**bang! You'Re Dead Poem by Tom J. Mariani

TOM, HI, FELLA. BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN 'LOOKIN' AT WORDS. I'VE BECOME A RABID BREAKDANCER/HIP-HOP DANCER FAN AND UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE ANGER, THE ORIGINS, THE NEED TO EXPRESS THE HURT AND PAIN LIVED WITH/ENDURED IN THE GANGLANDS. AGAIN, WHAT CREATES MOST VIOLENCE AND EXTREME BEHAVIOR? IF WE LOOK OBJECTIVELY AT AND INTO THE WORLD OF THE 'GANGSTAS', IT'S VERY EASY TO RECOGNIZE THE HUMILIATION AND NO-HOPE PILED ON THEM JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE WHO THEY ARE: PEOPLE WITH ANOTHER SKIN COLOR OR CULTURE. HISTORY HAS SHOWN THE HEARTLESS TREATMENT TOWARD OTHER HUMANS. THE IRISH AND ITALIANS FORMED GANGS BECAUSE THEY HAD NO HOPE OF FITTING IN, GETTING JOBS, AD INFINITUM. LOTS OF VIOLENCE AND HATRED RESULTED FROM THEIR FORCED SEPARATION. WE ALL UST CHANGE OUR PERCEPTION AND OUR JUSTIFICATION FOR TREATING OTHERS AS SUBHUMANS IF WE WANT TO HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. THE PEOPLE IN GHETTOS AREN'T SAFE, EITHER. WE ALL NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A BETTER MORE LOVING AND ACCEPTING WORLD. JUST AS CHILDREN WHO WERE BORN TO UNFIT PARENTS AND WIND UP HAVING SERIOUS ANTI-SOCIAL DISORDERS, WHO FILL OUR PRISONS AND REHAB CENTERS, WE HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE CAUSE OF SOCIETAL NIGHTMARES. WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY 'RIZE' FOR A TOUCHING LESSON IN GANGS AND SO FORTH AND WHAT DANCING AND CLOWNING DID TO TURN THE LIVES OF SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND. THERE IS HOPE AND WE MUST BE PART OF IT. HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON, CAROL