Here’s something that doesn’t happen everyday. I got kicked out of a meeting of the Indianapolis-based Concerned Clergy this morning. I’m shaking my head too. It would have been one thing if I was a money changer, but I’m just a guy with an opinion and humble radio talk show. I know I’m not a fan favorite of some the Clergy members, particularly the lady who is the secretary and prime candidate for cardiac arrest or Type-2 Diabetes. But I’ve never been thrown out of a meeting before.

The sad thing is I was there to talk to some of the clergy members about violence in the African-American community, the weekend robbery at Don’s Guns Store and the recently published fact that IPS has the worst dropout rate for Black males in the country. I was hoping to get some meaningful discussion going and find out what concrete steps were being taken to address these types of issues other than the more traditional rallies, prayer vigils and lip service.

I guess we’ll never know because apparently the hatred for a productive Black man who can help influence opinions and break down stereotypes is more important for some people than keeping the streets safe from other Black men who aren’t as productive and perpetuate stereotypes.

I wonder what Jesus would have done?

As annoyed as I am with crime in Indianapolis, I am actually more astounded by the blatant stupidity of some criminals. As a famous caped crusader once said, “criminals are a cowardly lot” but the guys who reportedly broke into Don’s Gun Shop at 38th and Lafayette just take the cake.

Not only did they steal a car from the nearby Mitsubishi dealer (where there are cameras) they used the car to go through the front window of the gun store (where there are cameras) climbed through the hole they made in the wall and stole guns.

They later ditched the car behind the gun store (where there are cameras across the street) and got into a white pick up truck, which was easily identifiable as evidenced by the high speed chase. They were arrested this morning and several items were found in a nearby apartment. Because there’s nothing like taking evidence and leaving it in your place.

The very least these knuckleheads could have done if they were going to be this brazen would have been to leave a Joker playing card at the scene of the crime; after all, they are clowns.

You would think with major issues facing the city like crime and serious financial issues, some people still find time for foolishness.

No, I’m not talking about the City-County Council and the Ethics panel which Councilor Paul Bateman stepped down and Bill Oliver never showed concerning the not so bright actions of Monroe Gray.

I’m actually talking about the ACLU of Indiana threatening to sue the Lawrence Township Trustee for threatening to suspend poor relief for families whose children missed John Marshall Community School this week.

From what I’ve been able to gather, the ACLU told Mike Hobbs that the poor are “entitled” to relief because being poor is a protected class. Whatever. If being poor was a protected class, my brother-in-law would have eight bodyguards around him everyday.

And just for the record, after annoucing the plan to withhold poor relief, more than 70 children who had been previously absent magically showed up and more calls have been coming in from other parents promising to get their kids to school.

This week marked the first week of school for students at IPS’ John Marshall Middle School on the city’s east side. Unfortunately some parents forgot; about half of them. Out of about 800 students, nearly half of them have not shown up for class. 

Lawrence Township Trustee Mike Hobbes is announcing today that his office will withhold poor relief for any family whose children have not attended school.   I like the idea, why should the taxpayers fork over their hard earned money so a bunch of people can sit around and watch television all day?

But the fact that these children are missing school is symptomatic of a bigger problem.

Part of the reason we have a crime problem is because the only people who don’t seem to think it’s a problem are the people most impacted by it.  They don’t cooperate with the police, they don’t send their kids to school, but somehow a good chunk of them have found the route to the public troth.

I’m not saying build a fence and leave them to their own devices, but until the people in these crime-ridden communities decide that they’ve had enough, crime will never get under control.