Big_Al, with regards to your comment about earning requirements, I could not post them in my profile because I do not have them. As a leader, I know it is very important to assess every man and woman on their own capabilities. Not everybody excels at every aspect of life and to believe otherwise would be truly naive. 

The sad thing is, these documents that you speak of contain, at my count, two of the current leaders. Those conversations are also seen and discussed out of context. As I'm sure you well know, context is vital to any and all conversations. Language is nothing without frame, afterall. So by saying that nobody should trust any of their leaders, is a particularly upsetting sentiment to make. Regardless of the conversations that have come to light, I still trust and intend to work with the aforementioned leaders, I do not know the context of those conversations and the past is just that. 

I can understand, from an 'outside' perspective why you may be concerned, my ancestors diaries discuss numerous occasions where they were very much in the same boat as you. They too have taken to these fair streets to discuss similiar topics, but in doing so they gained very little. In order to be successful in this life, you have to live inductively. You have to use everything you know and learn about our world, and try to use it as best you can.  but you have to put your trust in someone. Better the Devil you know. 

Even The Six Digits of death, or whatever we call them now since we can't say their names without the wrath of God, were Czylharz men.

Nope . 

Turns to Big_Al. 

Most of your speech I do somewhat agree with though. However the lines can become blurred when groups morph out of the same family to form something that encompasses the whole world. At what stage do you focus on just you and abandon your old family and leader you swore loyalty too? Admittedly this is exceptionally rare nowadays with most out for self preservation only.  

If you're consistently let down by your leaders I recommend swearing your loyalty to someone or something you can rely on. Then you live and learn on who that is. In the interests of not wanting to offend a fellow Gangster (ha), I dare say you're probably with the wrong person if you actually want someone to not fuck you over in the short, medium or long term. 

Smiles

I am going to be honest. I really didn't want to get dragged into this. Not because the point is not valid but because I don't feel the need to justify myself to anyone but my members. Its easy to sit and demand change when not in a position to do so. People lead how they see fit. That is their right and if the general population are not happy then these people die. Its proven over time.

But fuck it. If I am having my testicular fortitude questioned by a unmade member in a family which has been without it's leader for 30 days I might as well give you a wake up call.

I do not need to share this information though. My members are given a 24 hour pass. They get access to my clubhouse, they can mooch around and see if they like it. If they don't they can leave. No questions. Thanks for coming. Goodbye.

Now, do I need to do this? No. But I want people to want to be here. I want to create a club that has never ever been seen before.

Every patched member of this crew will have a say. I am not the deciding factor in any decision. They are. They decide what they each tribute and regulate themselves. Is that me demanding a tribute? Perhaps. But we are, by sheer necessity, money driven. Simply because protection is a mandatory requirement as a leader. If it isn't then you are doing it wrong.

In this club there is very much a 'Them' and 'Us. Them being anyone who is not a part of the club. From prospect to President. It's a 'we'

So to be perfectly fucking honest with you. I resent your bullshit and dislike your attitude. You question me and my methods as if I fell from the skies and this suit landed upon my lap. Hard work got me here and hard work will keep me here. No more and no less. You join this club. You join a brotherhood.

Hearing the tone of  Clay's voice, it's obvious that Al has either not been clear or he has worded thing poorly.  

Clay, thank you for standing up and saying something.  You are right, you owe me nothing and I feel the need to say once again, this is not about me.  I'm happy with what I've accomplished, frustrated with some of the details without a doubt, but I've learned more than most with such a short lineage.

The fact  you allow a recruit or prospect to have one day to decide if they want to stay or find a new home is honorable, not everyone allows this.  That said, I don't know you and am not sure if our ancestors crossed paths, but I ask you to take a moment and assume that you are the first generation to land on these shores.  You are approached by multiple crews asking for your loyalty and hard work.  Maybe they are fortunate and chose your SOA crew and someone spends time explaining how it works.  They walk around your HQ and get an idea of what your expectations are.  How can they make a comparison?  What do they know?  You may be the most fair crew in operation, but there is no way to know.  Several generations later, their kin start to realize just how much of an impact earning expectations have, and realize they have been sweating and bleeding for people who take advantage of them, all the while they could have been working for you.

Rory has already stated that each member of his crew is handled on an individual  basis.  While that leaves a lot of room to move, those are his rules.  Why not post them?  It's already public.  If you allow someone to leave after 24 hours, why not post it?  These are very attractive things to someone who doesn't know what to do.  

If you choose to see me as an arrogant, ignorant, low level gangster, I will accept that.  I'm sure you can imagine that I don't see my recent comments as something that will make me very popular with many of those in power.  So be it.  But leaders are asking for many hours of hard work from their crew.  And if you are as fair a man as you seem to be, you would benefit from providing this information.  You could use your club rules to make recruiting easier and have those recruits spread the word about how fair you are.  Those who may not be so fair, will have decisions to make.

