-
Login
-
Digital Edition
-
Print Edition
- Most Commented
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
- Most Emailed
- Popular
- Popular
« News Home
Despite low turnout, pastor keeps up the fight for peace
Tweet
At Sunday’s “The War on Youth Violence” presentation at East High School, Patricia Eiland of Austintown tells Pastor Cecil Monroe how she believes violence can be prevented.
By Bob Jackson
YOUNGSTOWN
Pastor Cecil Monroe didn’t see what he’d hoped for when he looked across the East High School auditorium Sunday afternoon, but it was a start.
Only seven people — including Pastor Monroe’s wife and three young children — attended an event he’d planned, aimed at trying to bring about an end to the violence and killing that has plagued the city. He was hoping for many more.
“I can’t say I’m not discouraged about the turnout because I am,” Monroe told the small audience. “But I still choose to make a difference, and I’m going to continue with my efforts. This turnout is not indicative of the severity of our problem. This problem is severe.”
Monroe, 43, pastor of Higher Learning Church in Canfield, said concern over the rash of homicides in Youngstown this year pushed him to plan Sunday’s meeting, which he called “The War On Youth Violence (The Battle for a Violence-Free City).” He chose East High School because he lives on the East Side, and because one of the recent homicides happened on that side of town.
“It’s like we are on a killing rampage in the city,” Monroe said, noting that in five of the city’s 22 homicides this year, black males age 14 or younger have been charged with the crimes. “We have kids killing kids. We need to stop it. We have had our share of killing.”
Monroe said his primary concern is for young, black males in the community because that’s where the violence seems to be concentrated.
“Why are our young black men so angry? What is it about life that they do not like?” he asked. “Is it poverty? Is it coming up in broken homes?”
Though those may be reasons cited for violence, he said they are not excuses for young people choosing to kill others.
“It all comes down to choices. What are the choices that we’re making?” he asked.
Monroe said he grew up in poverty on the East Side, in a home without his father’s presence, but he did not choose to fall into a life of violence. He said church leaders, including himself, must do a better job of getting out of the church and into the streets, “meeting these kids where they live” and reaching out to them and encouraging them.
“Are we speaking to the problem, addressing these young people’s lives? Or are we just walking around town saying ‘stop the violence’?” Monroe asked.
“We have to do more than sit back and shake our heads and say this is a shame. We need to get busy. We need to encourage our young people.”
Monroe said he had planned to have several area funeral directors participate Sunday by having coffins placed on stage and telling any young people who attended that if they don’t get off the path of violence, they would end up in a coffin themselves. He said Youngstown city schools officials nixed that plan, though, as being too shocking.
“But we’re in a dire situation here,” he said. “All this killing. That is shocking.”
Mike Peace of Youngs-town was one of the few who attended Sunday’s event and said he was surprised and disappointed at the turnout.
“You hear everybody out there crying for help [about the violence],” Peace said. “And here is something positive, but look around, there’s nobody here.”
That sort of apathy, he said, only helps to perpetuate the problems.
Peace and Patricia Eiland of Austintown, who also attended, said parents must do a better job of teaching their children and raising them to be responsible adults. Peace said he coaches little league football and regularly picks up four or five of his players and drives them to practice.
“Every time I pull into a driveway, there’s always three or four cars sitting there,” he said. “But not one adult there — not the mom or dad or an uncle. No one will take the time to drive that kid to practice.”
Like Monroe, Peace said he grew up in the streets in Pennsylvania. He’d hoped to speak to a larger crowd Sunday, shedding some light from that perspective.
“I just can’t believe that no one came,” he said.
Comments
How sad. I believe that those coffins would have made a statement. Too shocking? Nothing is more shocking than a body full of lead lying in the street!!!
DONOT GET DISCOURAGED!!! It's a start!! This is the way the disciples felt when they traveled from town to town preaching the GOOD NEWS and people were not receptive.That didn't stop them or GOD from giving out His blessings! Let God lead you!!! Many Blessings!!!
Uncle Sam has abandoned the poverty-stricken children of Youngstown and every other town. Too busy wasting our tax dollars and using youth as cannon fodder in wars without end on the other side of the world to launch a war on poverty and terrorism in the streets of y-town.
"“Why are our young black men so angry? What is it about life that they do not like?” he asked. “Is it poverty? Is it coming up in broken homes?”"
Its the lack of morals and the easy money from drugs. Boils down to the useless mother and father (if he's around).
"Though those may be reasons cited for violence, he said they are not excuses for young people choosing to kill others."
No excuses. Many people have grown from broken homes and the ghetto, but have succeeded. It's the choices they make.
"He said Youngstown city schools officials nixed that plan, though, as being too shocking."
Excellent idea. Have them lay in it and close the lid for 30 seconds and see how they like it. It's REAL nothing to sugarcoat.
