Cyber Dialogue Topic 1
English 1A students:
This is the assignment I mentioned that would be on the website. Visit the East Bay Express website and read the article "The Making of a Criminal."
In a 250 word response due by Monday, Jan. 22, 11:50 a.m., think about the following questions and post your response here. Each student has to respond to a classmate's post in writing agreeing or disagreeing with the analysis by Wednesday, Jan. 24, 11:50 p.m.:
Does the young man profiled have a chance at rehabilitation or is he doomed by circumstances? What is the view of the writer, the newspaper, society? Where is the evidence?
The argument posed here is one called: nature vs. nurture. Are we bound by our heredity and environment, or can we choose a different path even if there is no evidence it exists in our immediate surroundings?
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/2006-11-08/news/feature.html
English 1A students:
This is the assignment I mentioned that would be on the website. Visit the East Bay Express website and read the article "The Making of a Criminal."
In a 250 word response due by Monday, Jan. 22, 11:50 a.m., think about the following questions and post your response here. Each student has to respond to a classmate's post in writing agreeing or disagreeing with the analysis by Wednesday, Jan. 24, 11:50 p.m.:
Does the young man profiled have a chance at rehabilitation or is he doomed by circumstances? What is the view of the writer, the newspaper, society? Where is the evidence?
The argument posed here is one called: nature vs. nurture. Are we bound by our heredity and environment, or can we choose a different path even if there is no evidence it exists in our immediate surroundings?
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/2006-11-08/news/feature.html
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 3:28 AM
50 Comments:
After reading the article and living in Oakland all of my life, I feel that once a kid starts down a bad route it is very hard to rehabilitate. The writer of the article, in my opinion, feels that perhaps Cyrioco has a chance at changing. They mention how he is a good role model for the kids at the youth center and how he spends alot of time there. I feel that even though he is triying to do something better with his life he will always have people that try to pull him down like the "antagonist" at the burrito place. Our enviornment is a very important part in determining how we act. The fact that alot of murders occur in places like Oakland points to that. Just like a species of animal humans have to adapt to their enviornmet to survive. I am not saying that everybody in Oakland will fail but I am saying that if you live in a neighborhood with alot of violence then you will be predetermined to do bad in school, especially when you're main concern is staying alive not getting good grades. It takes a very strong person to be different from evryone else around you even if it would be better for you. If you know people who make money selling drugs then you look at the possibility of you doing it. If you start getting bad grades then you look at school as a waste of time specially if you have people around you who appear successful selling their drugs who influence you. If you are going to be able to succeed in a bad enviornment than you have to be shown the route from an early age. You need someone to tell you the right way to go when you are young. I think that this is the biggest problem in youths, they don't have a role model to look up to and lead them.
After reading the article I would never give up on hope I think there is still a chance for Cyrioco because he has already started trying to change is life around by going to youth uprising and making positive motivations to the young people who go there. I can relate to his situation because I have some friend who get influenced by my other friends to do stuff. Dealing with alcohol and some times drug use and even making money but when my other fiends try to quit you get peer pressured to go back to the road where it started again. I think your environment also makes you the person you are. If you have a family that doesn’t care and you life is around a lot of crime where is you motivation going to come from. One of the ways of dealing with this I think is just try to discipline your self and stay up with your goals for your future its going to be hard and if you fiends can’t accept that, there not really your friends. That’s why I agree with Jose when he says “it takes a strong person to be different form everyone else even if it would be better for you”. but for Cyrioco it can be very difficult because he stays in Oakland and the environment there iv very different crime, drugs is the what people usually affiliate it with but that’s just what media puts it as on TV. And I know the struggles of not having money and a lot of people in this country will do anything to have money in their pockets, so that’s why Cyrioco was in and out of juvenile hall experimenting different ways of producing money.
Cyrioco will have a chance at rehabilitation if he wants to. Yet he had been in jail so many times since he was young. Although, there are many people who care about him and want him to change. It is not the end of him. He still has an opportunity to rehabilitation his life. Cyrioco Robinson has been in and out of juvenile hall and jail fifteen times. The writer, newspaper and even the society think that “the experience didn’t really punish him, but it didn’t rehabilitate him either”. However, he is not as bad as they had imagine or as they have prove. The day Cyrioco got out of jail; he went to the Youth Center. In there, Olis Simmons, Youth Uprising’s executive director had noticed that he has natural leadership ability. "When he sees tension building between other people, he'll intercede. Even though he has no money, I see him feeding other kids." she said. The counselors helped convince Cyrioco to finish his GED at Merritt College, and Simmons was so impressed that she secured money to give him a job at the center. Also, she said if he had succeeded, she will hire him full-time with benefit. Unfortunately, Cyrioco has been arrested again. Davis at Youth Uprising think that “the society is so large failed to offer him alternatives”. Just as I think like her, the way the Juvenile Hall justice system has built doesn’t help the people. That is their job to put you in jail and let you go when the time is coming. It doesn’t show you what is the right to do and not to do it again. As a result, Cyrioco can be rehabilitating if he find out the right person who actually can help him.
In the article of “ The Making of a Criminal” it is the argument that relate with the nature and nurture. After I had read the article, it gives me a view of logical that has surround in our daily life. To me, I am more believe in the chance of rehabilitation it was because it is more optimistic to us to view the world. I did not like that Cyrioco Robinson that he ways he value views about his misfortunate. The impression it is like that he value everything around him is very pessimistic. Therefore, he blame the stuff that he did not has. He becomes worse and worse to set himself into an end road. He has been in and out of juvenile hall and jail fifteen times. In his last time in the juvenile hall, he become more open view toward the society after he influence by his cell mate Stewart. In expect his become a good person, he has done an illegal things. To me I can tell the public concluded the bad person is never be change. But to me I believe that if Cyrioco if he insist his believe, he will achieve what he want to be. The young man can have a chance to choose their right path. For example, if you are willing to try, then you can rehabilitate the new ways to visual this world is wonderful. The writer’s tone is sad, and frustrate, he/she also point that juvenile hall it not the place can totally can change a person to be smart and wiser. If you really want to change the view that you have gave to the public, it is depend on you. And it is the only you can pursuit. I feel that the writer’s view toward this article a bad person can never change like a good person. For example, the sentence of “that Cyrioco he refuse to do community service”. That mean he did not open his heart to admit he feel regret about his wrongness. In conclusion, I believe Cyrioco has way of rehabilitation dependent in his heart to will in the positive. Although the article’s view it is frustrate, to me I think that nurture it is the way more positive to lead us to view the society more positive.
