes to joining MS 13. A large amount of MS 13 members come from poor, or broken homes. Some of the members are even orphans. Growing up in these kinds of homes could've led the kids to reach out for the nearest hand that they believed would give them a better life and more successful future, in this case the hands of MS 13. A lot of the kids were young. "Jester" was 8 years old and Brenda was 13. These children craved a family feeling that MS 13 gave them. So MS 13 became theirs saviors and their family.
ReplyDelete"We cover our selves with guns to show the world we are strong, but inside we are weak." By trying to show the world they are strong they make life altering decisions such as killing someone, even their own friends. Brenda was a member of MS 13 who was trying to put her life back together. She hung out with these people, shared meals with these peoples, spent the night with these people. Yet they did not hesitate to pull a knife out on her, stabbing her over a dozen times. Killing her. Now her murderer is in jail unable to go back and change everything. "When you join the world of gangs it's almost as if a curtain was placed over your eyes, and you begin to live in darkness."A large majority of MS 13 members do not see what they do, who they hurt, or the monster they become until they end up behind bars, changing their lives forever.
I agree with you on the point that you said that the members use guns to show the world that they are strong and that they make life altering decisions such as killing someone even their own gang members. The reason why is because in the video Oscar said, "once you join the gang you lose all respect for life, your mind closes off the rest of the world and you're capable of doing anything for the gang." This really shows how self-esteem takes a major role in the choices that the gang members make because they think that they're indestructible and that nothing can happen to them because they have a so called "family" now.
DeleteThe lifestyle of a gangster is one that is controlled by an agenda which pushes violence and therefore, a lot of conflict. Hence, it only takes the act of joing a gang to create a life of conflict for oneself. For hundreds of young Latin Americans who choose this path and join the MS-13's (north Americas largest and most feared gang) conflict begins during initiation, also known as; "jumping in" when new members as young as seven or eight are harshly beaten by older MS-13 members as a welcoming to their family. Conflict continues within the lives of gang members when they have to repeatedly defend the specific streets or "turf" which they have claimed as their own. As a result of fighting other rival gangs for turf many street battles end fatally in which several gang members from either side are killed. These high-risk encounters are the main source of conflict in the lives of most gang members. in addition, the everyday life of an MS-13 often consist of using, but mostly selling a wide variation of illegal drugs. the ever expanding drug market in America has, and for decades been, one of the top causes of conflict in the lives of many young Americans who are born into a life of urban, ghetto, poverty. Furthermore, the decision to join the MS-13's has brought a ton of conflict and grief to the families whose teenagers have chosen this path. This is the same type of conflict which the family of Saul Amaya must have been facing after their boy was brutally murdered by a rival gang member, in what police say was a "drug deal gone wrong". Now the conflict which his family faced has turned into mourning. Lastly, female gang member Brenda Paz made a bad choice in agreeing to talk to authorities about the way of MS-13's, which for MS-13's, was completely forbidden. Conflict aroused once again when older, more powerful gang members figured out her "scheme in the shadows". They eventually killed her, and her unborn child, an event which silenced a community and continues to warn people about the violent conflict that follows the MS-13's
ReplyDeleteWhen people decided to join the gang they know they have recruit people, bring in money for the gang, protect gang's territory & kill the enemy. Their choice to enter a gang effects negatively to society. People are shooting each other because of territory & that violence creates a bad neighborhood for everyone around. Little kids not even in high school are killing people just because it's one of the rules of being in a gang. Gangs out a threat in society making people feel scared or afraid to live in these places. I think it's also society's fault why kids are entering gangs so early.
ReplyDeleteSociety sometimes make kids feel like they are left out or not accepted. Being in a gang can give you that thought that they will accept you no matter just because you're a member of the same gang. Everyone wants to feel accepted somehow in society. And for some people that means joining a gang. The effects of kids joining gangs is they need to recruit. They will end up recruiting kids their age since children are more easy to convince. They will have to either kill, get killed & effect their families. Being a gang effects your family too. You put your family in risk of them being killed if you go against the gang.
Self-esteem is a key factor to why many members of the MS 13 gang chose to join in the first place. The children that are recruited by existing members come from families where they feel unappreciated and as if they do not receive any form of support from their relatives. By joining the MS 13 gang they will gain a degree of feeling accepted, and as if they have a place in the world. They're told that someone will always have their back; this sort of information that they are being fed sounds very appealing and intriguing to them considering they have never felt nurtured or carded for in the past. On the other hand, sadly, by joining into gangs, where they believe they will gain safety, they end up being far more vulnerable and likely to meet an untimely death.
