[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 150 (Friday, October 31, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING CHRISTINA DRAKE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM ROEMER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 31, 1997

  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my constituent, Mrs. 
Christina Drake from Bristol, IN. As a mother of two teenage boys, Mrs. 
Drake recently wrote a letter to me expressing her concerns about gang 
violence in her community. I agree with Mrs. Drake that gang violence 
is a serious problem in America, and I share her concerns as she so 
thoughtfully expressed in her poem entitled ``Gang Violence'' which 
follows:

                           ``Gang Violence''

     Kids in gangs tryin' to rule their domain,
     huffin' and puffin' doin' cocaine.
     Getting a feel for what is real,
     but when reality sets in there's violence again.
     Knives and guns, they're in our streets.
     Where's the salvation, where's the retreat?
     Playin' hard tryin' to win the game,
     but in the end it's always the same.
     One more found dead tonight,
     we're all at war, and it just ain't right!
     Hangin' out trying to fit in,
     getting even for them killing my friend.
     This time I got lucky, they missed me,
     Who is next, which one will it be?
     Can't you see this has all got to stop?!
     It might be you, the next one to drop.
     So think about what you say, and do.
     Keep your head, stay in school.
     There's a better way to take a stand--
     work it out, live again!
     If your friend was your friend,
     he wouldn't push you to the limit.
     Stay away, and don't get in it.
     You see crime is time, and sometime it's life.
     Don't let your's be the sacrifice!

     

                          ____________________