I have always been a strong believer that anyone has the ability to change that is if they truly have the desire to do so. I do believe that Cyrioco Robinson has a chance for rehabilitation. I just do not think that he really wants to better his life. It’s one thing to go and ‘hang out’ with your friends at the local youth center. At least he is not sitting around the house playing video games. But, skipping out on the GED classes, the one true thing that could help change is whole path in life and gives him promise for the future and also self respect, he finds himself too tired to attend. Cyrioco is by no means doomed by his circumstances or better yet his environment. He actually welcomes the negativity that breeds in his neighborhood by stripping down and challenging the life by risking his own. This is no way to prove that you are a man. A man would have chosen to ignore the onlooker and keep his comments to himself. Kathleen Richards, the author of this article, places blame on the Juvenile Justice system’s lack of a rehabilitation program. Whatever happened to holding one’s self accountable for their actions? You would think that after spending his first night in jail, that maybe he had enough. Instead he makes repeated errors in judgment and finds himself on a path of destruction. It is not fair to say that if one grows up in a bad neighborhood or economically disadvantaged that they are doomed. People just do not posses that drive to achieve something better in life. Instead they take the easy road in which they do not have to put forth any effort or in this case go to bed on time and get enough rest to attend class in the morning. But I guess as long as you earn the respect of those younger than you who think you are the toughest guy around…what more do you need.
After reading the story of Cyrioco I am quickly reminded of the day-to-day stories I see play out at my job. I currently work as an Assets Protection Specialist for Target, at the Bayfair mall in San Leandro. This is a fancy title for a plain-clothes Loss Prevention manager. My job is to catch people steal from the store, arrest them, and if they meet the requirements, refer them for legal prosecution. Many of the people that we arrest are juveniles, and most end up going home with their parents at the end of the day, even if they meet the requirements for me to refer them to the police department. Some are given a notice to appear, which means that a few weeks down the line they will have to come to court and see a judge for some punishment, most likely one that closely resembles what was described in the story. But from my first hand accounts of talking with these children, one thing has become the common element for what their future holds, and that is their parents.
When the parents are told that they need to come to pick up their children, there is a handful of ways that they react. Some care so little, that they find someone else to come and pick them up because they have something more important to due, some just do not care but will come to pick them up anyway, and the minority of the parents quickly show up and are extremely angry and disappointed in the child.
The first type of parent, although it is very rare to see, is by far the worst for the child. Not only does this send a message to the child that their parent does not care, it also sends the message that there is no punishment for what they did. These parents set their children up to fail again. The child sees no punishment from their parents, and all the police officer can do is tell them "horror stories" of jail and try to scare them straight. This never seems to work on children with parents that react this way.
The second type of parents leaves the most open-ended results for their children. Some of the smarter children, who truly did just make one mistake and plan and learning from it, are scared straight by the horror stories and do what they can to not make another mistake. Others however, just brush the stories off, and a few months down the line, are back in trouble.
The third type of parent is the one that leaves no doubt in anyones mind that you will never see this child in trouble again. This is the parent that comes in so mad; you can feel the rage soothing out of their skin. These are the parents that love their children so much, that they are willing to break down and say whatever they need to, so that their message gets across to their child. This type of parent often does not need to make threats, or even to physical discipline the child. All they have to do is a little yelling and a lot of talking, and punishing to get their point across.
Now that I have described these three types of parents, what is my point? My point is there are not enough parents out there that know how to deal with their children. There is a repeating pattern of parents, which have kids before they are ready and never truly grasp what it means to be a parent and how to do it in such a way that their children can brake the cycle. I do not think, however, that this is just the parent’s fault.
There are no programs out there that can help the parents learn to be parents. Sure there are lots of books, about raising a baby, but where are the books to tell them how to motivate their children to do well in school, or how to sway them away from the quick money lifestyle of the street. There isn't one and there are no programs to teach the parents. These lack of natural parenting skills and lack of a program to teach them the things that are failing the youth of today. Instead of just the child having to serve, community service, the parents should have to spend some time in a class learning how to motivate and guide their children. This would give the parents the resources and tools to take the message home from Juvenile hall and give the youth of today a chance at breaking the cycle of violence, so we can all move on and live better lives.
I do believe Cyrioco is heading down the right path towards rehabilitation. He is already making progress by making trips to the Youth Uprising facility by writing raps and being a role model to little kids as an alternative to the life of crime. It was just unfortunate that he was caught with a vehicle, not knowing it was stolen. The writer; Kathleen Richards, believes the juvenile justice system doesn't serve its purpose, but just preparing these kid's to the life of prison. The evidence within this is from looking at Oakland's homicide at a scary 129 and mainly committed by teens. It's hard growing up without a father figure, yet alone under Cyrioco's environment. It was also mentioned that Cyrioco turned to the "dopeman" for a better life. Selling dope is easy, but when you get caught can you do your time, which eventually led to Cyrioco's 15 jail appearances. Maybe the birth of his child can help bring Cyrioco out of this lifestyle and realize there is a better life than his life of crime. Once you're put under these conditions its hard getting out, but giving it time and maybe some sacrifice can improve his chances of getting out. On the other hand its always easy to go back. There is always a way out of this type of environment, but sacrifice's have to be made, from either losing some friends or starting a new life in a new surrounding. No one ever said life was easy.