To many EXCUSES and not enough ACTION. Tough action not know catering to these animals. They have tons of chances and benefits to better themselves and they still are high on violence. County jail, treatment, rehab don't work, send them to prison and throw away the key. They don't want to live a honest life then forget them. It's there choices no one else. Why should INNOCENT citizens suffer because of them.
Poor attendance suggests either that the event was poorly advertised/planned or that the good pastor is not respected in the community, which may not be his fault. Its odd that anybody who lives in the city does not understand what is going on. However, it is hard to imagine why young men who think they are gangsters would want to show up at a church to have a pastor and his family rebuke them. Although many kids truly have grown up to be callous thugs, hating these young men is not very useful either, . Hate and rage interfere in any fight with a serious opponent as any skilful boxer knows. There is no point in trying to select one part of the inner city to blame either. In many neighborhoods, it is most of the people. We know that young people grow up to imitate their parents and the other community members they see daily. They see young thugs on their street and they grow into the same roles. They see prostitutes and drug dealers and want to join in. In some cases they are being just like daddy or mommy. Their parents teach them from a very early age to be outspoken and resistant, supposedly to fight white oppression, but this "standing up for themselves" grows into antisocial defiance of the rules that allow us to live peaceably. Too few of the parents of these young men are adequate to the task. The parents of the wayward young men generally lie, steal, cheat, shack up, use drugs and, overall, provide a poor example of what most folks see as decent living. The school district must contend every day with angry, shouting, often threatening mothers who deny their children's horrible behavior until they see it on video tape. Why are the kids so angry? Their momma is angry. Their daddy is angry. Thirty-two year old grandma is angry. Pimps are angry. Prostitutes are angry. Crack addicts are hopped up and angry. When they were young and weak, these kids were abused and neglected by parents, neighbors and siblings. They were bullied, beat up and raped. As long as such a large part of the community condones bad behavior by engaging in it, defending their misbehaving relatives, or refusing to assist law enforcement, the disease of violence will spread. The west side is now being invaded by huge numbers of thugs and bums. How can you tell? Count the newly boarded up houses and those stripped of siding to buy crack. Check out the young men dressed like snoop-dog cruising in grandma's car. The rest of the city's tax base will soon be fading as good residents move out.
The bottom line is that nobody showed because they have no desire to destroy their culture . Many decades of culture will not be forsaken . . ..
How is it the role of government to take care of someone elses children? The war on poverty may have caused these problems. Parents have to be responsible. Bring back the stigma on the unwed mothers, regardless of their color.
Stan
The politically correct term is "behaving badly"...
jeratboy,
Exactly.
When these young girls are having a baby and worse multiple babies without the means to financially raise them or to educate them as they prepare for school,then what does anyone expect to happen to these kids?
As long as taxpayers pay for these babies and as long as government uses all the poor children to further their agenda of more people needing government, then what does anyone expect?
I'm sure these girls love their babies,but why have them when you cannot properly raise them in today's world? Like the young lady last week in the Vindy getting a free turkey for her six kids. I may not know the whole story here, but somewhere after the first child you can't figure out how you're going to feed them? Six kids!
So for these girls having that 5 minute romp just to please her man,society is put on a guilt trip to finance this lifestyle.
So until someone with the morals and the courage to get at the root of the problem, we'll continue these charades of events,vigils and anything else they want to call them.
derf5983,
I know a lot of people won't believe there's such a master plan,but I'm with you. In order for the democrat party to expand it's base it needs numbers. Whether it's illegal aliens or thousands of babies being born into poverty,most will need United State taxpayer's money to exist. The democrats promise to provide this money and if republicans balk,then we're non caring,selfish and racists.
Then numbers are used as the rich getting richer,the poor poorer against the republicans to show the need for the democrats rhetoric to help the non rich.
The disparity in more people being in poverty than ever before is twofold, one is more babies are being born into poverty and that the liberal policies don't work.
2012 can't come soon enough. I think God is fed up with everyone. Just hope it's quick.
“Why are our young black men so angry? "
When they start being cool the police come . . ..
The Vindy should do an in depth interview with Jamar Houser . He is a storehouse for a wealth of information on the hood . No trial is forthcoming so he may be released soon . . . ..
There was low turn out for this event because nobody knew about it except Cecil and his family. Cecil's father was not absent and was very active in the community especially with First Presbyterian Church - Cecil you must rexamine yourself and call me. Your Dad was a WONDERFUL man and indeed the relationship may not have been all the best but it takes two to make a relationship work. You are from a very good family rich in history and much more. Call your family, your sister, your cousins, (me) and literally get right with God. Madonna PS Praying for you
There was no one there but his mother (Patricia Eiland), his wife & 3 kids because those are all of the members of his church. What respected Pastors members (at least some of them) don't show up to support their Pastor? Why did he not send out letters asking other Pastors to participate with him? After more then 5 years of claiming to be a Pastor, he still has a church of family members only with no official building or address. A few years ago he tried running for Mayor, do we really want a man who in 5 years of ministry can't rally the support of at least 10 people? Cecil needs to self examine and stop trying to be something he isn't (a leader)