Anti-Crime March and the Necessity of Taking Responsibility

I’m writing in response to the article on Rev. L. C. Carter, “Threats Won’t Derail Anti-Crime March” (Sept. 19), and I have a few thoughts:

We are living in a time of overwhelming problems and scarce answers. Drugs are crippling our future police, teachers and leaders. Crime and violence are removing from this lifetime our future workers and business people. Ignorance is enslaving millions. Financial and social pressures weigh heavy on the rest of us trying to make it today so that there will be a future.

This has happened for one main reason: our lack of personal responsibility.

I am not talking about saying, “OK, it was my fault.” That is not responsibility; that is shame, regret and blame. Personal responsibility means being cause, not just effect, in the area in which you choose. Further, responsibility assumes the courage to overcome barriers.

We as a nation and as individuals have let our personal responsibility slip. It is sad to say we have become individuals “ununited” yet pledging allegiance to a flag.

The problem now is not blacks against whites and Jew against Gentile but son against father, sister against brother, friend against friend. With this disunity, why are we surprised when violence flourishes seemingly unchecked, when the family is almost nonexistent, when people are afraid to go out at night and when no one feels safe at home unless they are locked in it?

It will keep getting worse unless you do something about it.

Think about what you’ve done so far to handle the crime problem. How bad has it gotten? How much more could you do?

Here comes Carter who has declared, “Enough is enough already.” I admire Carter, for he is taking responsibility to do something about the crime that plagues his neighborhood, my neighborhood and your neighborhood. He has the courage to see this quest through, regardless of death threats. He is in such danger because not enough of us are taking the same stand.

If every one of us were like Carter, crime would be no more.

I am with you, Reverend, and I’ll be at the march no matter what. What are you, the reader, going to do?

JANTONIO TURNER

Hollywood