Michael is caught walking around with a journal in his hand. The journal was old and torn. Definitely had some age to it. The look on his face was one that was caught between confused and graced.

The topic I wanted to bring up is something definitely controversial.

After reading my ancestors journals of how things were back in the old days, I have to question myself, "What has changed since then?" and "Is it better this way?". What I'm refering to is how this thing of ours has gotten softer in a sense. Everyone is out for the same thing and instead of fighting for it, they are more than likely to share. Kindergarden actually paid off for some of us. Sharing is caring. The organization isn't used to such a rare gesture.

Sharing was never a strong attribute in the old days. Even small things such as attempting to make a quick easy buck on a drug deal, asking a friend of ours from another organization, often lead to fake drug prices. Or charging one another to get them. The understanding back then was why let the competition get ahead? Why let someone who might turn out to be your enemy later, someone at the other side of a piece pointed at your head, get ahead? Sharing things such as a city was even hard back then. Civil wars often broke out due to simple disagreements. Arguements over who ran the city broke out and all hell broke loose. Hell would last for hours, sometimes days before the white flag was thrown. Or in the worst circumstances, when everyone was dead.

Taking things by force was often practiced weekly, daily even. When someone wanted power or even money, they took their position by force. Killing another high respected mobster was like a daily chore, such as taking out ones trash to the side walk in the mornings. It was part of the ordinary life really it seemed like. One reading even explained that killings were done out of pure boredom. Or even "training" if you will. See how well your troops can perform in action. Wars being started due to "training" baffles me.

The art of pickpocketing back in the old days was considered an act of war almost. He was considered as violent as shooting someone. The fact that nowadays pickpocketing is almost a sense of playing your favorite 1st grade game of tag, makes our generation look as soft as Kamakazie's bare ass. The other thing is why does one need permission to pickpocket? If it is an unwanted attack that I'm reading about in these diaries, why must I have permission to attempt it? Afterall I don't need your own permission to wack you, I'm just going to snatch your life out of you. It just doesn't make sense. Why has something that was once considered a violent act, now proved to be a game amongst us? Where is the line drawn?

These characteristics of the old days seem to be simply gone these days. Is this a good thing, bad thing? Why has it changed?

After hearing the speech Alberto clears his throat to share some of his thoughts...

My ancestors may not be around during those turbulent times that you speak of sir but they had their own share of bloodshed during wars. Has something changed? There certainly has been some change and for business minded men like me this change is something good. Now don't be deceived by the going soft thing sir for I'm sure that when and if things calls for the use of force I'm certain that all will be more than willing to defend what they hold precious to them. The thing is our organization was created for the purpose of doing business and war as most if not all will agree is bad for business.

Prehaps it is a change in business stategy that has brought us to this "calm"

as the old saying goes, "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" is 

prehaps a more rewarding ethic than the idea of eliminating competition before they become a threat. 

Pickles mulls this over after having just shared his experiences in pick pocketing.

It is definately an affront to pick pocket someone who isn't willing to "play tag," and I do like the analogy by the way.  However, as far as a beligerent, violent attack, it definately lacks force and style.  After all, taking someone's pocket change isn't that damaging to the family business.  If you're going to make an attack, then by all means, shoot to kill.  We haven't gone soft.  We've grown stronger.  Violence isn't always a show of strength.  Usually, violence is a displaying of having no other way to respond.  It takes more strength and intelligence to shrug off something inconsequential.  Older generations couldn't walk away from losing a few hundred without overreacting.  Now, we have learned to know when we are being threatened and when we are merely having fun with each other.  Before I began my life of organised crime, I used to work in local speakeasies as a bouncer.  It is amazing how many fights are started by idiots who don't know how to behave in public.  I've seen people fly off the handle for being accidently bumped in a crowded bar, or for having a guy smile at his women (here's something to think about . . . if no one hits on your girlfriend, how ugly is she?).  Unnecessary damage and injury is caused by people who just don't understand when and why to fight.

I say our change in thinking is a positive change.  We have tempered our anger and grown wiser.

Pablo listens respectfully to MichaelFiorenzo

"You raise some interesting points there. I find the art of the pick pocket fascinating, the dexterity and slight of hand can at time's appear almost magical. As to why I do not peruse someone who has picked my pocket, quite simply I have more important things to do. I am a fairly rich man, losing a couple of hundred bucks here and there effects me not in the slightest, certainly not enough to go running down the street and getting into a fight over it.

As to the violent and turbulent past you speak of? My family are new to these shore's and were not around in those days, so I cannot comment, but I do here story's of the old days.

Have things changed for the better or for the worse? In my mind the world is the way it is. I cannot change it, only the greatest of men and women are able to change the time's in which they live. I just try to make the best of my time in this world."

