The Patriot Post® · Chicago Mayor's Rare Candidness Assailed

Chicago is notorious for the number of homicides tallied there every year. For example, on the weekend of August 3-5, the number of people gunned down in Chicago totaled 74, a dozen of whom died. This past weekend, six people were murdered out of nearly 60 shot. Minorities are responsible for most of the hundreds of homicides that occur in Chicago on an annual basis. Obviously, longstanding leftist policies aren’t working. More importantly, a dearth of morality and spiritual conviction is the underlying catalyst, which even Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel at least peripherally seems to understand. He recently admonished:

This may not be politically correct, but I know the power of what faith and family can do. … Our kids need that structure. … I am asking … that we also don’t shy away from a full discussion about the importance of family and faith helping to develop and nurture character, self-respect, a value system and a moral compass that allows kids to know good from bad, and right from wrong.

If we’re going to solve this … we’ve got to have a real discussion. … Parts of the conversation cannot be off-limits because it’s not politically comfortable. … We are going to discuss issues that have been taboo in years past because they are part of the solution. … We also have a responsibility to help nurture character. It plays a role. Our kids need that moral structure in their lives. And we cannot be scared to have this conversation.

Emanuel’s message is the point — and conservative columnist Walter Williams would surely agree — yet it’s been largely ignored by leftists for decades. In truth, a message of faith and morality needs to be repeated throughout the country’s urban corridors. After all, Chicago is hardly alone when it comes to high homicide rates. Nevertheless, Fox News reports that “Emanuel is once again coming under fire for blaming a lack of morals in predominantly black and Hispanic neighborhoods for the recent spate of violent crime.” The report adds, “Critics quickly called him out for what they dubbed tone-deaf comments, in which he seemed to be blaming the victims.” These critics are simply condoning the status quo — and worse.

As Williams says, “What’s needed most is to get poor people to change their behavior. … If we wait for Washington to solve our problems, we’ll be waiting for a long time.” It’s rare that we can agree with Mayor Rahm “Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste” Emanuel, but alas, his remarks on Chicago violence are appropriate and long overdue. His message is great, but will he stick to it? Depends on whether he has character.