[Mpls] Re: Challenge to MayoRybak and black community by Dwight Hobbes

[CAREY HOWELL]

I agree with most of the posts re this issue as far as they go. What's 
missing is the perception of the people in the impacted neighborhoods that they have the power within their own hands to change their neighborhoods. I am not
saying that all that has been discussed doesn't have deep and thoughtful merit, however, only so much can be changed from without when the change also needs to be affected from within.

Each person has tremendous power. It doesn't matter whether that person is
white, black, asian, native american or hispanic. Imagine if you take your personal power and meld it with that of your neighbor, your minister, your politicians, your friends, your families. We need to partner in real ways with the people who work with and for us. It's not easy, it's not fast and it's often not much fun. We have to act "as if" we deserve respect and consideration from without our neighborhood and from within. If we are fearful or confrontational with the criminals and customers of those criminals in our neighborhoods we become the doormats that they walk on. If we choose singly or more safely, in groups to become a quiet presence acting "as if" we deserve to be treated with respect as we treat others, the character of the interactions with our resident and visiting criminals begins to change and change is the engine that drives our
neighborhood to become the safe, enjoyable and vibrant place we have every
right to expect it to be.

In short, what I am getting at, is expect all you should from the "powers that
be" and "those who serve us" but don't give away your personal power or
absolve yourself of the work that this effort for positive change will demand 
from you as well. Yes, it does require time, effort and courage. It is risky. I
can't believe that it is riskier than doing nothing but shutting yourself inside your house. 

We need to partner with the police and give them all the info we can (in a safe and sane and non confrontational way to either the criminals or the police). We
need to be a constant presence in our own communities to be approving or
disapproving of behaviors as it is appropriate. We need to be visible. We need
to be accountable for taking this particular nasty bull by the horns.

I know that this is hard and often frustrating. There are so many good people
who live in our neighborhoods. But sometimes it's not enough to not do wrong.
We need to stand together. It's unfair to have to deal with this when so
many neighborhoods can take their safety for granted. But there it is. This is 
what we are dealing with. We have to get past "it's not fair" and get on with
it. There isn't anything that we can't do if we decide it's necessary. We are 
here, the tools are here and the partnerships are ours to utilize if we so choose.

After we are done looking outward for the answers to our problems in these
battered neighborhoods, we need to look inward as well. 

Carey Joe Howell
HAWTHORNE