[alicewonders]

Well, I live in a small town - but my business is located in a slightly rough area of a larger city. There are gangs where my store is located & in fact, I have had children (8 to 10 years old) come in my store looking for blue bandanas. One of them told me that to keep from getting beat up, he had to join a gang. He said that to be able to join, they had to beat another kid up, set a dumpster on fire and steal something from a local shop. He told me he didn't really want to do that. He seemed like a nice enough kid, being raised in a tough situation.

A few months later, he came in my shop very happy. He said his Dad didn't like the way his mother was raising him & was taking him away to live with him. I felt like the prayers I'd been saying for him had been answered. I hope he is doing well.

Anyway, you're right. Things like wearing the wrong color bandana in the wrong part of town can get you hurt for sure.

It's a sad society we live in now, isn't it?

[1rudeboy]

I used to work right on the edge of Detroit and drive a ‘81 Olds Delta 88 2-door (a car ideally-suited for drive-bys). The kids in the ‘hood would flash me gang symbols as I drove to and from work.