ReplyDeleteKids who lack self-esteem are more vulnerable to participating in gang membership because they feel as if they lack an identity. Being in a gang, although considered a negative identity, is nonetheless something they can identify with. Even if this identity is considered by society as undesirable, it appeals to them because it provides such a powerful sense of belonging to those who feel as if they lack a core identity.
In the video gang members make choices to kill and handle things with aggression and in their own hands. These choices created conflict that could have been avoided by settling things like mature adults, but instead gang members would take matters into their own hands and they would kill people. In the video 17 year old, Brenda Pause was stabbed a dozen times by Oscar Grande because she was a police informant. Gang members made the choice to murder her when the situation could have been handled differently. Brenda was pregnant with her first child and not only did they take he life away, but they took an innocent unborn baby’s life away as well. The choice Oscar choose created conflict between himself because now that he is serving a life sentence he realized that he could have taken a different approach in the situation with Brenda and she could have still been alive today.
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ReplyDeleteI feel that self esteem in a child's life can be the factor that will cause them to make life-altering decisions. In cases where a child's or adolescents self esteem is low due to unsteady family life or lack of family it creates a void for that will use anything. And with MS-13 being the type of gang to "recruit " members at ages as young as 8 and 9, Jester for example, it gives the gang the power to control every action a young member does. Jester, now a veteran in MS-13, age 20, made his first killing at 9 years old. He says he has committed over 20 homicides in the eleven years he's been in MS-13 and killing now is as simple as tying up your shoes, it's become an everyday thing for him and many others in MS-13. This being the due to the fact that MS-13 is looked at as a big family by members, when all it really is a big crime organization that has no mercy.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame because by the time MS-13 members realize what the gang really is it's already to late, they're either dead or in jail. And even if MS-13 members want to leave before either of those two things happen, they can't. Once they're in they're never out. However, this is not just the case with MS-13, this is how it is with all gangs.
In the MS 13 gang, they made many choices to kill, and start problems that could have been avoided. The first problem that should have been walked away from was joining the "jump in game" because that is the beginning of the gang. in my opinion Brenda Pause made the wrong decision of talking to the police, FBI because that is one of the known ways to get killed by a gang."First is god, then your mother, then your gang. You live for god, you live for your mother, you die for your gang." when Brenda said that,she knew exactly what she was talking about.The worst choice you could make is being talked into the game or beaten into it because the gang beat a man to death yelling "join or die" They also train kids to know everything about the gang so that by high school they'll want to join and everything they know will be MS 13
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ReplyDeleteAs seen in the most Dangerous Gang Documentary, low self esteem played an important role in how the member of the gang MS13 came to be. Most of them didn't have a family or a positive role model in their lives since they were orphans and no one seemed to care for them. Once they joined MS13 they felt as if though they had entered a family of people that were there for them didn't plan on being gang members. In the documentary one of the members of the gang, Brenda, had explained how MS13 would go to high schools, middle schools, and juvenile facilities to find kids to recruit. To look at the lives of Snoopy and Jester for example; Jester was only eight years old when he joined the gang, he did everything he was ordered to do including shooting Someone when he was only nine and a half years old! Snoopy didn't have a family so when he joined MS13 he finally felt how it was to "belong". As they became older they started to realize that once they were in the gang they were in it for life and it didn't matter how much guilt they felt from all their wrong doings, they were in it for life.
ReplyDeleteBrenda had joined at thirteen years old and at age seventeen was sent to prison and confessed that everyone was made to believe that "they live for god, they lived for their mother, but died for their gang". She ended up dying in the hands of her gang after confessing to the FBI after being stabbed a dozen times without a reason except for being a "snitch". In the end, everybody wants to fell as if they belong and to be apart of a family with members who look out for one another but forever comes at it's price.
Alex Rosario
ReplyDeleteEnglish 2 Honors
Mrs. Dima
6 February 2014
( Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles)
Perfect Chemistry By Simone Elkeles is a very intriguing book so far. Even though I've only gotten to chapter 7 the book shows me how society looks at kids who grow up in different places, whether its next to the train tracks or has a window view of Lake Michigan. Brittney Ellis grew up next to Lake Michigan, making her popular and seem perfect. Alejandro Fuentes on the other hand grew up next to the train tracks, makings him a "loser"
My book seems to address teenagers with low self esteem and how they act having to deal with it. Brittney Ellis's parents tell her that "outward appearance is everything" . So Brittney try's so hard to make her parents happy and she knows that she is not perfect but is determined to show everyone that she is as perfect as can be. Alejandro Fuentes has grew up in a poor family. Being looked down by everyone who crosses his path, so he joined the Latin blood gang to make himself look big and bad, but at home he try's to convince his brothers not to take the same path him himself took. Alejandro A.K.A Alex wants to leave the Latin blood but knows that the only way out is death.