Letters | VIOLENCE COVERAGE NEEDS MINDSET MAKEOVER

PEOPLE ALL OVER this country are bearing witness to Philadelphia's violent gun behavior and its inability to control its youth from killing each other.

How much more does it take for us to realize we need help from a different source? And that has to come from changing the way young people think. Our media can play a big part in this mindset makeover. Instead of bringing the attention of the public to the number of people killed, as if it's a sports score, why not put the emphasis on finding the murderers?

By steering the public's attention toward the horror of murdering someone, more people would become sympathetic. The more sympathetic a person feels, the more apt they are to be of assistance in helping to find the murderer. But if all the attention is on the numbers of people being killed, then those numbers become the news.

Finding murderers would show the rest of the country our concern for human life - not just a concern for reporting the number killed.

Violence breeds violence. The only weapon that destroys violence is the weapon of peace. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached non-violence and he was killed on April 4, 1968. But his message still lives, and it did help to deter violence amongst blacks and whites. I believe his message of nonviolence can help to deter black-on-black crime as well. But we must remember his sacrifice. Dr. King left us with the word love.

Now, let's use it and make this the real City of Brotherly Love. Right now it's not.

Robert Woodard, Wynnefield

What planet does letter-writer Bobby Jackson live on? I don't remember "fair fights."

The '50s, '60s and '70s were a time of riots on Columbus Avenue and other business streets, gun battles in front of schools and high school football with no audience because of violence.

Members of gangs like Brickyard or the Black Panthers gave themselves titles like minister of war and minister of defense. Have you forgotten that eight policeman were shot in one night? Or the hourly purse snatchings?

Mary Arzounian, Philadelphia

Talent, not sexuality

I agree wholeheartedly with Deb Woodell's op-ed on "gay power." Many people only recognize some celebrities for sexual things like coming out the closet. But we need to stop judging based on their sexuality, and compliment them for the good work they do in their careers.

Joy Baynes, Philadelphia