What We Think
What We Think: Violence is not the answer
In the movie “Scarface,” Al Pacino’s Cuban refugee-turned mobster Tony Montana pays a violent price for his bloody life of crime. By the end of the 1983 movie, Tony lies dead, riddled with bullets.
In the more recent game “Scarface,” players can portray Tony Montana. In the game, however, if the player is deft, he can win. The consequence for the video game violence can be racking up more points, without ever facing consequences.
This is by no means an explanation for the murders, slayings and assaults that have bloodied Valdosta this year. Yet, young men have apparently adopted these violent impulses as if playing a game.
Yet, this deadly game has real-life consequences. Real people bleed. Real people die. And the prize has been arrests with the likelihood of life behind bars.
So, what has caused this spate of violence? Why, after years of relatively low numbers of murders and homicides, are numbers now nearing a dozen in six months? Why a shoot-out that leaves nearly a dozen people shot at a housing project? Why have so many picked up guns or raised their fists to kill girlfriends and wives? Why attacks that seem to fit into any person’s description of gang violence?
Today, The Valdosta Daily Times presents stories that look at some possibilities. We haven’t found definitive answers but this community needs to start a discussion to find answers.
We don’t believe the answer is anything as pat as a video game causing this level of violence.
But the community needs to address a growing attitude that violence is an easy answer to solving problems. The only numbers rising aren’t points but rather the number of people dead, the number of people in jail, the number of people scarred.
There are no winners, only losers and loved ones lost.
- What We Think
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What we think: Public has right to know
The accidental release of three inmates from the Lowndes County Jail was an unfortunate incident.
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What we think: Wanted: Your vote
Early voting for the runoff election to see who will make it to the November general election begins today at the Elections Office in Lowndes County, 2808 N. Oak St.
If you voted in the primary election, you can only vote in the runoff election for the same party you voted previously. -
What We Think: Wanting answers for Wanat
Family of American soldiers killed in Afghanistan have wanted answers.
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Severe heat warnings
More than two thirds of the counties in Georgia were on extreme heat alerts Monday as temperatures rose to the high 90s with a heat index well over 100 degrees.
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Blood for all ages
While many children have spent the summer swimming, Sammy Giltner, 8, and Savannah Dallas, 5, have endured chemotherapy treatments.
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Where’s the money?
As part of a large transportation public hearing this week, the city unveiled its proposed plans for the new Gateways Project that will affect West Hill Avenue from Interstate 75 to downtown, and Madison Highway from the airport to South Patterson Street.
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS DOWN: To the candidates who have not removed their campaign signs from area roadways and yards. The only candidates who need signs at this point are those heading into the runoff and — maybe — those who are already guaranteed a place on the November ballot.
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What we think: One vote
Think your vote doesn’t matter? Did you have a candidate you liked but didn’t vote because you thought, well, what’s one vote?
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What we think: Sad end for Fresh Start
Fresh Start seems to have been a good idea that came to a rotten end this week. After all, there was the disappointed anger of those turned away a few weeks ago because the program lacked the manpower to handle hundreds of applications at one time.
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Election vote
Every election is important, but some seem more important than others. This is one of those elections. With the state’s budget on the ropes, education funding bled nearly dry, and a multitude of other issues crowding for attention, management and money, this may well be one of the most important elections in Georgia’s history.
- More What We Think Headlines
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What we think: Public has right to know