Children with an incarcerated parent(s) are seven times more likely to be incarcerated themselves. It wasn't Cyrico's fault that his childhood was rough, with a mother in prison, daddy gone, an abusive auntie and a loving grandmother who passed away, he was a victim of circumstances. Seeing his mother in prison really scared Cyrico's and then the death of his grandmother only added to it. I think he would have had a chance if his auntie had not been so cold and abusive towards the children. Cyrico was looking for love, acceptance, and respect in all the wrong places. Eventhough when she got out his mother tried to provide for the family, Cyrico was already gone. Due to the lack of stability in his life, Cyrico had basically become independent from his family and wanted to do things his way. These events, that were well beyond his control, had long term affects on him that make it had for him to rehabilitate or assimilate to be a positive productive person within his community. I think Cyrico still has a chance to turn his life around. He is young, we are both the same age and have many more years ahead of us. But if Cyrico continues on his path, i will likely live longer than him. Anybody can get it though, bullets have no name. The system failed Cyrico like it has for so many other. He's been in and out of jail 15 times since he was 14 years old, that is a sure sign that that the system needs work. All he did was do short stints for crime after crime, and each time he got out the crimes got heavier because he figured he had nothing to lose, he was homeless, jobless, didnt get along with his mother, he neeed to eat, literally! He made a lot of bad choices he needs therapy to work through his struggles, and when he gets out, someone following up with him, one on one personal attention in the home. With nothing to look forward to when he got out Cyrico just entered a never ending cycle of crime and punishment. I dont think its his fault it's very hard for a young black male whao has been institutionalized and left with an untreated stigma steming froma a painful childhood to be productive in society. I believe Cyrico did what he had to do to survive because no one else was looking out for him and there is a dog eat dog kind of mentality in the streets, get it how u live it. From this article the author comes to realize that Cyrico is a good person who wants to do right, but he just goes about it in the wrong way. He does realize the error of his ways, but he only temporarily sticks with programs that are meant to rehabilitate, because they dont give him any long term plans or goals, so therefore lets the the temptation of the streets pull him back in. Cyrico is a magnet for friends no matter who they are and that is his blessing and curse, someone has to take time with him and help him asses what his best qualities and talents are, and direct them in a way that can keep him off the streets, keep money in his pockets, and show him how he can help others. We are not bound by hereditary, Cyrico can still chose a different path, it takes a very confident and strong-willed person to overcome a negative environment like the Cyrico's. His immediate environment does not facilitate a positive way of life, maybe he should remove himself from the environment, rather than try to fight it.
After reading the article, I think that Cyrioco mad some bad choices in life. But I think that he's also a victim of circumstance. Especially reading that he, as a child, was brought to the prison by his grandmother to visit his mother. He had a bad life growing up. He grew up and got close with his grandmother, but he lost his grandma to a battle of cancer a few years ago. I personally think that people do certain things and choose certain paths in life to numb their pain. Some people may choose to do well by getting their education and making something of themselves in this society; whereas others may start doing drugs and being part of violence.
To me, I don't think that Cyrioco is that bad of a person afterall. He has been through a lot. He didn't want to be the "talked" in school for not wearing the latest fashions and all-due to the simple fact of his living status, that is why he started off robbing and selling dope to make quick money. Quick money that'll keep him on top of fashion and most important of all, to EAT!
Since Cyrioco committed himself to be in a youth uprising program, it showed that he is willing to make a difference in life afterall. I think that people in this society needs to offer these teenagers chances. Especially a chance in life. If someone showed their willingness to make a turn in life for the better, the community should offer programs to help those who are interested. Otherwise, young children will keep doing the same thing in life.
Have you ever heard of the saying "It takes only takes one day to turn bad, but it takes years to turn from bad to good." Without chances, there are no turning from bad to good! On top of that, support from family and friends plays an important factor in their changes.
I also think that NATURE vs NURTURE plays an important role in our childrens life today. I do believe that kids living in the "ghettos" will always reflect that same "ghettoness" in their life at some point. Seeing violences, abuse, drug dealing, and even hearing the way how others talk (slang, profanity) will affect that particular human being. CHildren learn from others, so by seeing that, thats what they learn and thats how they're going to do things and talk. Not only does the neighborhood affect who you are, but also the people whom you hang out with and go to school with. I think nowadays, a lot of people are influenced by their peers. Yeah, family members can teach you all the important values of life, but the people you hang out with has a big influence to change that as well.
In conclusion, I think that Cyrioco has chosen to change his life around. He should be given the opportunity to do so. People should support him throughout this tranformation process. I think that is why he's leaning onto this youth uprising organization to for support.
Unfortunately, the article is a very common story not only in Oakland but all over the world and the United States.
I think people who are born in this type of atmosphere have very few possibilities when it comes to choosing a desirable future. If you are born onto poverty, unstable families with uneducated parents and surrounded by violence. Chances are you would follow the same path not because you want to but because of lack of opportunities.
A good role-model at a young age is essential for a great successful future. Children born in these circumstances would probably have little or no proper guidance.
Nevertheless, as think as humans we also have the capability of making our own decisions and finding a life more appealing to our desires. There are many successful people who have risen from poverty and overcome terrible childhoods.However it is all a matter of personal choice, strength and true ambition for a better life.
As i was reading the article i got the feeling that the writer felt hopeless and disappointed of the current juvenile system.A system which is highly overwhelmed with criminals and a large recidivism rate.
This problem is very complex because it is not as simple as having more recreational centers or a more efficient judiciary system. These problems must be solve from the roots. Starting from protecting and teaching our youth how to protect themselves sexually and also making this protection affordable and available for everyone. Educating and financially helping young couples and or single parents. improving health care, schools and and overall society are some of the things that need to be change in order to avoid the current cycles of violence and poverty.
