Leaving the Hood

I am fascinated by the way life is lived in the "hood". Inner city life amazes me.

Image via Wikipedia

Because I have never fully experienced life that way, I can't understand why people choose to stay in rough neighborhood.
When I see documentaries on gang life, they always discuss the reasons kids don't leave. They don't have a job, they don't have an education, they're loyal to others, etc... I keep thinking, if only they knew what opportunities were out there if they would just leave everything and move on. Life could be so much greater.

Then again, I suppose God could ask the same questions when it comes to each of us not letting go of earthly things.