Hurt, Anger, Disbelief at Rioting in L.A.

It’s my fault.

After two days of watching Channel 5 in L.A., the tears finally rolled down my face; the hurt, anger, disbelief, and frustration welling to a head as I watched Rodney Glen King address the people of Los Angeles and the rest of our country.

It’s my fault.

At 13, I watched from our rooftop in L.A. as Watts burned in ’65. In the 27 years that followed I’ve complained about the general state of injustice in our country but failed to act. I’ve become complacent and apathetic, giving up my right--no! my responsibility--to make a difference by failing to vote.

It’s my fault.

I’ve talked about the need to help those who require assistance in turning their lives around, the need to provide a high quality education to all, job training to those whose skills are no longer needed, and a way off of the dole that robs people of their dignity. But that’s all it’s been-lip service.

It’s my fault.

I listened as Channel 5’s Stan Chambers talked with Joseph Duff, the head of the NAACP in Los Angeles. Describing his conversation with Gov. Wilson, Mr. Duff said that he and his people had not been able to avail themselves of the opportunity to have an open dialogue regarding how to solve the problems that have existed in his community for the past three generations because he was not of the same party as the governor.

It’s my fault.

I’ve listened as black, white, Korean and Hispanic complained and blamed each other for their problems and despair. We’re all victims . . . of ourselves. We have failed to exercise our constitutional rights. We’ve allowed our elected officials to use their elected offices to enrich their lives, and the lives of those who ensure that they remain in office.

It’s my fault.

I am tired of hearing people referred to as black, white, Hispanic . . . . I believe we are one people, and one planet. What can I do, my brothers and sisters, to right the wrongs that all of the disadvantaged members of our society have suffered at the hands of those we have chosen to lead us? How can I make a difference when . . . .

It’s my fault.

Today I signed up to teach reading with the Literacy Volunteers of America, and wrote this letter to The Times. Tomorrow I’ll pick up petitions and begin the grass-roots effort to get Ross Perot on the ballot.

I’m not going to let it be my fault anymore.

We’ve seen incredible world events occur in the last two years that no one predicted could happen. I want to prosper, and I don’t want my as yet unborn children to have to pay the price for my greed or shortsightedness. I want equality for all, where every individual and business pays an equal share and has an opportunity to share in our economic prosperity and wonderfully diverse cultural heritage.

I want my country back! I want it to be better than it’s ever been before and not at the expense of the environment or a class of disenfranchised people.

And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to peacefully change the way we live and conduct life on this planet.

I predict we can do it if we choose to.

JOE EMMET JR., San Diego