I agree with the first person to comment. It is Hard for children these days to find good role models to help them find the right path. An individuals environment is very important too. If thier Environment is negaitve it TEnds to Take them down.
In my opinion, the man in the article does have a chance to rehabilitate. If he wants to rehabilitate he has to put some effort on his part as well. In my expirience, youth centers don't work for anyone over nine years old. When a person sarts hanging out with the wrong people and being bad, it will be difficult to correct them. The best way to rehabilitate Cyrioco is by getting his lazy self a job. Hip-Hop at the youth center to me is a hobby, and useing Myspace is a time killer. He has already been in jail fifteen times, and in my expirience prison has never rehabilitayed anyone that I know. Prison was meant to put people away because they have proved that they can not live among us. The article says that going to jail didn't really punish him but didn't really rehabilitate him either, and that is because people are only affraid the first time, but they get use to it after a while.I grew up in the area around where Cyrioco did, and it is difficult to stay on the right path. There are a lot of people that end up in prison for serious crimes before they can get out of High School. Most of those people drop out in the tenth and eleventh grade. The writer thinks that Cyrioco can be rehabilitated. That is because she thinks that it is important to pay attention to youth like Cyrioco. Cyrioco is not the way he is by nature. If he would have been born into a different family in a different city he would be a different person.
samantha garrido.
i agree with some of the anonymous comments that talked about people being responsible for their actions.
it is hard being the "bigger person" when it comes to these situations. But is necessary if you want to be successful.Some of the anonymous comments also talked about preasure from frieds and bad role-models. I agree i think good role-models are necessary for children of all ages.
Brandy English 1A said..
In reading the article, "The Making of a Criminal," by Kathleen Richards, I would have to agree with Kathleen with the majority of her opinion. I believe if the government would crack down criminal behavior, our society would have fewer homicides. I think Juvenile detention halls should provide more services to at risk youth and adults. Many of these youth live in troubled homes and they are just looking for a place to escape. That place is often jail or juvenile detention centers. Cyrioco's experiences in and out of jail 15 times in his lifetime, seemed to punish him more in the lack of help needed and lack of longer sentencing needed for the crimes committed. I believe Cyrioco has a semi chance of rehabilitating to be a better person. 1st he needs to be willing to face he needs help and 2nd the government needs to offer him special programs to help him stay out of trouble. With jail and juvenile detention centers just locking people up and sentencing them doesn't help and solve their problems, they need help. The view of the writer is saying that the crime rates are very high right now and many people are committing the same crimes rather than learning from them. With the help of society and the government we could lead a safer world by rehabilitating them longer with the needed necessities they need
One of my classmate said that rehabiliate is posible to change his life.In comment one that person has point out the important poit to the problems that United
State through complexion. If everyone blame for their difficulties, therefore in this world it no one can be the success.I agree that everyone have chance to change what their want, who their want to be, it depends how their use the opportunities to accomplish their goal. If their pursuit.
I do feel the young man does have a chance of rehabilitation.
Tomas Montano
One of my classmates said that Cyrioco is heading in the right path towards rehabilitation. He or she states that he is doing well by rapping and that he is a good role model for the little kids. This person also believes that Cyrioco was arrested for driving a car that he did not know was stolen.
I disagree with this comment. I don’t think that Cyrioco is a good role model for little kids. If kids are looking up to him. He is bad for the youth center because he is creating new criminals. I also think that Cyrioco was aware that he was driving a stolen car. Everyone that is caught driving a stolen car always gives the same excuse.
I agree with my class mates. It must to been hard for Cyrioco to live the life that he was living. He started selling drugs because it was easy money, and because he also probrally wanted to help his grandmother. Once he grandmother died he needed money to take care of himself so selling drugs was the easy thing to do. He probrally also did the things that he did because that’s what he would see every day so that was the life that he only knew. I think that Nurture vs Nature does play a role in his life. Here is one sample of how it plays in his life, his mother was in Jail and he did not really have the nurture of his mother even though he did have his grandmother it is still not the same as a mothers love. I'm glad that he is now trying to live his life right and to work in the things that he loves like his music career. I Just hope that at the end he can fully get out of the life that he is living and not never look back , for him to have a wonderful life and know that there is better things out there that selling drugs or beings in gangs. If he success in life he can show people that not everyone can be stereotype.
In response to Jahmela Rowland’s posting, I completely disagree. I have a very close friend that had it a lot worse than Cyrioco, but had enough desire to change her life and environment. This person grew up with her grandparents, because her mother was in and out of jail and a severe drug user. She has never met her father. She had two brothers, who both ended up in the system and were sent to reform schools at a very young age. Her Grandparents adopted her when she was at the age of two so that she would not have to be in foster care, even though they had already opened their home and took in foster care children. She was also molested by her youngest brother while he would come to visit from reform school. By the age of 11, both of her grandparents were deceased. One of the adults whom her grandparents had taken in attended the funeral. After the service was over, the former foster child decided to take my friend out to lunch with her husband and three small children. They never returned her back. She was kidnapped and taken across state lines to live, no one knew were she was for the next four years. Over this time, she suffered severe abuse, malnutrition, repeated rapes and other gruesome acts that you could not even imagine. To make a long short, she completed her last year of high school ranked 11 out of 434 students after having attended four different high schools and moving from shelter to shelter, foster home to foster home. And she went on to a major university to obtain a bachelor’s degree. She has since then completed law school. This person had no role models what so ever and still made the decision to make changes to her live. She could have taken the easy road like Cyrioco chose. It’s not about someone giving you the opportunity to better yourself. You can not just say that the system has failed someone. That person has failed themselves. We are all equipped with the knowledge to know what is right and what is wrong. Some of us just choose to ignore it. – Kétra Batiste
Brandy said.. Responding the Samantha G comment
I would have to agree with Samantha on her opinion of the article, "In Making a Criminal." She explained that when people are born in rough atmosphere's have very few possibilities when it comes to choosing a desirable future. I also believe if you are born in homes with poverty you are likely to also lead that life. If you are around violence I also agree you may think that's what kind of life you need. Samantha also stated that if you are in homes with un-educated families you may lead that life because of the fewer opportunities you have. Samantha is right that is mainly your personal choice if you want to change the environment you lead.
