A Kansas City faith community reminds us once against that our homicide count is disproportionate and still out of control despite so much political trumpeting of reduced numbers under a different stat gathering process.
Here's the word:
The Longest Night
Once again we have placed a cross with the name each murder victim in Kansas City Missouri on our church lawn at the corner of Wornall and Meyer in the heart of Brookside. This Saturday night December 20 at 7 PM we will have our "Longest Night Memorial Service". We've sent personal invitations to the families of each victim of murder in Kansas City in 2014 inviting them to the service and letting them know of our concern and compassion for them at Christmas.
This is not your normal candlelight vigil for victims of murder. This is an opportunity for an entire community to grieve with families who've lost love ones as a result of murder in our city this year, it is also a time to let them know they are not alone in their grief at Christmas. This event provides a voice to proclaim that violence in our city remains a deep seeded problem and to commit ourselves to work for a safer city for all of our citizens. While holding elected officials, community leaders and media accountable to continue to focus on this issue.
After many recent years when homicides topped 115 we are thankful this year that as of today there are less than 80. But 80 is still far too many. The reduction in homicides should encourage us to work even harder to bring that number down even lower. The real work in reducing homicide is to change the communities in which homicide is so prevalent. That change involves cooperation from schools,government, churches, community organizations and individuals. It is long, slow and difficult but it must be done.
Some people may ridicule our efforts but we are convinced that our focus on this issue and the commitment of ourselves, especially dealing with at risk young people in our city is making a measurable improvement.
This Saturday night December 20 at 7PM at the Wornall Road Baptist Church wornallroad.org we will gather with many of the family members of murder victims in our city. The entire community is encouraged to join us for this service. You are welcome to come and let these family members know they are not alone in their grief and to join us in our ongoing battle against violence in our city.
To put it plainly we will not let this issue of murder in our city to become marginalized nor the victims of murder in our city before gotten.
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Well, right across the street at Southwest, one the best high schools in the country 40 years ago, they can get a good look at what "Children at risk" are all about.
ReplyDeletehttp://dailykenn.blogspot.com/2014/12/bully-beats-victim-for-dialing-911.html#more
Then, they can go on pretending that the solution is in platitudes, candle vigils and feel good bullshit that will never stop the problem of the violence and stupidity that is part of that sub human culture.
It's all gone to hell in a hand basket hasn't it?
ReplyDeleteMaybe a memorial to the dead white folks killed by black violence in Hate Crimes just over the last year might be even more appropriate.
ReplyDeletehttp://topconservativenews.com/memorial-wall-black-on-white-murders-in-2014/
Nothing new here move along all this fake tears and gnashing of teeth happens every year and as in years past not helped to do anything but another excuse to pass the collection plate.
ReplyDeleteSOME FOLKS MAY BE HAVING A RECESSION BUT THIS BOOM TIMES FOR THE VIGIL, PROTEST AND RIOT BUSINESS.
ReplyDeleteWe are in growth industry but those mothers at the Kansas City Business Journal won’t tell you that.
We got what you need for any impromptu urban gathering be it a vigil, protest and now we have shit every rioter should not be cause without.
Did I say we got candles, yellow ribbons and Teddy Bears?
We only care about one color: green like in money and pictures of old white men who had slaves are accepted if they are on currency.
And our disclaimer: For those of you educated in the KCPS and UMKC, this is satire and not spam. We will stay in business until America loses its sense of humor which is probably soon.
One more thing: We at Vigils and Shit do not accept unsolicited bulk email. So don't do that shit with us.
Have a happy holidays and may all your protests, vigils and riots be bright.
Now that we've finally figured out after over fifty years that the country's embargo policy against Cuba didn't accomplish much of anything, maybe we should ask ourselves why we think the same kinds of marches, demands, shakedowns, excuses, and hundreds of millions spent on countless nonprofits and programs shouldn't be abandoned for some new ideas.
ReplyDeleteLots of folks who have done very well for themselves over the years would be looking for work, but maybe the annual crosses gigs could stop.
The Kansas City Atheist Coalition does not approve of the display of these crosses!
ReplyDeleteWhy dese crackas at Wonall Road Babtis Church's b tying 2 distact me from Mike Brown bean excutioned by da Fergieson's Polise?
ReplyDeleteAnser me dat!