Letters to the Editor
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Who's To Blame?
That's what this story is really about.
The violent death of any person is a sad and terrible thing. The violent death of an innocent is tragic. I thought this story would be one of coming to grips with societal shortcomings. Instead, it appears to be one more attempt to blame others for a problem that rests squarely on the shoulders of the person who pulled the trigger. Keith Stephens was murdered. Why? According to the writer, slavery is to blame (i.e. white people).
"It happened for reasons that any one of us could name -- start with slavery, take it from there."
According to the pastor it is the government's fault (i.e...)
"We've learned the hard way that violence never solves anything," Pastor Peoples shouted. "But it's hard to teach that to our kids when our government is using violence to try and take over the world."
Keith Stephens was murdered because, according to the story, someone found out that he was looking for some money he was owed. That is all. Period. People kill other people. Is it surprising that black people kill black people? Look intently into the mirror, and you will see the reason that Keith Stephens died. A human. A human with the intellect and the drive to do things that are exceedingly bad.
The shades that separate one human from another are exceptionally subtle. People that had been neighbors for generations suddenly started killing men, women, and children when the restraining force of the Soviet Union dissolved. It is not surprising that black people kill black people. Stop blaming others and come to grips with your own societal problems, and you will begin solving these issues. Until you do this, you yourselves provide perfect cover for murderers. "Slavery made me do it". "The government made me do it".
You have my sympathies, in many respects.
-Poco