The following letter was sent by Omar Simpson to Harford County Executive Barry Glassman and County Council President Richard Slutzky. A copy was provided to The Dagger for publication:
Before he passed, my Uncle woke me up in the middle of the night, while it was still dark, and said, “Grab your stuff. Let’s go fishing.” “Fishing?”, I said. My 13 year old mind had no idea why my Uncle would want me to go fishing at 4 A.M. But being the dutiful nephew, I packed all our gear and we headed out to the beach. When we got to the beach we went to the pier and set up. All my uncle said was, “Let’s sit here.” My young boyish mind thought at first, that I’d be bored, but a funny thing happened. The stars came out, bright and beautiful and the waves lapped at shore while the wind danced across the waters. Before I knew it, my Uncle was telling me it was time to go home. So we packed up and quietly headed home. To this day, this is one of my fondest memories. Just me, my Uncle and the waves. To this day, I still believe that a few quiet moments next to the waters can solve any problem. So, let’s go fishing and solve Harford County’s issues. My main concerns Jobs and Violence.
Violence in communities is in large part a byproduct of poverty and need. Not race or ethnicity. According to the U.S Census, Whites tend to commit crimes against whites in their impoverished areas. Blacks tend to commit crimes against blacks in their impoverished areas and Hispanics tend to commit crimes against Hispanics in their impoverished areas, etc…etc. This fact is well known. You rarely see wealthy or even middle class whites, blacks or Hispanics killing each other unless you happen to be watching the ID channel on cable! So, to me, it seems the common denominator in violent communities is poverty. If this is the case, shouldn’t a large part of our efforts to reduce violence be aimed at eliminating poverty in violent communities? Wouldn’t we get the most bang for the buck that way?
Before he left office, Sheriff Bane and I talked on several occasions about how to reduce crime in Harford County. I strongly believe that poverty is a major factor in criminality. Poverty is the mountain we must overcome. One of the programs we discussed was a church program called “HomeBoy Industries.” (Check out: https://www.facebook.com/HomeboyIndustries and http://www.homeboyindustries.org/ ). These programs take at-risk young people and teach them marketable skills that they can use to feed themselves and their families. If we are serious about reducing violence in our community, this is the type of program we need to create here in Harford County! Making at- risk youth employable is the key to reducing violence! A man with a good job doesn’t want to risk it, so he is calmer. A man with a job is more at ease because he knows he can feed his family.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” ~ Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)
Worried about costs? Heck, don’t worry! Give me a call and I’ll gladly help you get a program similar to HomeBoy Industries up and running in Harford County! One thing we can agree on…we need to reduce violence and create Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!
Let’s go fishing!
Omar Simpson, Esq.
Once was ok, two was tolerable, three times……it’s getting old. You need to find new topics to talk about. How many people get to do a article a week? What are you qualifications to tell people what to do?
My qualification is that I was born free, live in America and can say what ever I want. Check the Constitution.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaat? The first amendment gives people the right to speak, but not about anything they want. You as a lawyer should know that. We are all free because of the people, who came before us, to protect the right by fighting for this country. I talk about service members, Dr Martin Luther King and all great Americans. Try using that line when you are standing in front of a judge.I’m sure you will be stopped. WE have rules and there are people, not you, who want to break every rule, in society, and expect to get a pass because of their upbringing.
What can’t you talk about?
The Constitution does not give you the right to say what ever you want. Never has, never will. Are you sure you are an attorney?
finally someone to say the correct thing. The first amendment gives us freedom to speak, but not anything.
Actually what it says is only the government can’t take you right to say anything you want, but any one or anything else can.
Government 101.
Once again, what can’t you talk about?
Please tell me what I can’t say…
You cannot say you are going to kill the President…You can’t threaten to bomb a building, etc.
There are limitations to freedom of speech; however none of them are applicable to Mr. Simpson’s article.
Once was ok, two was tolerable, three times……it’s getting old. You need to find new topics to talk about. How many people get to do a article a week? What are you qualifications to tell people what to do? The biggest question is who are you? Never heard of you before.
” I strongly believe that poverty is a major factor in criminality” And you would be wrong OJ Simpsons..The major factor is poor parenting. There are plenty of very rich thugs in this world with one thing in common .
No father.
We may not agree on everything, but i definitely agree that broken homes are a MAJOR problem in my community. Without a stable, peaceful home structure it is nearly impossible to move ahead. Stabilizing families has to be a priority.
All those well raised, mild manmered, good, honorable and well respectrd citizens in Missouri who wrecked their own neighborbood area did so because of poverty?
