Graffiti For The Greater Good

In my experiences here in Puerto Rico I have witnessed where the population here could learn some lessons from the United States. My wife is a school teacher here and I am appalled at the ways the education system is run here. Janitors doing payroll while rats run in and out of classrooms because the trash is not taken out.

It is my opinion that Maggie is highly underpaid for the stuff she has to put up with going to that school every day. I do believe the education system within Puerto Rico could learn a lot from the system in the United States, but I want to turn that around some too. There is some the U.S. could learn from Puerto Rico too! A prime example is prayer. It warmed my heart when one day I was at the school and all the teachers gathered holding hands in a wonderful prayer to our magnificent God. I pray the A.C.L.U. stays away from Puerto Rico.

Another lesson the United States could learn is to allow kids free expression. Many teens express themselves through graffiti. In cities across the United States you see bad graffiti everywhere. Take a look at the examples below:

Much of that "bad" graffiti is the work of gang members. Gangs are here in Puerto Rico too and you do see "bad" graffiti here too. The key to defeating this is to bring that artwork out of these kids in the school.

My love, my life; my beautiful wife, Maggie is a special education teacher. They have allowed the children at the school she works at to graffiti up the walls. The key is: it's good graffiti.

They are bringing out the artisan side of these kids and giving them avenues to travel that may lead them away from the drugs, crime and gang life.

Here is some examples of what the school she works at has allowed.

I say that when they show their talents, let them loose on buildings. That is what has happened in parts of Puerto Rico.

I believe this art can be very beautiful. It can make an abandoned building look so much better than having gang graffiti or mold and mildew.

I am posting pictures of some of this beautiful graffiti I have seen here in Puerto Rico. It is my opinion that you need to see it up close and personal. Make your next vacation a Caribbean vacation and visit this paradise. You won't regret it!

As you can see, this graffiti is beautiful. Some cities in the United States are seeing this and trying to do the same.

Below is a video I found showing a project in Washington D.C. What a great way to put these young people's minds to work.

Let's try this everywhere. Let them decorate the buildings and the parks. The kids have talent-use it!

© G.L. Boudonck