Dennis Freeman II from 8:00 english 1a.
Society looks at young black men as doomed regaurdless of what he's doind with life. The young man in the article seems to me to be a product of his his environment. Although he's been in and out of jail since he was fourteen that does not mean we should just toss him to the wolves sort of speak. Young men are being rehabiltated and turning their lifes around every day. One of the problems is that we so many times just give up on these young men. One thing you have to realize is that by him daily attending Youth Uprising that's keeping him off the streets, that's the first step. Now he needs what majority of the young men need in this community is positive male role models to steer him in the right direction. But not just stop there, Be a force so that he stays in that direction. Often times we as young men will start off positive and and then something would accure in our lifes and we'll fall off. He needs to know that he can get back up again. A just man falls 7 times but when he can realize he fell and get back up that's what makes him a saint in God's eyes.
Lien Hoang said….
In response to Jahmela’s entry, I agree with the things she wrote. It is really not his fault for being brought into the world in such a negative environment. Life is hard and I believe, kids and teenagers usually bite off of what they see happening around them. I also agree that when Jahmela said that he needs to move out of that environment and better himself there. I don’t think that a person can make a change especially if they are still living in that same environment and hanging out with the same friends – living life the same way and by just attending a youth uprising organization is just isn’t enough to help you change.
English 1A
Gilberto Navarro
Re: The Making of a Criminal
January 22, 2007
I read an article about a boy named Cyrioco Robinson. In my own opinion about the article I read about Cyrioco, I don't think he has a chance at rehabilitation, I think he is more like doomed by the circumstances of his background and the surroundings of the community he lives in.
In my own opinion, I think Cyrioco is doomed by the circumstances of his background. For example, he was two years old babe when his parents got divorced, and I believe every kid needs both of the parents to be guide with better qualities through the pad of life. I also believe that Cyrioco got influenced by his friends as a teenager when he started to steal things. Many people know that friends are the number one influence for teenagers to either be guided to the right pad or to the wrong pad of life. Although the Juvenile Hall wasn't good enough for Cyrioco, I believe they did what they could, but they could have done a lot better if they wanted to. I think that in every facility hall and every program there is always someone who would be welling to offer the right help to the "right person" [and who would be that right person if is not some one who really needs the help?] [I think that "right person" would be someone with a recognized last name and financially well establish family]. While the poorer gets the worse or gets nothing. So, to me, to be help is more personal then actually being help unconditionally without priorities. I don't think everybody thinks the same, and I don't think everyone cares about others as much as others do. So, I can say that receiving the right help, it also has to do with luck; the luck of being in touch with the right person. That will be the person with the right emotional feelings whose feelings would be welling to help anyone unconditionally equal as humans.
Thinking about Cyrioco's situation, I think he is also doomed by the surroundings of the community he has lived in. For example, as his mother didn't have enough money to live a fair life, they were always struggling for places to live in and for having a minimum one meal a day. So, to me, Cyrioco's way of living has a lot to do with financial because he lived in the desperation of not having a simple good meal every day. He also needed someone to talk to, someone to discharge his thoughts; his feelings and his emotions, which he couldn't have. Until his mom got married again to Follis who spoiled Cyrioco by buying him almost everything he want. A while after the marriage of his mom, they all moved back to Oakland and Cyrioco began to meet new friends. It was than when Cyrioco began to change his behavior and modalities, and began to be a reveling teenager with his mom. Although the Alameda County Juvenile Hall didn't do enough to help Cyrioco for X reason, if they would have helped the right way, maybe it wouldn't have being enough to keep him out of poverty. I think that his surroundings would have turned him back to his bad behavior prior to his way of living because in Oakland as Matt Golde an Alameda County assistant district attorney who leads the juvenile division stated that the juvenile system doesn't really help enough because "juvenile court isn't punitive at all".
One thing I believe is that God exist, and if Cyrioco wants to change his management for better, he needs to ask God to help him change everything from his own feelings to his thoughts, and from materialistic things till physical feelings. Until than, he will get the results he wants because in this world there's no human been that would help unconditionally as our supreme Lord, God.
In response to Samantha G......
I disagree with the fact that when you grow up in a unhealthy atmoshpere you have no real determination on achieving anything. I know tons of people that have grown up in these common scenrios and have become something. They haven't been to jail or made a life of crime. They see what they need to do. They don't let their friends or the streets influence them like so many others have done. There are too many free programs that they can find out about and then use that as a tool to make them a better person. They just need to use them.
Emerald Black
Jose Ayala English 1A
I am responding to Brandy's comment in English 1a.
I agree with your opinion. I feel that there are no real solutions to the violence problem. The government only seems to care about punishing instead of wanting to treat the problem. There are only a few programs out there that attempt at helping youth, and when that youth doesn't have support at home then he might act up if he has no one telling them other wise. I feel there should be more funding for youth centers. Getting back to Cyrioco I feel that he does have a chance but it will be difficult. He needs to make sure that he has something planned if the rapping thing doesn't work. It is up to him to figure what he wants to do. I wish the best for him though.
Pat Maopraseuth
English 1A
In regards of the questions professor Wanda asked her students...
After the events, I believe that Cyrioco will never recover from the scars of the events, because he will always have that memory of the easy money from drug dealing. Cyrioco's experiences only make him stronger, and give him the ability to survive out in the streets. Cyrioco can rehabilitate, he can if he wants to, and sometimes he doesn’t, maybe he’s not rehabilitating. People believe that rehabilitation for him will give him the maximum happiness in life, but he probably would disagree (I wouldn’t know), and life is all about searching for happiness.
