Evening star., 1963-05-14
Reaction to an Ad

lCS W0lCe leCCerS on DlaCk
background, its poetic prose
and its strong appeal to the
emotions the designers must
be congratulated. For its pro-
mitigation as q means Of re-
ducing crime your advertise
ment sponsors must be
heartily condemned. Beauty
was used to beget evil.
To the uninformed, the un-
intelligent and the emotion
ally inclined it was a mas
terpiece. For promoting mass
hysteria, fright or fight and
cane carrying vigilantes, it
was peerless.
The advertisement errs in
its approach to a serious
problem in its false innuen-
does, In its faulty interpre-
tation of false crime figures
and in its defeatist attitude
toward law, established law
enforcement procedures AMI
government agencies. 1t pours
fuel on an already explosive
situation in our city.
The sponsors Of this ad-
vertiSement In admitting
1--WE do not have them (an-
swers)" may need some cri-
terra for determining their
own responsibilities.
Rather than blast the Com
missioners, Congress and the
courts, would not home rule
help nightly to solve the
problem? Is the sponsoring
liquor store for home rule?
Rather than bemoan the
actions of criminals (who
must be caught, tried, con-
victed and punished, should
not the elimination of ghet-
tos and slums be considered?
Is the sponsoring liquor store
for a fair housing law?
Rather than renounce
completely the police depart
ment as having its "hands
tied" would not the elimi-
nation of police brutality,
discrimination in police pro-
m otions and assignments
help to create a respected
image of our police officers?
Is the sponsoring liquor store
for this?
Rather than emotionally
over-emphasize crime, should
not some consideration be
given to unemployment as a
breeder of crime? Has the
sponsoring liquor store a fair
employment policy and are
the owners for q fair en-
ployment law?
Rather than sob for VIC
tins, as all are prone to do,
should not the sponsoring
liquor store study the rela-
ton between crime and al
cohol?
For the good and safety Of
our city In trouble. Pearson's
needs heed this admonition:
Ask not for whom toll the
bells Of responsibility-they
toll for every citizen.
Eugene Davidson,
President, Central Northwest
Citizens Association; chair
man, Public Relations
Committee; 18th Precinct
Crime Council; member,
d. c. Advisory Committee,
United States Civil Rights
Commission.
80
The advertisement entitled
us This My city," was
deeply disturbing. It has all
the earmarks Of an ill-ad-
vised publicity stunt that
may do incalculable harm to
the economy and prestige Of
Washington. Spread this sort
OF hysterical over-simplifica-
ton around the country and
see how many busloads OF
school children will keep
coming TO this "crime capi-
tai" And what an image 10
project around the worldl
Furthermore, 1t admittedly
offers not one constructive
suggestion. For example, how
about imposing q special To-
cal tax on all liquor and beer
sales-25 cents per liquor
bottle, 5 cents per beer can
bottle-and using the pro-
gram Of home-support grants
for educable kids2 Perhaps
this sort Of community effort
would help keep potentially
useful citizens from dropping
out OF school and into the
demeaning discriminatory
rat race" that causes 80
much Of the crime in this Cor
any metropolis of our size
In the United States OF
America.
Stanley @. House.