It would take an enormous amount of
restraint, introspection and, yes, “vision” on the part of all parties, but the
people and the government of New York City should establish a goal of not only the
reduction to “zero” of the deaths of unarmed African American men at the hands
of police, but also the reduction to “zero” of the shootings of African
American children and adults in New York City as a result of illegal gun violence, armed
hold ups, drive-by shootings, shootings at baby showers, etc. It may
seem an unrealistic proposal, but perhaps establishing a goal of zero in both realms
-- among the police and the community --
would be an effective way to begin to reduce killings of the innocent in
our city.
And this isn’t simply an issue of “someone
else’s problem.” Maybe everyone needs to
take responsibility for the elimination of violence in NYC. We all recognize it’s
a tense, expensive and extremely fast-paced town to live in. Folks are under a
lot of stress. So, it’s not only out-and-out crime or police violence, but road
rage, discourtesy and rudeness in public places and on our increasingly crowded
public transportation, and generalized
hostility and a tendency of folks to unleash their anger at the first opportunity
and often least provocation. Unrealistic? Yes, but we have to begin somewhere.
As John Lennon (himself, of course, a
victim of gun violence perpetrated by a white male) sang, “War is Over, If You Want
It” – so is violence in New York City.
--Anthony Napoli
Deep in the Heart of Brooklyn
