The Rodney King Verdict: Did Our Justice System Fail? And Now What?

I want to thank William Julius Wilson for his insightful Commentary (“Imagine Life Without a Future,” May 6). I absolutely agree that “the magnitude of the Los Angeles’ social quake and the sheer number of black youth caught in a hopeless situation make it clear that the problem is systemic, not personal.”

However, I respectfully disagree that this is “a hopeless situation.” Minorities help make America great by forcing us to look beyond ourselves and to the future, to America--a land of opportunity. Yes, there has been a long history of past discrimination, which is deplorable, but there is hope.

Many have been empowered and are having an impact, such as Mayor (Tom) Bradley, Police Chief Willie Williams and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who respect and acknowledge their “roots.” These men want to help and must have an impact daily.

But, more needs to be done now! These young men should be able to work, especially when projects need to be done.

California, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties more specifically, are in desperate need of a long-range plan for public transportation which will be able to handle present traffic as well as projected growth needs. Why not get a corporation that has successfully operated many multiethnic projects domestically and worldwide to head up a program providing necessary jobs and money to help people such as those in Los Angeles wanting a job to provide for their needs.

There is great satisfaction in doing a good job knowing we, as well as others, can benefit from our work for many years to come. There is a need and apparently people who can get together to make this a better place to live.

Whether headed up by private enterprise or the state or federal government by utilizing the Army’s Corp of Engineers or a TVA-type program, let’s not let an opportunity and a pressing need pass us by.

When people need a job and a paycheck to bring home and the community needs something to be done, why can’t we, together, get the job done? Using our good American ingenuity, let’s put feet to our dreams.

KAREN J. CASEY, Lake Forest