Before the events, I believe that Cyrioco was doomed to the circumstance because he was born to a rough life. It would take a strong mind to overcome the death of a family member as a child, that it self is hard to recover from. It would take a lot of tolerance to survive in Oakland, being the victim of racial profiling almost everyday by the police. Cyrioco was limited, if he knew of the events that happened, I’m sure he would’ve reconsidered his actions. It’s like fate, some believe its true some believe it is not, but in fact, fate can define anything that happens in time. Like fate, this argument between circumstances goes both ways.
This is off topic; maybe it is, to support why Cyrioco was doomed to the circumstance. I have a theory; I believe it is the police that cause Cyrioco to come out of juvenile hall just to sell drugs again. The police are very provocative in Oakland, and they’re very abusive with their powers. I’ve experienced it myself, the police would try to provoke people to rebel, and they would use words that make you feel powerless and inferior. My family lives in East Oakland and we have no financial problems, we’re satisfied where we live and how we live, but it’s always the police that brings us down. Instead of conflicting with each other we should question the source of confliction; at the origin.
I feel that the article was supporting nor putting the young man down. The article was basically showing what a normal day in "the hood" is like for a typical young black man in Oakland.
I do believe that the young man in the article has a chance to basically change his ways and go down a more positive path.
I agree with Emeral Black, because if you think about it, alot of successful people have a bit of a caotic/hard backround but that didn't stop them from making something out of themselves. Just look at mostly all the rappers, they all have a story to tell.
Icis Newton (English 1A 9-10am)
Beto Navarro"I agree with the 7:15pm unonymous thoughts about that everyone has the right to chose wether to go the right way or to take the wrong pad of life. The circumstances could make one to take onother way, but if one knows that it is wrong why take it, if we know it is going to affect our life in the future.
8:00 Dennis,
Responding to Ms. Rowland and the other young lady responding to her comment.
I would have to say that I partially agree. Your both right, you know every one is accountable for their own actions. In the situation with your friend how she over came all the heartache and pain in her life then went on to better her life shows great power and motivation. I commend your friend because it’s not easy to go through what she went through and have the ability to still press forward and make a better life for herself. But what you must realize is that everyone is different and deal with things differently. We don’t really know what that young man had to go through throughout his life; the article does not have that detail. Not to excuse being in and of jail but we as a people should not prejudge an individual or compare them to someone else. Yes he’s grown and he should now right from wrong but rather than say that and just leave astray we should embrace him. Some people are strong enough to endure being homeless and turn their lives around to be a millionaire but If someone is hungry and you have a biscuit should you not share because of your personal believes. A major problem we have As African Americans is we don’t want help our brother when he’s in time of need and until we as a people can come together as a people the cycle of this young man is just going to continue.
Marlena Vee
I think Cyrioco has a chance at rehabilitation. Although he is dealing with the consequences of his actions, at least he is learning to correct his mistakes; even though that leaves him incarcerated for a due period of time. Cyrioco didn’t have such a great childhood growing up or role model to steer him in a better life; all he learned or was taught in life was from the streets. What he learned from the streets didn’t get him anywhere other than in and out of juvenile hall, probation, and jail. Even though he broke a few laws and was sent to juvenile hall or put on probation, he didn’t learn anything because it was a back and forth thing that didn’t teach him anything other than that he would be punished for a short period of time and that everything would be ok after. Kathleen Richards says that “the experience didn’t really punish him, but it didn’t rehabilitate him either.” This is true because he wasn’t being punished. Being punished is to teach you not to make the same mistake or do whatever the mistake is again. In Cyrioco’s case, as well as many other juvenile delinquents, he wasn’t being taught the right way to do things. There are several people that make mistakes, have similar stories to Cyrioco but move forward by changing their lifestyles and then use their life to be a message to others to straighten their life and do something good. Everyone always has a choice to choose their life, it is their choice what life to choose. Yes our surroundings may have a great effect on how our life would be, it still doesn’t determine the outcome of our life.
Marlena Vee
In response to Samantha G.’s comment, I would totally have to agree. Although I think our juvenile system has become so corrupt and no longer has the right intended purpose that it first started with. The problem is more complex and does start with the beginning, at childhood or adolescence. Your first school house is your home, but when home is broken then in most cases there is no where else to turn to other than the streets. Other than more programs to help the juvenile system there also needs to be more programs to help struggling families and programs for children, whether it be in schools or just part of a community. Any program that helps families in any way could help decrease the number of juveniles.
As a person is growing up and doesn't have anyone that is making an effort in making them feel loved, it’s just going to be harder for that person to wanna love life and themselves. I believe that is one of the reasons why Cyrioco didn’t really care about going in and out of jail. As he mentioned, jail was safer for him, it provided him with food and a bed to sleep on. But in other words I feel that Cyrioco put it all on himself. Because he plenty of opportunities to change his life around. Such as going to the Youth Uprising, he explained how the counselors there really cared about him. They were about to give him the opportunity to work for them and he was going to school for his GED but he messed it all up by driving a stolen car and was sent to jail once again. One of the biggest problem with our youth today is that they care about what there peers are going to think of them. Caring about what people that about him is what caused Cyrioco to steel from people and sell drugs to buy him the latest clothing and shoes. The people that you are trying to impress are not going to be there for you when you are sent to jail or in trouble. But hopefully when Cyrioco gets out of jail this time it will be the last time because now he has a baby on the way and he can provide that baby with love so it doesn’t end up in his foot steps, in and out of jail.
I agree with the person that was the second comment. They talked about how there friends get influenced by their other friends. People always try to do what there friends are doing because they don’t to feel like they’re the outcast out of the group. So hopefully Cyrioco goes through the right direction when he gets out of jail, for the sake of his unborn child.
