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Tuesday, October 28, 2008 | 10:35am
Maybe I was Wrong About T.I.’s Campaign Against Gun Violence
Although a lighter sentence may still be a motivating factor perhaps he’s geniune in his assertions
Yesterday I got bombarded by a few comments and even more emails concerning T.I.’s motivations behind a new PSA in which the rapper pleads with Atlanta residents who are witnesses to violent crimes to anonymously call crime stopppers. I took offense to his apparent “pro-snitch” campaign because it seemed in poor taste and not genuine coming from an individual recently bagged on serious gun charges. My argument was that his motivation stemmed strictly from a lighter sentence and in effect sold people out for his own benefit. BUT I ADMIT I MIGHT BE WRONG…MIGHT!
In news today, Peace activist and former United Nations ambassador, Andrew Young announced a new documentary that follows rapper T.I. as he works to make amends for a federal firearms conviction. The film “Walking With Guns,” part of a series called “Andrew Young Presents,” was presented by on Sunday in Atlanta. Young, 76, started production on the film earlier this year, shortly after he began to mentor the 28-year-old rapper.
Throughout the film, T.I. is documented visiting patients paralyzed by gang violence, shown ministering with Young to teens on how to avoid violence, and seen chatting with a former gang member who is now a social activist.
“Violence would still be around without guns,” T.I. said during a press conference for the movie premier. “But there would be an increased value of life.”
“Some of my colleagues are disappointed with me taking this young man in,” Young said of T.I. “But sometimes us old folks have to shut up and listen to the young folks to understand where they are coming from.”
Now while T.I. still is under court order to complete community services including warning young people about the pitfalls of guns, gangs and drugs he APPEARS to be not only going beyond the prescribed sentence but personally driven by the mission. I may have jumped the gun and prejudged him yesterday. Although I won’t go as far as to admit I’m totally wrong in my assumption because lets be honest he is motivated by a lighter sentence, he does have a heart and may have been changed by the his arrest and subsequent legal proceedings.
FILED IN Editorials, Movies, Music
After T.I. got arrested for trying to by a whole armada, I think it’s very likely that he wakes up every day saying to himself, “I’m a f*cking idiot”. I’d imagine that he really wants to do something to change that overwhelming “dumbass feeling” that is currently in his heart.
I think there’s a host of people in prison who feel the same way but selling out those have yet to get bagged for the same mistake in exchange for a lighter sentence is not an option everyone takes or even has. T.I.’s motivation is growing on me however.
Naw, you’re not wrong for thinking that way. You’re just right for admitting that we were right.
Just playin’, B. It takes a real man to admit that I was right.
I’d like to defend the ‘pro snitch’ position.
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If you’re seeing a violent crime, you should absolutely call the cops. If your safety requires you to do it anonymously, so be it.
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I don’t believe that helping the police and defending your community against violent criminals makes you a bad person. On the contrary, I think that it makes you a good citizen.
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By demonizing the people who report crimes to the police, by calling them ‘snitches’ and claiming that all snitches are bad, society is actually attempting to force people into being unwilling accomplices to crime via peer pressure.
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A community is only as good as the citizens’ willingness to defend and protect their neighbors and their neighborhood. If you turn a blind eye to violence committed against your neighbor, you shouldn’t be surprise if they turn a blind eye when YOU are the one being attacked. And any community where the neighbors don’t watch out for each other is doomed to fail.
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Finally, it is not the guns that are the problem; it is that small segment of society that glorifies gun violence. As a responsible owner of three guns (two assault weapons and one pistol), I can assure you that it is not the gun that makes the person bad, it is the mentality of the gun owner that is bad. It is the philosophy that justifies the use of violence in any but defensive conditions.
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Now, as far as this TI guy goes, I say he won’t be totally ‘reformed’ until he goes on the tear-tour. You know, sit on Oprah’s couch, shed a few tears, and talk about how he found religion.
Good insight Malcolm. Well said. I for one am a pro-snitcher. My point is however that unlike you (Republican to Democrat…j/k) or T.I. I never switched parties. I’m coming around on the topic. Perhaps I just have too much hate and skepticism.
NOW I understand you Juan. It’s kind of like Jesus despising “lukewarm” Christians in the Bible, huh?
But maybe T.I. knows something we don’t know…
are you being facetious lol.
I have to say malcom u are a very intelligent person who hits the nail on the head on almost (no offense, just tryin not to be joe, lol) every issue u post to. I agree with “pro snitchin” as well, as long as both parties aren’t involved in the situation that envokes violence or that long prison sentence (i.e. drugs). What people miscontrue about the whole “stop snitchin” thing is that only applies to drug dealers, gangsters, thugs, and anyone else who lives by the sword for lack of a better term.
If two drug dealers had beef b/c one burned the other for some work, and the one who loss decides to retaliate….I have nothing to do with that…even if I know them both.
Now if it was a drive-by or somethin, and a little girl, old lady, or anyone who has nothing to do w/ anything gets shot. I’m calling John Walsh b4 the shells hit the ground ya dig, lol
-B.
Well said…street logic but well said. Its the code.
TheBolb — You’re right, of course.
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