Hi Steve, I am not sure if the apartment in the story is yours or if the writer was representing you. If it is not yours, I ask you to relay this response to the owner on my behalf.
This story symbolizes what I have come to see as the internal oppression of inner city life. Once again I am astonished and thrilled to see the quality of thought Don Samuels brings to Minneapolis dialogue. This is inspired writing. No wonder Jonathan Palmer, himself a poet of no mean talent, has taken up Don Samuel's cause. By all means bring this voice to the table: President Bush faces the camera with pursed lips, righteous indignation and steely-eyed determination to denounce and threaten the oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein. Yet, within the cities of our nation, incidents of oppression, terror, intimidation and imprisonment proliferate with the complicity of law enforcement, government and neighbors. It is unconscionable, intolerable and obnoxious that in this "free" country which purports to guard the freedoms of others and to protect itself from the terror of others, finds itself "helpless" to defend its own citizens from the terror of their fellows. Where is the steely-eyed determination at 29th and Queen? Where are the pursed lips and righteous indignation at 26th and Knox? Always, it seems, evil is the designation of the external enemy. But the internal cancer is tolerated, as long as it remains in the discreet and nether regions of the body politic and as long as our international face remains pristine and pure. But can the mouth say to the thigh, "It's okay if you are sick"? Can the eye cast a dismissive glare at the wounded ankle? If the neighborhood is sick, isn�t the city hurting? And of our cities are diseased will the nation not eventually die? 29th and Queen is a medical emergency. It should be the first order of business at the City Council on Monday morning. If I were there, it damn well would be! Don Samuels Brought to your creative sensibilities by Fred Markus, Horn Terrace, Ward Ten, in the Lyndale Neighborhood --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.443 / Virus Database: 248 - Release Date: 1/10/2003 TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
