Tuesday, May 22,

Are We all Gangsters?

The ANNOTICO Report

This is written about the Turks/Cypriot community in London, and the author  acknowledges the similarity to the Italian American problem.

She suggests that besides Fighting Defamation, two important  issues must be addressed, and I agree, ...who wouldn't ?

(1) Raising the low expectations of their youth's educational level and achievement potential.

(2)  Mentors and Role Models that will interact with these under performers   

            Credible adults who the young people can identify with on many levels

It's that simple.  Do you intend to be part of the Solution?  or Just Sit there??

Are We All Gangsters?

Londra Gazete - London,UK
Peray Ahmet
May 21,  2007

I am not ashamed to admit that The Sopranos is my favourite programme. The writing, acting and just about everything about it is fantastic.

What is also fascinating is the way that social and economic issues are explored. One of the major themes is the way in which the Italian American community is divided.

On the one hand you have the Tony Sopranos of this world, brash loud, money oriented and involved in organised crime (in fact the head of the New Jersey family). On the other hand you have the middle class professionals represented by Tony Sopranos psychiatrist Dr Melfi. These Italians are outraged that they are associated with the other type of Italian and do their best to show their distance in terms of class and education. Now you may be wondering what the relevance of all this is? In a nutshell while watching The Sopranos I have often wondered at the similarity of this scenario to our own communities.

On the one hand you have the Turks/Cypriots who are proud to be thought of as gangsters and wide boys and on the other you have the middle class professionals. And never the twain shall meet. Unfortunately for the professional ranks, outsiders often associate our communities with the criminal factions, which is similar to the experience of the Italian Americans in The Sopranos.

WHAT CHOICE?

Admittedly I am being slightly flippant here, but there is some truth in what I have said.

As someone who has worked for a number of years with young people in an inner London setting I am often disappointed at the numbers of young people who like the reputation Turks/Cypriots have of being gangsters and drug dealers. But in some ways I cannot blame them, afterall what are the alternatives?

Very little is offered to young people in inner London schools apart from sub standard education, and low expectations of their achievement potential.

This is coupled with the fact that the Turkish/Cypriot community groups and organisations are focused mainly on back home issues at the expense of all else."When you are feeling dispossessed and powerless the idea of being a powerful gangster surely has some appeal"

In my opinion not many people are born inherently evil or bad, it is society and the environment that create who and what we are.

Undeniably, there is a problem with criminality within the Turkish/Cypriot communities. Although this does not apply to all, as class within these groups usually determines the outcome for each individual in terms of education and employment prospects.

Following on from this it is obvious that we need positive measures to tackle the issue of educational underachievement (the never ending debate!).

CREDIBLE ADULTS

My experiences have made it obvious to me that young people need not just alternatives, but credible alternatives in order to dissuade them from the allure of organised crime.

We need more professionals in the public sector who are there, not just because they are of a certain ethnic origin e.g. Turkish or Cypriot, but because they have an understanding and care about what life is like for young people growing up in modern day Britain.

Having credible adults who the young people can identify with on many levels (not simply ethnicity) is important, as providing our youth with mentors and role models is one of many ways in which we can move forward and start tackling the many issues we are currently facing.

http://www.londragazete.com/index.php/

cat/1/col/11/art/575/PageName/Ana_sayfa

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