*Graho listens to the few speaches being made and cracks open a bottle of sailor jerrys*

Interesting points that have been raised, my ancestors have been around for many years and one of the fondest storys that have been passed down are ones of crime, violance and revenge. Be it from the secret mugging games we used to play to planning a entire family downfall in 12 hours. Or even the greatest fun of all was continually picking off one persons bloodline till they groveled on their knees.

However i must say ive recentally returned to these shores and through the lack of violance around here it means i have started relearning the trade and the ways of the old. Ive not been hassled by mafio's down dark alleys trying to take pot shots nor have i been targeted for the family i joined. At the moment i think the community has hit the nail on the head at this point in time.

Then again what do i know, im mearly a goomba.

*Graho looks around at the confused faces and walks into the shadows before throwing half a bottle of Sailor Jerrys through a nearby window*

Listening intently to the speech he smiles as he recalls the words in his ancestors diaries

Ahh the old days, I've read so much about them I almost feel like I lived through them. There is no doubt that there are aspects that some of us would wish to see return but if we were all to live in the past then we would be facing an uphill struggle.

What has allowed us to continue on is the evolution that we have gone through. Days gone by were more dangerous, but out of that danger we have seen the rise of empires. The heart of our business has and always will be money and power and these days longevity brings just that.

Zack listens to MichaelFiorenzo's speach with his good ear and cannot agree more to what he says...

Yes Mr.Fiorenzo i cannot agree with you more! Yessiree bob, times has changed... i remember my father telling me about my family's ancestors. Times were rough back then... pickpocketing was a crime not like todays game. And wars occured more often also, beeing a mobster back then was something. Not that i am complaining but today... certain activities seems to be a little dull. Pickpocketing is not as exciting i would say... but what are we to do about it? But you do bring on something to think about there.

Zack nods at Mr.MichaelFiorenzo and steps down....

Michael listens to his first responders to his topic. He thinks before he speaks out his own opinion to some of their responses.

I understand the saying, war is bad for business. I really do.

Something that comes to my mind is that not everyone was a businessman back then. Some people got into this life solely on that fact that murdering people was their fetish. They're way to feel alive. They're own rush if you will. We regular people may get our rush from making our dough by extorting people or robbing them, while others get off by ending anothers life. Where are these people? Has the murdering business been overwelmed by the real business we were all here for?

As for our anger being tempered and us growing wiser, I can see what you mean. The little things don't bother us anymore such as pickpocketing. Like I said, the friendly game of tag has a new meaning. The passing of notes such as prices from the local drug dealer are easily given just to anyone. Is it in hope to gain connections for later down the road or just out of the goodness of your heart? Because what WE do is heartless after all. We steal from the weak. Poor old ladies purses can only get us so far.

Pablo, are you saying that the people in power at the moment shape this way of life for us? The reason behind the steady peace, and non violent actions are due to the people in charge of us right now? Because I can believe that. But when does it end? The reason I chose the title for this conversation is for that very reason. When does this end?

Lastly, I had a conversation with a dear friend of mine last night. I asked him why has the peace lasted so long? He merely told me due to the fact of how difficult it is to make a difference these days. The actual business of making money these days has actually changed greatly since then. A good thing some may think, but a bad thing to others. According to the journals, the amount of bodyguards one would have was a fraction of what some people have today. The difficulty of the violent acts makes it that much harder for the true masterminds.

As I hear opinions from people, I'm eager to hear more.

Pablo listens to MichaelFiorenzo response to the reply's

From my point of view, my home city of Chicago's power and stability exist because of Godfather Roman and it's CL's. The same goes for New York. So yes I would say that people in positions of power shape this way of life.

When will this end? Not an easy question to answer. It seems to me the the struggle for power has evolved from one of war and bloodshed into something more akin to a game of chess, where politics plays a bigger hand then ever before.

So with Chicago and NY being the power house's they are, there are surly only a few possible ways things could change. Either Chicago and NY would have to go to war against each other. Which would probably leave both city's in tatters, which could lead to lots of smaller wars in a battle to fill the gulf of power left by the demise of two huge city's.

Or the other city's will have to bide they time, grow in power, strength and size, to be in a position to even the playing field, and upset the current status quo.

In the end it comes down having the will, the power and the balls to make a move. But as recent events have proven, you better make sure you have some serious power before you make that move. Or you crew and/or city will be doomed to fail.

Michael listens to Pablo. His points are valid and very on point. He agrees with them but has to say something...

Chicago and New York are the power houses. Theres no doubt about it. The wars fought against the two are in double digits probably. They are where they are because of this.

The big point you brought up that I liked the most was the one about politics. Now some will say politics are everything while others will say its all about the gun. I disagree with those people. Politics is everything to us. The game of politics is hard to master, the hardest I believe. More hitters are coming up and know nothing about the game of politics. Why I am wondering when this will end, and how. To a nasty sneaky little Rogue or a group of them? Or by something much more bigger.