It would no doubt be interesting to look at the roots of gangs, racist and otherwise, in our society. Of course gangs and racist groups are not unique to our current situation and exist where ever human society exists. There is a craving for group identity and a sense of mission that if left addressed will form into groups whose goals are antithetical to those of civil society. So why now?

I find it particularly noteworthy that as our society urbanized and schools became larger, seperate from their local neighborhoods, gangs became almost a necessity for school age boys to belong and to not be picked picked on. I think it has to do with human nature and an appreciation for human nature was rejected as the standard sociological model became dominant and dogmatic orthodoxy among those who observe and oversee social programs, such as educational systems. Exacerbating this, of course, was the "war on drugs" which became the single best way to bring big money, enough to by powerful weapons and influence, into the picture.

We can't turn back the clock and return to the world of the little red school house, but I'm apprehensive that we'll ever get a grip on the problem until we integrate a more scientific and accurate understanding of the motivations that make kids, after they've been bullied, join groups whose motivation is revenge and addressing the loss felt when they themselves were made powerless by others.

You seem to be onto something here, Wingnut guy. I haven't been able to read all these comments.

You forgot to mention Ted Kazinsky the Unabomber, but then he was kind of a unique blend of right and left wing extremism, with a serious dose of psychosis thrown in.

I think part of the argument is that we are trying to cast this into an issue of right versus left and I see this as an extreme versus centrist issue. Why not take a moment and try to reframe this withini the context of the politcal compass...google it and take the little test on its website.

And again, my compliments on having such an impact on the readership here. And, nice hat.

But really, there is the basic male sociobiological instincts which equate variety, and so exotic appearances, with achieving one's genetic purpose. The monogomy myth that's been foisted on us by religion and heirarchical leaders (who were of course not held to the same standards) is also a play here and so again exotic appearances...and really, why not turn the question around and ask "what's with asian women finding otherwise not too spectacular examples of causasion men so attractive"? I'm a typical white guy and I lived in California's bay area for many years in a committed relationship with a wonderful white american woman. That relationship ended and, being a generally nice, physically fit but nothing special kind of guy, found myself the center of attraction by a number of asian (japanese, singaporean,chinese) women. It was flattering and the idea that it was all about greencards was something to think about but there were the american asian women who likewise found me, who most desirable caucasian women would not give much thought (probably because I was financially challenged), to be desireable. I've also found myself in a number of flirtatious but non-physical situations with african-american women, and agian it seemed that I was the one being pursued.

This doesn't answer the question and for the life of me I don't know what the answer is, but I will say that now race means very little to me, and yeah, now I find asian women attractive which I never did before. I'm old enough now to fully appreciate that looks are not everything but novelty is a force, as is cuteness, and politeness and gentility and raunchiness...it's one complex decison process out there in the land of romance. Trying to figure out the hows and whys of people's desires, once we leave the territory of pure sociobiology, seems to me to be utterly impossible but a fascinating discussion.

Oh, and as an aside, the caucasian woman with whom I was in a committed relationship had something of a thing for asian men. So, I think some caucasian women who have been unsuccessful with caucasian men, see that caucasian men go ga-ga over exotic looks and presume it has something to do with being asian instead of how men simply like their partners to be vital and new.

Our sexual desires are, I think, largely the result of instinctual drives modified by experience, some of which parnets control, or like to think they do. Furthermore not all of us have the same exact ones that come to the fore at the exact same time.

I think the best thing you can do is accept the fact that she's driven that way (and maybe check how the biological parents were at that age), guide her with good advice on acceptible contraception and protection from STDs, recognize that to constrain her in this aspect will have ramifications in other parts of her life (instincts simply will not be denied and will erupt in other unexpected and possibly even less acceptible ways), and make sure she's loved and accepted by her family so that when the impulse is over she will integrate back into a trusting, understanding and supportive social unit.

For comfort think of all the people who are now responsible adults who were at least equally impulsive and sexually driven at that phase in their lives and how they are now better and wiser for it....but you can't shove wisdom into anyone's brain.