Evening star., 1958-02-03

0A4os GfUkA4 AA6C . CARCA ASAANC
in being "mugged" might
well have been that Of my
husband and myself, had we
not already gradually discon-
tinued going out after dark.
We, too, live in o reputedly
mice" neighborhood. west of
Sixteenth street, but in the
last year in our block there
has been one roof-to-roof
housesbreaker Ian 18-year-
old narcotics addict, I learned
from the newspapers after he
was apprehended) and one
other house robbery, the lat
ter at 800 pm.
Until the purse Snatchings
and what you so aptly head
line Violence in the Streets"
we used to take a stroll after
dinner just to be out Of
doors. Perhaps we would stop
in the drugstore for ice
cream or other items If they
were needed, or visit the
neighborhood shopping CEN
ters. When so many people
were attacked while going
from their parked cars to
their homes or apartments,
we decided the hazards Of
being out after early eve
ming outweighed the pleas
ure Of driving over to visit
friends or family in the sub
urbs. Thus. we have become
not free. law-abiding citi-
zens following our simple
pursuits, but captives Of
crime.
The thing that sickens us
most is that young criminals
apprehended are released
time after time with q
warning" Ito the custody Of
-, or "a suspended SEN
tence." We despair of know
ing again the privilege of
moving about in safety and
without fear Of bodily harm.
When law-b akers are
treated so softly. they GER
tainly have no check-rein on
their inclination to crime and
the brutal way they prey on
society.
I can assure Senator Wiley
the public is far from indif-
ferent, but what can an in
dividual do? There is a point
beyond which one cannot re-
treat-then shall we be law
less, too?
M. M. C.
4 4 4 +
While reading the letters
concerning the reaction Of
Washington residents to
street violence. I was forcibly
reminded of an incident
which took place in Jonko-
ping, Sweden, in August,
1855. I was staying in the
home of a splendid young
Swedish couple, when one
evening they questioned me
about conditions in the
United States. They wanted
to come here and become
citizens, but they were afraid,
even then, to leave Sweden
to emigrate to a country
which has the reputation for
street violence, rowing gangs
Of boys and other types Of
crime that our country has!
These young people told me
that they would rather live
in the shadow Of Soviet Rus
sia with all its reputation for
violence. What q terrible in
dictment of the United
States! I was ashamed, to
say the least.
This situation is not
unique. Having made several
trips to Europe. I have found
that most Europeans share
this same idea Of us Amer
leans. I have seen less drunk
enness on the streets Of Ge-
y neva, London, Amsterdam
and Paris than on the streets
Of any Of our large cities. II
our local and State govern
ments would take steps to
really clean up our cities,
such situations as exist in
Washington and other cities
would come 70 an end. Tney
could begin by passing and
enforcing laws against the
sale Of obscene literature on
our newsstands and then
outlaw the same thing in the
movies. It is no wonder we
have so much murder, rape
and other kinds Of violence.
We're reaping the harvest Of
all the devilish stuff we've
been feeding our public for
so long, to say nothing Of our
children. OF course. there Is
q Job to be done by the
churches. 1t is the Gospel Of
Jesus Christ that regener-
ates. Less dances, suppers
and amusements In the
churches and more preach
ing Of the saving Kacs Of