Randall Wong
english 1a 8-9am
1/22/07
The article “ The Making of a Criminal” by Kathleen Richards seems like a story that happens more often then what we think. The young man Cyrioco Robinson had many problems in his life. I believe that he had a chance to rehabilitate himself, but chose not to. Life was hard for Cyrioco, he didn’t have a father, his mother was in jail for most of his childhood, and he was in and out of different homes. When we are younger we always need someone to be there to help us and to guide us on the right path. When Cyrioco was growing up he didn’t have a role model, which led him to doing wrong things. Friends and family have a big impact on people’s lives. His friends would encourage him to do the crimes he committed and his uncle told him to sell the drugs that he found. Cyrioco wanted new clothes and other things, and the only way to get them was to sell drugs or to steal. He was in and out of jail many times and after each time he was let out, he would go back to his old life style. I think that if you go to jail a couple of times then you would realize that what you are doing is wrong and you need to change it. He has a choice to do what is right, but it would take to long. He saw that selling drugs was a lot easier and the money was even better. Cyrioco was offered a chance to change his life around, but he messed up and was sent back to jail. The writer, Kathleen Richards thought that he had a choice and that he is responsible for his own actions. Some people these days have hard lives, but they also have a choice to succeed.
“We are not destined to become who our fathers were or who our father’s fathers were. Our destiny is in the palms of our hands”. This is an old saying that my father used to tell us while growing up. In the story “The Making of a Criminal”, a deep illustration of Cyrico’s life from when he was fourteen and arrested to the heightened ‘beef’ he had with an enemy from high school clearly framed the road Cyrico was going to follow in his life. He made these choices himself. He chose not to listen to the words of his mother as she told him “never let an enemy come within arm’s reach”. Some children have the benefit of seeking help from peer advisors through programs like “Youth Uprising”. Instead these were things that Cyrico had at his disposal and choose to only follow what he thought was right, his music.
As a people, we are not bound by our heredity or environment. It is a fact that we can choose where and when we want to accomplish something in life and through hard work and determination, we can come up with a result. However, the problem in this story is not whether or not there is ‘chance’ for us to make changed in our lives after we have fallen. Rehabilitation is always a factor into correcting out lives. There is a problem with the justice system and how we choose not to see it as our duty to counsel juveniles when they are detained in our facilities. Instead, in 2003, the new ‘3 strikes law’ was enacted keeping more youth locked up in jails for committing crimes. Cyrioco’s fifteen trips in and out of juvenile hall and are a case study in the failure to the juvenile justice system. The probation department’s revolving doors let Cyrioco commit crimes that are ever more serious without either successfully rehabilitating him or finally giving up on him and taking him off the streets. Instead, it all but set him up for a life as an adult criminal.
Jennie Vannavong
English 1A MTWTH
In Response to Samantha G's comment 8:05pm, I completely see where she is comming from. I too believe that when you are unfortuante enough to have been born into a family that is in poverty, a community that revolves around haterd and or violence, and parents whom are UNeducated, their childrens chances arent so great. A ratio 8 to 10 people whos lives revolves around violence end up becoming in the mix of violence. In those kind of community you are raised to never let anyone "punk" you so to speak. You are taught to never be submissive, and not to take "shit" from nobody.
Parents whom are UNeducated are usually no help to there childrens future. The children end up becoming just like there parents. Only because when you are a child, you have a rolemodel to look up too, whom usually are your parents. Well at least for the most part of your life. After a while you start to realize that because you parents are UNeducated and can't really choose your life for you, you then start to find rolemodels elsewhere. Some rolemodles you children choose sometimes might not be the best for them.
Growing up and living in a poverty stricken community can really effect the way your children choose their path they take in life.
Cyrioco seems to be taking very slow and tiny steps to rehabilitating. I'm not saying that because his is taking slow and tiny steps to changing its not going to work. I do believe that Cyrioco can change, he just has to change a the way he does things. His image is a factor to consider?
However, I do believe that you can rehabilitate. Even after you have been in and out of jail several times. It's been done several times before and can be done again. Only if you have the determination and heart to change, you can change!
After reading this article I could hardly believe this terrible story just happened in the city neighboring to us. The life of Cyrioco Robinson was pathetic. He was discarded by his father shortly after birth, had a childhood with a mother in cell, dropped out of school, was in and out of juvenile hall and adult jail several times and never prepared for his future. I hope he could be rehabilitated, but afraid of not for the making of this “criminal” is not only due to his personality but also the influence brought by the families, the peers and the communities.
Therefore, the people responsible for the fault should take actions to correct their mistakes. Some possible rehabilitation methods include paying attention to the single parent family, improving the efficiency of the juvenile justice system, providing career and technical education by community education division, and etc.
Eventually, I still want to wish Cyrioco could gain rehabilitation after the suffering days, just like Frank's comment on Marcel Proust in "Little Miss Sunshine" - “Yeah. French writer. Total loser. Never had a real job. Unrequited love affairs. Gay. Spent 20 years writing a book almost no one reads. But he's also probably the greatest writer since Shakespeare. Anyway, he uh- he gets down to the end of his life... and he looks back and decides that all those years he suffered- Those were the best years of his life, 'cause they made him who he was. All those years he was happy? You know, total waste. Didn't learn a thing. So, if you sleep until you're 18... Ah, think of the suffering you're gonna miss. I mean high school? High school- Those are your prime suffering years. You don't get better suffering than that.”
Brhan T. Eng 1A m-th 9-10am
Cyrioco definitely has a chance at rehabilitation, but its going to be way easier said than done. I understand his hunger for money and doing whatever he has to do to get it, and i feel that if he's tough enough and has the strength to be on the block selling drugs, or stealing cars, and other little hustles to get money, then he's strong enough and has the will to turn his life around for the better. From reading the article its obvious that he knows right from wrong, good from bad. All he has to do is decide that he's going to be a role model to the youth of oakland, and that he's going to stop jeopardizing his life by living a life of crime. The first day is always the hardest but if he sticks with it and wanting to change is the most important part for him, he definitely can achieve his goals.
