opinion
What is going on in Indianapolis? In only a few days, several people have been shot in the streets by drive-by shooters. Already this year, homicides in Marion County are trending up. All of this is going on and the hot days of summer are not even here yet.
There is a great concern in neighborhoods about the crime taking place in our community. When young children are being shot and families being destroyed due to violent acts, one has to wonder if it is time to move to a safer community. But where is a safer community when crime is torching every neighborhood of our community?
When will there be a public outcry about the violence and crime going on? And when will the public come together to find solutions to address our communities’ problems? We must work together to keep the Indianapolis community safe. There are many great organizations already doing the work, however, we still need more people step up and help these programs.
We must elevate out thinking beyond the political debates and work to save our future by working to save our youth. There are no cure-all programs but there are many great programs. However, we need more people power. Today we seem worried with possessions, but what possessions are we most worried about? Is it our wealth, political supremacy, material things, or are we worried about the young lives we are accountable for? Adults are always proud to teach babies to say their first words, or to teach a child to count to 10. So, why not be proud to teach our youth to stop the violence so we can all have peace in the streets?
Olgen Williams
Indianapolis
New hands-free law will make Indiana's roadways safer
Those of us in the business of building and maintaining Indiana’s roads, bridges and interstates are excited about changes coming to these transportation systems on July 1. That’s when House Bill 1070 becomes law, banning drivers from using their hands to operate a mobile phone when behind the wheel. The law doesn’t prohibit drivers from using hands-free or voice-operated technology to make a call, but holding a phone to talk, text or tweet while driving will be illegal, enforceable and punishable. It’s a common sense move that should put a dent in grim statistics that, in 2018, reported 14 people killed and 650 injured in INDOT work zones. Driving a motor vehicle is no time for distraction of any kind, especially in a work zone. On behalf of transportation workers statewide, thank you to the General Assembly and Gov. Eric Holcomb for making our roadways safer.
Dave McDougall
Indianapolis
Trump uses adversaries to manipulate, divide Americans
John Bolton, the former national security adviser to President Trump has written a new book about his time in the White House. Bolton alleges that Trump personally asked Chinese President Xi for help getting reelected. In other words, he asked yet another foreign leader to interfere in our elections. You know why we are finding this out only now? Because Sens. Todd Young and Mike Braun refused to have the impeachment trial in the Senate. Instead of learning about this in a book, the Senate could have subpoenaed Bolton to testify in front of the Senate. You would figure that at least a legislator with such national security credentials as Young would be interested in learning about how the president asked the leader of an adversary nation to undermine the integrity of our elections. We spend $700 billion on defense only for the president to invite the Chinese and Russians into our homes to manipulate and divide us.
Jared Stancombe
Heltonville
History can't be changed by removing statues, renaming military bases
As a white male born in the 1940’s, lived my teen life in Detroit, poor, no father figure, a high school dropout at 15, I may not know what being Black is but I do know there were many white children like myself.
We learned about life on the streets and we got into a little trouble. At 18, I woke up joined the Navy, finished high school and had structure for the first time. After the service I married and went to work for a Chrysler Foundry progressing up the ranks to production superintendent. Our plant was comprised of 80% Black people and other young Black men followed that path. None of us were entitled but we worked hard and raised our children. None of us even considered the names of military bases or statues. Today you have protesters who think they will change history by removing it. With the effects of the virus and the protesters I now feel that everything we old people have accomplished has been taken away.
Arthur Dewaelsche
Greenwood
Stop talking about race — instead collect informed data
Let's try something really different about race — stop talking about it. Really stop it. We have talked about it incessantly since the dawn of the Great Society. We now have so much talk that there is really nothing new to say. Moreover, community leaders don't want a conversation; they want a lecture opportunity about how systemically racist the world is. I suggest collecting facts and not talking. Just collect facts about wealth, income, poverty, police, government expenditures, etc. I have in mind something like the Washington Post's database on police shootings but broader and more detailed. For researchers, all these data are available but for the general public, we need guidance on the facts from everyone. We need more information, not long stories about feelings. Children used to be taught that feelings can't change facts but we all need to learn this lesson again. There is no chance that anyone will adopt my suggestion, so talk away but you will be talking to an ever smaller group of people that does not include me.
Charles Trzcinka
Bloomington
Every American citizen is afforded identical rights
During the recent public turmoil, we tend to overlook two basic and major realities that are very important and very simple for all Americans: Every American citizen is afforded precisely the same Constitutional rights. And every American citizen has precisely the same responsibilities toward other citizens’ Constitutional rights.
There is no room for debate.
Charles Case
Indianapolis
'The destruction of the Black community is paved with political apathy for equality'
When it is suggested that white people can be a force in ameliorating the ongoing racial divide in America, there needs to be more clarification as to perhaps which white people.
Every white individual today was not around at the genesis of the abyss between races. Over a century or more, the general white population did not become involved or even aware of the segregation issue until the JFK era in the 1960's when he endorsed a new approach to civil rights. It became a political quagmire in Congress and when LBJ became president the political pressure became unsupportable. He quickly, but not with enthusiasm, pushed civil rights legislation that he eventually signed. Although the Civil Rights Act was engaged, the 1960's culture was not ready. Several cities where in uproar over the clash between the desegregation of the country's institutions. LBJ never personally supported the law and he said so many times.
In decades since the Black people have been in a bad position and continued to be 'lynched' by the remains of Johnson's Democrat rhetoric: economically, educationally, environmentally and marginally. There remains a division between Americans and it is fomented by political ideology. Sadly, for those African Americans that have been burdened by political injustices for generations only see that all white citizens are not similarly endorsing racial equality. Although the rhetoric is positive they seem to know for the most it is politically a sham. It may be that the only role white people could play in making this right is not to destroy our past but indeed respect its role in America's growth and support those persons who believe in equality to elect political candidates who hold no malice against anyone. It be my opinion that the destruction of the Black community is paved with political apathy for equality and only the rhetoric necessary to stay in office.
A.Z. Soforenko
Fishers
A display of kindness and generosity at Sam's Club
With everything that’s going on right now, there really are some very kind souls out there. I was at Sam’s Club on 96th Street, trying to get gas. There was an issue with the computer system at the pumps, so not everyone’s cards were being accepted. I felt so sorry for the attendant because people were acting like it was his fault. Well, this very nice gentleman just swooped in, offered up his credit card and paid for my gas. It happened so fast. I was so in shock, I didn’t think to ask his name. I hugged him (I know) and said thank you. My plan is to pay it forward. He said this was from Jesus. Furthermore, I’m an African American woman; he is white. Oh, he drove a Jeep.
Wanda White
McCordsville
"crime" - Google News
June 21, 2020 at 05:05PM
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Letters: 'Great concern' exists about crime in Indianapolis neighborhoods - IndyStar
"crime" - Google News
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