January Blog

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's nuttin left
Cause I've been blastin' and laughin so long that
Even my ma'ma thinks that my mind is gone 

I realize that my life is practically over because I've been blowing it off. Also, everyone thinks that my mind is gone.

But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it
Me, be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of
You better watch how you talkin, and where you walkin
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc'- 

I am justified in doing what I have done. It is important to me that nobody disrespects me.

 
As they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool
I'm the kinda G the little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night
Sayin prayers in the street light

I have killed or seen people killed, but I am a role model for little homies, praying at night.

We been spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
We been spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise

Look at the situation, they got me facing
I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the strip
So I gotta be down with the hood team
Too much television watchin' got me chasin' dreams 

I was raised so I could never live a normal life, especially with the situation that I am facing. So, I give up on my dreams and be content with my life and the 'hood team'.

I'm a educated fool with money on my mind
Got my tin in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I'm a loc'ed out gangsta, set-trippin banger
And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger, fool

and I stand up for my friends. I am smart and ambitious, I want money. I also stand up for my gang and have them behind me.

Death ain't nuthin but a heart beat away
I'm livin life do-or-die-a, what can I say?
I'm twenty-three now, but will I live to see twenty-four?
The way things is goin' I don't know

I am living in the moment, with death just around the corner, and I don't even know how long I will live, and I don't really care.

Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me

None of us understand that we are just hurting each other.

We been spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
We been spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise

Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's runnin, but half of them ain't lookin
What's goin on in the kitchen, but I don’t know what's cookin 

We only care about money and power, all the time. I am supposed to learn and know, but how?

They say I got ta learn, but nobody's here to teach me,
If they cant understand it, how can they reach me?
I guess they can't; I guess they won't
I guess they front; that's why I know my life is outta luck, fool!

If they can't relate to me, they cannot teach me; I am out of luck.

We been spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
We been spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise

 
Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me
Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me

Can a person live a non-violent lifestyle in a violent environment?

Yes, a person can live a non-violent lifestyle in a violent environment. Although living non-violently is beneficial overall, it is still almost non-existent because it is so difficult. Gandhi, Aung San Suu Kyi, Martin Luther King Jr., and other non-violent advocates are famous because they are few in numbers: a non-violent approach to life is not easy. In the long run, non-violence pays off. Violence may be quicker and seem more efficient, but non-violence has a greater impact throughout time (Nancatube). Also, when people are working together non-violently, almost all goals can be achieved (AssociatedPress). Adversaries, when armed with weapons, often don't use their full intellect, instead they rely on a gun to help them along. Gandhi believed that physical force is used by people with weak minds, while strength is not only force, but rather the ability to express one's ideas (Mrholtshistory). Violence is a weak form of communication, while non-violence is stronger and more long-lasting. For example, India gained freedom with Gandhi's non-violent policy. So, India might have a less violent future and approach because of Gandhi. Also, Gandhi believed that non-violence is the only thing that can, eventually, overcome violence (Mrholtshistory). So, a non-violent approach is beneficial to all involved.

Although non-violence is obviously the better way to go, it is extremely difficult. To live non-violently, one must be willing to be unjustly treated with violence and not fight back. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. faced the unjust and violence-filled matter of segregation but still prevailed without resorting to violence. It is only natural for people to want to respond to violence with more violence. A natural response to someone hitting or hurting is to hit or hurt  back. Yet, to live non-violently, a person must overcome this urge and respond in other ways. Responding with violence, especially in a violent environment, can endanger one more than responding with non-violence. A person committing a crime in the street is not as likely to be violent to another unless they show signs of violence themselves. When a person pulls a gun on someone with a gun, the level of violence is likely to escalate. One person might be killed so the other person can protect themselves. Using the non-violence philosophy is extremely difficult and rare because it goes against basic human nature. People who have been able to overcome this human nature have made positive impacts for the better. By doing this, they are honored and admired throughout the world. Although living a non-violent lifestyle in a violent environment is very difficult, it is possible and will be beneficial to many in the end.