The writer says the juvinile system is not doing all they can by having short sentencing and barely any helpful progams for the kids..i agree that the state is not doing all they can to better the juvinile justice system, but thats the small part of the problem. most of the resposibilty is on cyrioco, he's a man and the same way he made the decisions to get himself locked up, the same way he can make up his mind to get off the grind and live a peaceful drama free life. society thinks that jail or juvi can change a man and deterr a man from doing what he chooses, all being locked up does is give a man time to think what he did to get caught up and how he can avoid it next time.
His sorrundings definately influenced hime to a life of crime. When he was a kid everyday he left the house he was seing dudes on the corner getting money and that put it in his head that at any time if he needs a little money in his pockets he knows where to turn. And if his uble really loved hime he woulda beat his ass when cyrioco broght home the drugs instead of getting his fix. As he gets older and older the right thing to do will be clearer and clearer and he's able to make good decisions based on his own morals and values.
brhan t eng 1a mon-th 9-10am
i disagree with any of my class mates that say that cyrioco cant turn his life around because his dad left and his momma was locked up and his grandma died, himself getting arrested and going in and out of juvi and jail..etc although all of those unfortunate circumstances played big roles in his life, i believe he can take all the hurt and turn it into pain. i really believe that if it doesn't kill you it'll make you stronger, so if my man can turn negatives into positives and uses those negative events to push him to be a better man or even persue a music career and can be and example like so many others.
Randall Wong
english 1a 8-9
This is in response to the first post. I agree that it is hard to rehabilitate once you start down a bad path but Cyrioco had a chance to change his life. The environment that we live in, is an important factor of how we act. When we see certain things happening that are benefiting other people it makes us want to do the same. Cyrioco started selling drugs because he wanted to make quick money. He really didn’t have anyone to look up to other than his friends, which made him go the same way as his friends.
Somaly Ourm
For the student that responed to the writing at 4:06pm. I really enjoyed what he/she had to say. Knowing and understanding what you read and being able to relate to it really gives you a sense of what someone is really going through. His/her facts and opinion is something I also believe in. There is hope out there for everyone.
Wondwosen Abaineh English 1A
Criminal rate in Oakland is rising each day. The crimes that happen are mostly done by young teenagers. One reason for this is environmental influence and peer pressure .Family structure and parental control can also contribute to the high rate of crime.
Behaving our kids starts at home .Parents have to be very firm and they have to show their kids that they are in charge. Kids should be a part of discussion making in the family but parents should not allow taking control. We have to help kids be able to differentiate between what is good and what is bad. This will help them later on their lives as adults. Parents also have to keep up with what their kids do in school, outside of school and who they hang out with.
Environmental influence is also one of the major reasons for kids to grow being violent. Kids try to look their environment. They try to be as cool as their neighbors’ kids by following what they do .Once they get into what they are doing it is very hard for parents to stop their kids from continuing in that direction. It could be hard for parents to choose where they live because of finical limitations but they can keep a close eye on the kids to make sure that they are not doing things that can get them in trouble. For example, like the story of Cyrioco, who lived in East Oakland with his mom, kept getting in trouble with the law.
In Cyrioco’s case teen pressure and environmental influence played a big role in him, being in and out of Juvenile hall. His friends also had an impact for his misbehaviour.He liked his friends a lot, so he gave more time and respect.
In general communities should work out the problem and create a good environment for kids to grow up. At the same time the rate of violent, crimes and homicides will be decreased.
In response to Brandy Lokken, I agree with most of your points andI will try to add some points.The community should create a good enviroment for the kids to grow up.In health society there will be less crimes and violent.
In response to Brandy Lokken, I agree with most of your points andI will try to add some points.The community should create a good enviroment for the kids to grow up.In health society there will be less crimes and violent
Thanks Wondwosen Abaineh
Jose Ayala English 1A 9am to 10 am
Mine is the first entry. at 7:33 pm
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Following scanning this post I possibly could barely think this particular horrible tale simply occurred within the town nearby in order to all of us. The life span associated with Cypriot Johnson had been horrible. He or she had been thrown away through their dad soon after delivery, experienced the years as a child having a mom within cellular, fallen from college, is at as well as from teen corridor as well as grownup prison many times and not ready with regard to their long term. I really hope he or she might be rehabilitated, however scared associated with not really for that producing of the “criminal” isn't just because of their character but additionally the actual impact introduced through the households, the actual friends and also the towns.
Consequently, Site link right here the folks accountable for the actual problem ought to consider measures to fix their own errors. A few feasible rehab techniques consist of watching the actual solitary mother or father loved ones, enhancing the actual effectiveness from the teen rights program, supplying profession as well as specialized training through neighborhood training department, as well as and so on.
Ultimately, We nevertheless wish to desire Cypriot might obtain rehab following the struggling times, the same as Frank's discuss Marcel Proust within "Little Skip Sunshine" -- “Yeah. France author. Complete loss. In no way experienced a genuine work. Unrequited adore matters. Homosexual. Invested two decades composing the guide very little 1 scans. However he is additionally possibly the finest author because Shakespeare. Anyhow, he or she uh- he or she will get right down to the finish associated with their existence... as well as he or she appears back again as well as chooses that individuals many years he or she suffered- Individuals had been the very best many years associated with their existence, 'cause these people created him or her that he or she had been. Those many years he or she had been pleased? You realize, complete waste materials. Did not discover anything. Therefore, should you rest till you are eighteen... Oh, think about the actual struggling you are going to skip. I am talking about senior high school? Higher school- Individuals tend to be your own perfect struggling many years. You do not improve struggling compared to which. ”.
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