No. Because they were being killed in the streets without due process or trials.
The HomeBoy Industries discussion came up because we were discussing possible solutions and ways of mitigating anger and the sence of hopelessness poverty can create.
Your idol, gave up his right to due process when he attacked a cop. GET OVER IT
Yo Omar, you are a piece of work. How about due process for Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman. How about the Black community celebrating when OJ was found innocent, that was absolutely disgusting. Oh, I’m sure in your mind OJ did not commit the butcher job on them, Right? Black community cannot have it both ways DB.
A good story, but if someone doesn’t want to change. It isn’t as simple as going fishing. There are bad people in this world and they would steal the fish and fishing pole. Nice of you to offer, but I am sure there are people, in place, that can do the same thing you are offering. Why would county government want to listen to the public. Oh that’s right….we can’t approach the council, I’m sure “coach” hasn’t even seen your letter because he is too afraid to interact with the public. I’m sure his mail is read by some lowly staffer that is not allowed to look at him directly. BUT, I am sure he tells he boring wrestling stories…..over and over! The CE is too busy playing both sides of the aisle and giving money to a losing campaign. Guess he didn’t want the public to know that he gave money to Brown. I’m sure county government has no interest in starting homeboys, inc. Why not suggest something that includes the police and working with youth. Bet that never crossed your mind. Thought So.
I think its a good idea to get the police involved with disadvantaged youth. You need to send it to the sheriff and get his input into it. Not all cops are bad!
I’m all for homeboys, inc. just another way to get people to spend money on the problem without solutions. Where’s the CE going to be when money needs to be appropriated? Wonder if hogan knows he gave money to the brown campaign? I’m sure he didn’t think hogan had a chance, but I’d like to see more goetnment spending on the disadvantaged and get babs on board. I’m sure she can write another national tragedy letter.
I am, and always have been, solution oriented. Bitching and moaning, criticizing without offering solutions is a waste of time. I was told that is ok to complain about a problem, but if you do, follow it up with a possible solution. It doesnt have to be perfect, may not work, but getting the thought process rolling is the critical thing. So i will occassionally criticize, but i will also offer up possible solutions that get the average person thinking.
HomeBoy Industries is an example. The Church saw the devastation caused in LA after the riots and put together a program that has been running for decades now…training and employing local at-risk youth. Kids that would turn to the streets otherwise.
America cant have it both ways. We either educate and train people or we suffer as the under-educated, untrained masses fight to survive. Ignoring the starving masses has been tried many times before and it NEVER turns out well. Ask the French.
Education and Jobs.
Jobs and Education.
America’s ONLY patch ahead.
Omar, your wasting your time trying to reason with Harford County’s racist *** on the Dagger. First of all, they don’t like you because you are probably an African American. Secondly, you are probably not a republican. Thirdly, you are probably an African American. Get the picture……….
I thought you would just be, “American”. We’re you born in Africa?
Also, here is an idea for a good educational project. Teaches working skills and is free:
SCHOOL!
STAY IN SCHOOL!
What is the correlation between poor areas and the drop out rate? Fix that and you don’t need a home boy network.
It would be great if we could look beyond all factors such as race, religion, wealth, etc., but we don’t. If you believe otherwise then you are not being honest with yourself about reality. As for school, I agree that its important to stay in school and graduate or achieve a GED equivalence for those that did not, but its hardly free. You pay for it in taxes or for the GED courses you take. Even then, wealthier graduates have far more options and opportunities presented to them, like college or better job opportunities. Its called social classes and its a stigma of a society whose attitude is influenced by race, religion, wealth, etc. I didn’t make the rules or even agree with them, but I am very aware they exist. You should be aware too as Harford County is influenced heavily by the social stigmatisms I have mentioned. So is the rest of the world. Get used to it, its reality…..
America is the land of opportunity not free stuff. The problem is that too many people get free stuff from the people who are willing to work. It’s hard to get a job today with a 5th grade education and a long arrest record. Any group of people who perceive themselves as poor should strive to improve themselves not depend on government handouts for generation after generation.
“…It’s hard to get a job today with a 5th grade education and a long arrest record…”
It sure is, especially when large swaths of many states have education systems that furnish a 5th grade education but call it High School.
Very good point…..
Does such a swath exist in Harford County? Maryland? If yes, where?
Baltimore, Dundalk and Druid Hill Park areas seem to have a lot of educationally challenged individuals……
There are many success stories that come from those same areas. So who do we blame for the 5th grade education? Students or Teachers?