Evangelical named LA gang 'tsar'

[JI7]

Source: BBC

A US evangelical Christian minister has been appointed to lead a million-dollar program to tackle gang violence in Los Angeles, the city's mayor said.

Reverend Jeff Carr, a minister in the Church of the Nazarene, was named director of gang reduction and youth development programs for the city.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa promised to name an anti-gang "tsar" as part of a crackdown earlier this year.

"We can't arrest our way out of this problem," Mr Carr said. "We have got to figure out how to provide opportunities to communities who have been bypassed for years."

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6224694.stm

[Drum]

1. The Cross and The Switchblade Redux?

:eyes:

[WCGreen]

5. That was a great book....

But didn't it involve only one priest who lived in the neighborhood and had to deal with the problems on a day to day basis...

[Drum]

6. Yes I think so...one priest.

But you know, nowadays everything needs some kind of "czar," right? ;)

[WCGreen]

8. I think instad of czar, they should call the peron in charge....

This Problem Is So Fucked Up That We Are Forced to Look Toward Political People Out of Office and Wanting Desperatly Want Back Into the Inner Circ;e....

TPISFUTWAFTLTPPOOOWDWBIIC

[951-Riverside]

2. "Jeff Carr, a minister with a liberal evangelical group" - LaTimes

He's the CEO for the Sojourners www.sojo.net and he volunteered for the Kerry/Edwards campaign in '04. http://www.beliefnet.com/story/155/story_15582_1.html

[rpannier]

4. Yeah but you know...If you say Minister around here people automatically assume Falwell's ghost or

something.
There are quite a few Ministers who used to belong to gangs. There are many ministers who keep kids out of gangs.
The best people to talk to 'Gang-kids' or kids who live in gang areas, are former gang members because they have an understanding of the culture.

[Dogmudgeon]

11. We're in luck -- no bad Creationism jokes (yet)

Dont worry, the first "Fred Flintstone on a dinosaur" crack is just around the corner!

--p!

[KamaAina]

29. The source is the BBC

so they're using 'evangelical' in the correct theological, rather than the current politicized, sense.

[JDPriestly]

7. Sounds like the right person for the job.

The Sojourners are great. http://www.sojo.net/

[Bitwit1234]

3. Thought bush appointed Laura four years ago to be

the gang Czar. What ever came of that.

[Ian David]

9. Laura Bush is "hip" to the whole "gangsta scene" and says it's not "fresh" or "dope."

[Dogmudgeon]

10. Render unto Caesar ...

"Caesar" --> Tsar.

The word "Kaiser" (Kaiser Wilhelm, The Kaiser Chiefs) has the same derivation.

So that's my Hip Leftist irony fix for the day.

:evilgrin:

--p!

[Lance_Boyle]

12. Even if Sojourners is a liberal religious group,

the city of LA has no business giving tax dollars to jesus. Carr better mind his Ps and Qs with city funds, and not cross his Ts in any religiously symbolic way. Gang eradication need not involve anyone's religious mythology.

[PassingFair]

13. White Grandfather in Sky will fix EVERY THING.

If you BELIEVE.

How DARE you imply otherwise in public.

Is NOTHING sacred?

[Zhade]

20. THANK you. Sometimes I think some liberal Christians wouldn't mind a LIBERAL theocracy.

You are, of course, absolutely correct.

[knitter4democracy]

26. Not this one.

He's a pastor in the Nazarene church, the one I grew up in. There are some really good people in that church who would never want a theocracy of any kind. It sounds like he's one of the good ones.

[BestCenter]

28. What makes you think "religious mythology" will be brought up?

Are you saying that people involved in religious professions cannot work in the public sector?

[Javaman]

14. I heard he and pickles were teaming up for a rap album...nt

[Dr. Strange]

15. Now, that's what I'm talking about!

Gang-Tsar Rap

I can't wait, I tell ya!

[catzies]

27. Props for that great pun. Very funny.

:thumbsup:

[SayWhatYo]

16. I'll give him a chance and hope he does a good job.

I'm not religious, but I see no reason to 'hate' or dislike someone just because they are... nor do I see any reason to think they cannot be successful at anything because they are religious. Am I wrong in my thinking?

[PurityOfEssence]

17. Villaraigosa is a demagogue, now there's another reason to dislike him

Great. Just what the world needs: more religion in government.

My teeth have been on edge about Antonio from the start. He played the race card to oust Hahn (a pretty good guy) and has been on a tear ever since then to seize more and more power. His attempted coup of the L.A. Unified School District was naked monarchism and this little stunt just reeks.

I'll have to read more on this, but I'm guessing that there's more than just a little religious component to it, and that does not bode well for the gangster mentality; if god gets thrown into the mix, the gangster believer will just have another excuse to do as he pleases. Regardless of that, if any successes can be had, it will be attributed to proof that god is indispensible and that anyone without the big imaginary friend is an enemy of the people.

Oh, and then again, there's all that money I pay in taxes that'll be going to the coffers of the righteous, instead of repairing the streets.

Okay, we'll just have to wait and see.

(edited for spelling)

[AX10]

18. I agree that Hahn was a perfectly good mayor.

This program is a no-no!

[Zhade]

19. If he pushes any of his mythology in a professional capacity, fire him.

That would be a direct violation of the first amendment.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. Create jobs.

If you want to end gangs, create jobs in the inner city.

[Zhade]

22. "Jobs, Not Jesus!"

Great point.

[kwassa]

23. Create opportunity, which also comes through education

[RandomKoolzip]

31. Not just "jobs," careers. Jobs that pay living wages.

There ARE jobs in the inner city, but no one can survive on the wages they pay. Thus, it's barely an option.

[slackmaster]

24. He must be the replacement for Hector "Big Weasel" Marroquin

http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_152194329.html

[CatholicEdHead]

25. Enough with this "czar" crap

What are we? Pre-revolutionary Russia?

[silverojo]

30. I see child/teen molestations a-plenty

That's what always happens when you put insane Christians and young people together. :mad: