What a tragedy that any life is lost by the act of murder. What a tragedy that there is a human being who is so insecure that he/she feels it necessary to make such hateful and ignorant racial comments. The crime in the black community has been out of control for a long time. It has been studied and restudied - and the honest findings are that every community must take responsibility for crime in America. The relation between poverty, low academic achievement, poor educational opportunities and crime is evident in both the white and black communities. When poverty, poor education, low achievement and excessive exposure to violence are present - there is a higher incidence of crime. There are Americans who see this as an American problem and are involved in activities that will help to alleviate poverty, upgrade education, and insure that the educational offerings produce academic achievement. However, murder happens in communities in which there is no poverty and those involved had educational opportunities and achieved materially. What is frightening are these home invasions that are not only occurring in Georgia, but throughout our country. For persons to feel they have the right to break into a home and take the hard earned possessions and the well-lived life of the owner is reprehensible. This is not only happening in the black community.

Maybe we need to look at the moral educational offerings that should be the responsibility of the home and the church. . .in all of our American communities.. . .and teach the lessons of earning what we possess – and respecting the possessions of others. I haven’t heard any knowledgeable person blaming the current criminal activity of the black man on the white man or vice versa. As has been articulately stated in this discussion – the individual must be held responsible.

I’ve been accused of being racist in these discussions – but I will not stand by and see such ignorance expressed without addressing it. Fortunately, I do not see these ignorant opinions expressed by the majority of citizens in this country. Our history of democracy and implementing the words of our Constitution has some flaws – but we have improved so much in race-relations. It would be tragic if we allow another generation to make assumptions based on racial hatred. . and ignorant assumptions. The tragedy of crime in any community has been found to be related to poverty, poor education, low academic achievement, and excessive violence in the home and community. A community that overcomes these impositions has less crime. . .and that’s the truth.

The only real cat in town

"Yet another example of what white men have done to black males." -- Please explain your bigoted comment. Criminals (black, white, red, yellow, brown, etc.) are responsible for their own choices and the consequences of those choices.

"Power to the people!" -- Are you a socialist or a communist or a hippie?

"Long live the King!" -- If you're still referring to Martin Luther King, Jr., he's dead. In this country we don't have a king, and in Britain the reigning monarch is a queen.

Was it a white man? The news on TV made it sound like black on black crime.