Cultural descent affecting us all

Mark Hare's Oct. 7 column quotes a city pastor, the Rev. George Nicholas of Grace United Methodist Church saying, "We have to engage the entire community — the city, the suburbs, the churches, the schools, businesses, everyone — in stopping this madness," referring to Latasha Shaw's death and a culture of youth violence. Rev. Nicholas' words are prophetic. It is too easy to view her death as just another inner-city homicide, a minority problem. In truth, we are all diminished when our youth, inner-city or suburban, act in ghastly ways. Not only is this true, but our failure to address a growing culture of youth violence — out of fear or indifference — is, in its own way, an act of violence. It dismisses a generation: our youth. Inaction may not be as visible as the eruption of violence at Ms. Shaw's murder. Still, our inability to care erodes our community's reputation, which further erodes our already challenged economy, which threatens our community's future.

—REV. TOM LeBEAU

IRONDEQUOIT