This last weekend in Indianapolis, 7 people were shot, and 2 died. No police were involved in these events taking place in minority areas of our city. Our poorer areas of the city are slowly evolving into war zones and have been for some time. My question is…
How motivated are the police going to be to go into these places where they are so hated, and if they do anything wrong in these high pressure, split second, life threatening events, they will be crucified? I’m not talking about what we saw with the police in Minneapolis, but the real stuff that happens every day! Guns and violence erupting in a split second! How much would you be willing to risk your life and career under these current circumstances? The people who seem to need the police the most, (and we all need them), but are they not cutting their own lifeline? Or am I just stupid?
I still believe it is a matter of faith and heart. There is a Reverend Charles Harrison and the Ten Point Coalition working desperately to bring a peaceful spirit to these communities. There is evidence suggesting they have made a real difference in some areas, but where are all the good church people in those communities that could join that effort?
There is no light except the light of Christ. If minds and hearts are full of darkness, then so will be the neighborhood, even on a sunny day. Can law enforcement or counselors change that? Unless they have real light to offer, I think not. We need a massive heart transplant, and not the kind that any medical doctor can do. I think Reverend Dr. Charles Harrison has the right idea if it leads to truly changed hearts.
So… will we see higher and higher death rates, crime rates, criminal activity and family disputes in minority areas until our new answers have a chance to work? Will these people suffer even more? And what are those new answers? Street counselors armed with psycho babble and no police backup, in the streets stopping gun toting thugs and gangs? Have we identified the real problem, or simply “avoided” the real issue again? Is this a real answer? Do we reap what we sow?
The tragedy is, and I mean real tragedy, as in TRAGIC! 7 more people were shot over the weekend because of violence filling the streets, and no one can speak of the real reasons, unless those of their own neighborhoods do. It does no good for anyone else to say anything. Past efforts have proven that. We might as well stay silent, because unless we’re one of them, and I am not, evidently, we should not speak, because we know nothing.
Path Without End 