14 April 2008

The problems of parenthood

Since time immemorial parents have argued over what is best for their children. It does not matter whether the argument is about choosing Eton or Harrow or Coco pops or Frosties parents have their child’s interests at heart. Sometimes, however, such arguments can get a little heated.

So it was that an argument between Joseph Manzanares and his girlfriend over the future of their four year old became somewhat lively. Sandoval was arrested in Commerce City Colorado after he stormed into the video store where his girlfriend worked, threatening to kill her and knocking over several video displays and a computer. He subsequently pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to a year of probation.


Arresting officer Joe Sandoval explained that the couple had been arguing about the upbringing of their son and which gang he should belong to. The teen mother is a member of the Crips. Manzanares on the other hand belongs to the Westside Ballers gang. "They have different ideas on how the baby should be raised. Basically, she said they cannot agree on which gang the baby would 'claim,'" he said.


Choosing a gang is one of the biggest choices a child can make and it is simply not acceptable for a parent to turn violent over the matter. If the parents cannot agree to initiate the child in one of their “alma maters” then they should consider a suitable compromise. Better still they could teach the child about the relative virtues of the Crips and the Westside Ballers and let him make his own mind up.


Another story culled from the Breaking News section of the Fortean Times.


No FT, No Comment!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maria, I've just had a kid called maria....

jams o donnell said...

Haha Guru!

Roland Dodds said...

Gotta love them family values!

The family that thugs together, stays together.

jams o donnell said...

That is very true Roland. It is the bedrock of the nuclear family!

Anonymous said...

MY kid is definitely joining my gang. His Mum's gang is rubbish!

James Higham said...

I was a member of the "fort" gang and the others were the "raiders". We always got knocked over but at least took one or two out before we went.

elasticwaistbandlady said...

My kids have no other choice but to belong to The Infidel Gang.

They were born into it.

jams o donnell said...

Just don't have a fight about it Chris... Aussies are resourceful fighters!

Ah forts. Me too. I alwayspreferred to defend than attack James.

A gang that strikes awe in the ehart of Houstonians EWBL!

Liz Hinds said...

There's an Irish folk song, maybe called, the Orange and The Green, about a similar situation!

Liz Hinds said...

Here's a link to it on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujhXe-JRJS0&feature=related

The video is hilarious!

jams o donnell said...

Ah Liz. I should know that song, given my Irish origins!

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Dunno. I like Crips better, these Ballers sound too... er... maudlin to me. You don't want a child to grow up too soft, you know.

jams o donnell said...

Heaven forfend the boy turns into a wussy Baller!

Stefan Lanfer said...

I plan to join my son's gang, whatever he chooses.