Conflicts & (No) Solutions

After this topic and after I saw the below comments written in the section of this article, I really got to thinking about the situation at large. Take a look at the comments first:

Build a wall on November 4, 2009 1:13 PM
The simple answer is we need to build walls around these communities that house gang members, open drug activity and let them all kill each other so the rest of us are safe. Time to reclaim our city. Security checkpoints to let people in and out. Pretty simple if you ask me. At the rate their going shouldn't take that long anyway.

Joe on November 4, 2009 4:19 PM
I agree with Build a Wall. But instead, we should build the wall and bomb it. Then finally we can live in peace. And if you notice, all these problems come from the minority communies. Time to get educated and grow up you cockroaches and panthers! These cockroaches are an absolute embarassment and disgrace to this great city.

Erika Frances on November 4, 2009 4:39 PM
obviously he was let in the party to begin with... if you surround yourself by gang members, expect the worse. frankie could of been good person, may be rest in peace... but he associated with those fools.

Father on November 4, 2009 5:12 PM
To Erika Frances:
Frankie was a great person, not a good person. He didn't associate with you so no, he didn't associate with fools. He didn't surround himself with gang members. Why post such an inane and poorly thought-out comment unless you want to simplify a very complicated and tragic situation? There is nothing obvious about any of this. Otherwise, a great young man would not be dead and a wonderful young woman would not be wounded. Please stop the violence in your thoughts and actions. I know that's a simplistic wish but we can at least try.

I've mentioned before that I did not now know Frankie-but everything I've read and heard about him from people who knew him, speak in a way that makes you realize that the world will truly being missing an extraordinary human being.

He used his ambition, charisma and personal story of struggle to encourage other "young men of color to persevere in their educational pursuits," DePaul spokeswoman Denise Mattson said.

Frankie is better equipped than anyone to refute the ignorant statements that Build a Wall, Joe or Erika have said through an interview he did with VOICES:

Just because I'm in a certain demographic, doesn't mean I have to fit or act those stereotypes.

So no-a wall is not the solution. Frankie is example that good and exemplary people live within the communities of drug dealers and gangsters. They didn't choose that life but they do choose to not be a part of it. I would suggest watching District B13. Its a movie that examines the very idea of building a wall around the worst neighbors and bombing them-even though there a good people within it that try to make a difference. And let's not forget what happened the last time a wall was built around a city...

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For me personally, there's a mix of still not really believing that this has happened, and also at the same time, being really upset and angry. This is senseless...Frankie really believed that we could change the world, and at a time when everyone is so cynical, Frankie's belief that change is possible was infectious. -Vijay Pendakur, DePaul University's Director of Multicultural Student Affairs.

Pendakur said.

Halloween Night

The details of the crime are as follows:

Narcisco Gatica (r), 19, of the 2400 block of West Armitage Avenue, and Berly Valladares (l), 21, of the 2600 block of West Cortland Street, were each charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder

Gatica was an uninvited guest to the party and became upset by the "perceived slight" of being asked to leave. He went to Valladares' residence to get a gun, telling him that needed it to shoot someone, Det. Joseph Salemme said during a press conference.

Shortly after getting the gun, a TEC-9, Gatica returned to the party and began shooting erratically, letting four to six bullets fly through the air.

What I found absolutely appalling, is the fact that some people blamed Frankie for his death because 'that's what happens when you roll with that type of crowd' and 'it's his fault for being at a party in Humboldt Park.' Are people so close minded that they can't understand that good people live within neighborhoods that are run rampant with gangs?

It's a frightening day when someone justifies the murder of another.

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"From his earliest days on campus, Frankie honed his leadership skills and became a well-respected student and a positive influence on his friends and colleagues. We've lost a role model and exemplar of the highly engaged, civic-minded student who symbolizes the Vincentian ideals we seek to instill in every member of the DePaul community." Office of Mission & Values DePaul University

When I first heard the news of a DePaul student being killed, I was curious to know who it was and if I knew the person. I googled the incident and Frankie's face came up. I didn't know him but his face was familiar. It took all about to two seconds to realize where I had seen it before. He was one of a select few who was highlighted on DePaul University's homepage.

I felt sadness and remorse that a person who's light shone so brightly-had been abruptly extinguished.

As time passed and more information became public. It was clear that Frankie was more than just a typical college kid.

Frankie was an active member within the DePaul Community. He was constantly promoting change and social responsibility through VOICES, OMSA & The University's Ministry. He had recently been awarded the Lincoln Laureate, Illinois' most prestigious honor for a college student.

By society's standards Frankie should have been the one behind the gun. After all, he was a minority who came from a working class-single parent home. Instead, he choose not to succumb to society's ideals of what he should be. He was poised to become the first in his family to attend college. Frankie used his personal story of struggle to help other minority students push forward with their own college careers.

I come from a similar background and I can't say that I've accomplished half the things Frankie has. And I keep thinking 'What's my excuse?' Frankie showed through actions that it can be done

A Call To Action

Living in Chicago means I'm no stranger to violence. It was just a month before Frankie died, that the city, nation and eventually the president witnessed in horror the senseless acts of violence happening on our streets with the video-taped beating of Fenger honor student, Derrion Albert.

Chills at these brutal acts of violence are overcome by the sadness I feel at thinking of what the future would have held for these two young men. This emotion is best worded by a commentators post on Chicago Breaking News.

Brjz on November 4, 2009 11:46 PM
But man, that sucks.
Everyone involved lost.
Frankie is killed ...so he lost
All those people he would have helped throughout his life.... they lost too.
Those who killed him will spend their life in prison now... They lost as well.
Nobody won. Nothing was gained instead... Much was lost.

About Frankie's Legacy

The death of Francisco 'Frankie' Valencia has caused me to re-examine my life path and constantly ask 'Am I doing everything in my power to make the world around me a better place?'

So who was Frankie Valencia? I wish I could tell you I knew him personally, but I didn't. I guess that speaks volumes about his character-even in death he continues to inspire and unite people.

Frankie was the victim of a random and senseless act of violence. He was shot by reputed gang member Narcisco Gatica, who felt he had been wronged when asked to leave a Halloween party in which he was and uninvited and unwanted guest.

His death, like so many other random acts of violence was tragic no doubt. The difference is that Frankie didn't just simply go through the motions of life. He went above and beyond what was required of him; breaking stereotypes and bringing down walls in the process.

This project is meant to make sense of the violence that occurred, and to keep Frankie's light burning strong. He will forever be remembered through his legacy...

We are the future. How will you make it better? How will you be remembered? Frankie Valencia