The term .."grandiose gesture for immortality" was never used and would annoy me too. Making a difference is a way of asking people to get involved at their own pace and commitment level. It is for them to decide how they will participate or make a difference in their community. We ..the city of Philadelphia..and we...University City have lots of work to do and plenty of tasks for those who are agreeable and interested in our community being safer than it is today. There is a plan that involves block efforts, communication efforts, and planning efforts for those who will commit whatever time they have available. The problem is...folks are still not taking this issue seriously enough, which is what happened a few years back..and then someone we all know was killed. For all the fans of UCD..I brought this idea to them through John Fenton, who is sincere about what he does, and they refused to help me. I was told "it is a great idea" "but we don't have funding to help" "We are busy right now". What they are doing now is "borrowing" ideas from the plan and trying to take credit for it. However, the fundamental changes have still not been made...UCD actually planning anything with our community. Did you notice they had funding for multiple concerts that no one attended and for advertising restaurants, you know..the places people are being mugged walking from! We do need a sense of spirit behind this effort particularly related to the results we hope to achieve. Join in. please don't be annoyed. Your neighbor, Sharrieff
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of SKnight Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 5:27 PM To: S. Sharrieff Ali; UnivCity Listserv Subject: [UC] Clarification Sharrieff, Perhaps I should clarify my annoyance at your use of the phrase, "Make a difference." I am neither interested nor eager to get into an argument with you. Rather it would seem that I am constantly being turned off by the rhetoric on the list.serv. Part of that annoyance is with gung ho terminology like make a difference that usually ends up meaning sweep the street or pick up litter, respectable activities in themselves without the need of this buzz phrase. If I am willing to clean up my block, then I am willing to do just that, not make some grandiose gesture for immortality. Sande Knight
