Transition of the Mind
The Journey from Hoodlum to Saint: A Conflict of Two Natures
by
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Violence in the world has existed from the beginning. Violence itself stems from the tremendous moral and spiritual decline of humanity. When human beings devalue life, nothing remains sacred. Violence is not limited to poverty or increased by riches; it simply exists on every level and in every corner of the world. America has been one of the wealthiest nations that have ever existed from the days of humanity. In spite of that known fact, violence exists in every state of the union. As morality continues to decay, Americans will continue to suffer from detestable violence on every level. Gang violence in particular has escalated in the past seventy years and has gotten out of control. From the great effects of slavery, the “Great Depression,” segregation and racial-prejudice violence have become a regular part of our society.
In addition to gang violence and hatred, there is America’s drug and alcohol crisis. Drugs and alcohol are usually connected to gang violence or violence in some way. The dilemma has reached deep into the hearts of children at a very young age. Gone are the days when adults committed major crimes and children petty crimes. Now citizens of all ages have joined the societal crisis. It does not end there. Drugs and violence have affected the hearts of the entire world. They have plagued the minds of those who have an opportunity for success and those who have no hope. We must take action now before it is eternally too late.
Most agree that something needs to be done. I submit to you that a transition of the mind must occur for success. An inward desire to change is but the beginning. An environmental change of both mind and location bring a greater opportunity for success. This change brings a different point of view of life through exposure. Exposure helps to eradicate a mind of hate and violent aggression.
My hope is to help save the next generation. I desire to open the eyes of adults so that we can see the tremendous burden that we have placed on the children of tomorrow.
This research and literature have come from a combination of personal experiences, interviews of inner-city adults, and literature developed and written by many different artists, who through music, poetry, and books have reached out to society through their creative talents.
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About the Book
Author Tony Cloud grew up in Wheaton, Maryland, when the metropolitan area of Washington, DC, earned the title “Crime Capital of the World.” He knows firsthand the ugliness that crime perpetuates. In Transition of the Mind, he shows how drugs and violence have affected the hearts of the entire world and discusses how action must be taken before it’s too late.
This study journeys into the hearts of deprived, devalued, and distressed inner-city children. Based on real lives and true events in the ghetto and suburban areas, it answers many questions that have been asked by parents and grandparents around the nation:
• Why are so many young people joining gangs, and how do we get them out?
• What kinds of laws or rules are necessary for inner-city survival?
• How has poverty cheapened the value of life?
• Besides abortion, how are children murdered without a weapon?
• What is the power of a gangsta in underprivileged areas?
• Is racism truly alive, and does it exists on every level of life?
Heartfelt and raw, Transition of the Mind provides insight into the challenges of street life for many young people in inner-city settings. It shows that through discipline and faith in God and themselves, they can overcome the challenges and become righteous people.
About the Author
Tony Cloud, PhD, is a US Army veteran and is currently minister of the Soldotna Church of Christ. Cloud lives in Alaska with his wife, Nikki, and their two teenagers.