I did  not question your testicular fortitude.  In fact, I have not singled out anyone.  All I have done is table issues that many are bothered by.  Rather than focus on the most complex concerns, I have focused  on something that is so simple and easy to implement, that I don't understand why there would be resistance.  This requires no outisde assistance.  

Any recruit should feel honored to join a crew, but every crew should feel honored that they were chosen.

I wish you and your club nothing but success and hope you accept my explanation.

"Dee comes from out the shadow"

I couldn't agree with your words more Sir Big Al

DannyGreene had been listening closely to all of the speeches on this corner the last couple of days. After listening to all sides he decided to give his two cents worth.

Rory, thank you for coming out and discussing this topic with the people.  Someone in your position could have stayed behind your body guards and let the associates of this world do all of the talking without any input from leadership. I commend you for this. 

Big_Al, kudos to you for having the testicular fortitude to even bring this topic up.  It has sparked many conversations, both here in the streets and behind closed doors.  Not once did I ever hear you ask for pity or even hint at 'woe is me'.  You too are to be commended.

Having said more than enough for his tastes, Danny steps back into the crowd and awaits more constructive conversation.

Harper is also standing in the crowd listening to what is being said.  She sees no problem with anyone coming into the streets and voicing their concerns.  It’s all food for thought. She sees that something has to be clarified here.

I guarantee you that the Wild Hunt has not been without leadership for the last 30 days.  While my Boss has been incarcerated in the administration jail I have been in constant contact with him.  I visited him very often and talk with him on a daily basis.  The daily operation of the family functions as if he was present with us.  His guidance brought us all through the recent turmoil is the cities.  The guidance I have from other leaders has also been awesome.    Rest assures we are doing just fine.

With that Harper steps back to listen to what the others might say.

Spikey thanks Big_Al for bringing this to the table. Spikey goes on to say we can lead a horse to water but we cannot make them drink. Spikey goes onto to say you have been misunderstood and those who did understand said as much and the others who understood opted to answer in circles.  

It's has turned into a game of self preservation among the same few. I find it disheartening when these powers place people in position, knowing damn right well for the wrong reasons.  Also, lining up and placing the same ones  in position, to eventually have backroom meetings to kill off entire cities. 

I have had many CL's in over 4 years.  Three stand out to be the greatest. They were not about themselves, their hands and their friends and hands. These CL's and their hands treated all equally with respect within the family headquarters. Rank was earned. Not because Jane or John Doe died and was a CL or hand and had to have that position back via a friend.

What is wrong with taking any noob by the hand and sharing  your experiences and building a population instead of killing it off?

Big_AL, I can tell this much. You are a wise man. You will know within a week how much your worth is viewed by a family.  If it does not match up to what you know you are worth, move on. You are their loss.  Believe it or not, CL's know a honorable, loyal and  hard worker but their backs are against the wall when it comes to their friends.

dontbemad looks at Lucy wondering  what stork dropped this one on their head. dontbemad asks anyway.

"union"...  sounds like alliance to me.   Uppers can have an alliance that doesn't really follow the spirit of the mafia but helps them reach their goals and it's OK, but if low level gangsters gather to make their world better it's a problem?   No double standards there.

dontbemad lets out a hearty laugh...

 

It's funny how obvious it becomes when feathers get ruffled.  Either we want the streets to be alive with discussion or we don't.  Big_Al came out and sparked some discussion.  At times its been good discussion.  Other times its been just ruffled feathers. 

In Al's original speech he said "I mean no disresp....."

Eh, fuck it.

Danny walks away shaking his head, mumbling to himself......

People will hear what they want to hear regardless of what is said.

Exhausted and becoming bored with the never ending deflection and lack of productive conversation coming from a few members of the crowd, Al speaks, 

Lucy,

I never said anything about any individuals.  I could, but that is not a way to initiate positive change.  

I have been in several crews and I have seen first hand the differences.  I have not been in a crew run by many of todays leaders, so I am not accusing them of anything.  But I have been told things.  I know we have some GREAT leaders here.  They teach, they protect, they respect and they are fair to those who dedicate their lives to their family.  They are the standard to which all leaders should hold themselves.

But I have seen the other side as well.  I have seen excessive greed.  Leaders who promote based on the success of someones ancestors, bypassing hard working gangsters who have proven in THIS LIFE, to have earned opportunities.  

Please don't stand in front of this crowd and tell me I'm wrong.  I'm misguided.  Or that these things don't happen.  They are not stupid.

If you feel I have called you a "cunt", I word I would never use, maybe I struck a nerve by asking the questions I have?  I'm not sure what kind of leader you are.  

Perhaps you can raise the bar again with another tremendous chess metaphor, @LoardToaly?

And perhaps I can have my speech impediment addressed at the same time. 

Oh boy, I am so fucking out of here.  What started off as a decent debate which was clearly stated by one of our finest leaders  Firstly Big_Al, thank you for bringing such a well reasoned debate to our streets. Has turned into accusations and personal witch hunts.

Harper waves to everyone as she leaves.