Save The City
Here's what we need -- everyone, from city to suburb, politician to business leader, professional athlete to high school coach getting involed, in some way, for one year, in breaking the cycle of violence that is Baltimore's national shame: One man, one woman, one boy, one girl, one neighborhood at a time. I think about this night and day. It is our great unfinished business -- wiping out the poverty and other social conditions that lead to so much violence, so much incarceration, unemployment, family dysfunction in the inner-city. We are going to get something going. There is a movement afoot, and I can sense it.
I was inspired by this e-mail, among others like it, that arrived in a flood of response to Thursday's column. It is from a reader named Grant Corley:
I was so frustrated and disgusted after reading your column last night. Thanks -- you ruined my dinner!
A month ago, I moved back to my hometown of Baltimore. I moved out 15 years ago, but I missed this town and slowly realized I wanted to live and work here as an adult. It meant a lot to me. So I'm back.
Needless to say, it's been a bittersweet experience so far. Every day I see things that amaze me and make me proud to call Baltimore home again.
But the crime is hearbreaking. It's stunning. It's wasting so many lives, it's killing our city, and it's crippling our state. I don't have immediate personal experience with the violence, but I take it personally. I realize this has been going on for years now, but -- still -- 15 murders in the last ten days???
So, yes, I agree with you. Every one of us who cares needs to help to try and end the cycle of poverty and despair.And I wanted to ask you, or your readers, for a some suggestions on realistic actions for us to take. A lot of regular folks, including myself, probably don't have the time and the skill to personally organize a march on City Hall or to overhaul the city's school system. I'm not an aspiring politician or a social worker, or even a parent (yet), but I care about this community and I'm willing to pitch in to help turn this city around, in whatever way I can.
Maybe this is a recommendation for a column. I'm not sure. "10 ways you can pitch in to heal Baltimore." Something like that. What are the best organizations in the city that are working effectively toward stemming the poverty and the crime? Whether they be social organizations like soup kitchens or drug treatment centers, or political action groups, or simply groups that are trying to bring in more jobs and residents? Or maybe other creative ways to help? (Sorry if you already wrote the column I'm pining for, multiple times -- I probably missed it.)
I realize that this sickness has been going on for more than a generation. And that this is an immensely complex and deep-rooted problem, half a century in the making. It won't be going away anytime soon. But I can't think of anything that makes me sadder than this city still mired in violence in another generation.
Bad as things are, this old town is worth saving -- all of it. That's why I -- as I suspect you and many of your readers do -- still have this crazy vision of a happy, healed, growing Baltimore, and I can't seem to get it out of my head.Please keep those outraged columns coming.
Thank you, Grant. All I can say is: Watch this space, and my column.
For now, Go Ravens!
Comments
Grant, you read my mind. I too want to know how to help, in whatever way that may be.
We live in Carroll County, but I grew up in the city and attended schools there. A list of suggestions will be welcomed.
Margaret
Posted by: Margaret | January 13, 2007 12:39 PM
Can We Win the Big Ones?
By Matthews W. Wright, M.Ed.
“Imagination is the key to reality” M.W.W.
With the recent heart-break loss of the AFC North Champion Baltimore Ravens and the continuing fall of our Baltimore Orioles the thought of truly winning it all has the legions of regional fans waiting again until next season. It seems as if bringing a championship team back to the city continues to elude us regardless of the resources and energy that is pumped into the effort.
The question however is not directed to sports teams or championship trophies. The question of winning the big ones is juxtaposed with the social issues that continue to plague this city and our nation. Education, economics, public safety, health, equal opportunity and the belief that everyone has the ability to share in the “American Dream” have been purported to be achievable. Yet, the reality these social issues reflect are the simple and utter failure of poor and even so called middle-class citizens to keep pace with the acceleration of a declining economy.
Another perspective on the question is; have we ever strategically dealt with the core concerns that lie just below the surface? It’s my sense that we’ve only directed ourselves to the symptoms; drugs, teen pregnancy, massive youth arrests, a huge school dropout rate and a family structure that has been shattered. The single most answer traditionally used to resolve the issues is money! That answer in and of itself has proven to be a total failure in getting to the bottom of the impending issues. Just recently a question was raised regarding the homicide rate for 2007 and on TV, an expert answered that it would take more money and police to solve the problem. Fire the expert!
Before money became the end all answer to everything, the word “We” was valued and inclusive. That term has been set aside and “I” has become the mantra. “We” ain’t happening now! It is clearly “Us -- Them and specifically I and Me”, at this juncture! Total honesty causes me to say that there is enough blame to go around tainting everyone so there is no single culprit to hang in effigy. Everyone has to accept some responsibility to resolve these issues. Unfortunately, families nor communities are no longer traditionally structured as in the 60’s and the former “rootedness that young people sensed living in an intact family with parents and grandparents and neighbors watching your every move have past.
We all clearly have a responsibility to engage ourselves ethically and/or morally in some way to lessen the impact of today’s social issues. What are we doing specifically regarding time, resources and mindset to take on these mentioned issues? Be inclusive in your thoughts and actions by just not looking in your community and family, but in communities or families that live beyond your environment. Business persons, civil servants, professionals, religious leaders, philanthropist entities all begin as individuals and we must fight fear and materialism along with the classism and racism that have fully leveraged their way to the fore-front as long term weapons in the battle of the “have’s against the have not’s”. These weapons offer no real support to resolve our issues they are merely false fronts with no foundation or merit. As a community of people, we are inter-locked by space if not by conscience. Whatever impacts the least of us also affects the majority of us. The game is on and the clock is running! How game are you?
Posted by: Matthews Wright | January 20, 2007 9:15 AM