Quote:
Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b
But there are some for whom the military represents the way out of poverty and the gangs that they are so desperately looking for. Yes, there may be some personality issues to deal with due to their upbringing, and they may have some ugly artwork on their bodies (tattoo removal for them should be fully funded and encouraged), but for some gang members, the military is a way out of the crappy lives they are living. There may not be as many problems with them as one might think.
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Paul,
That's a good point and something I considered. Not all gang members are completely in the "thug life" that they can't be set straight, some just didn't have a real choice in life. So of course, not all can be tarred with the same brush!
I think part of why "rehab via military" works is that gang members and other criminals are given opportunities they didn't have before, and (more importantly) are removed from their old lives and separated from old "bad" friends. Presumably, the gang-bangers who are currently allowed to enlist don't have serious drug or violent crime charges, aren't alcoholics or drug addtics, etc. Problems will happen when the "bad apples" grow in proportion, and they can remind and reinforce the thug life mentality. Plus, conscripts will have less invested in their future and the opportunities the military allows, thus less reason to change and buy into the program.
Tony