LETTER: Bottom Line

I am writing about my daughter's column -- Theresa Weir's "The Evils of White Gentrification" (DP 2/10/92) -- regarding polarization in the University of Pennsylvania neighborhood. I certainly can't judge fully the details and circumstances of the killing Andre McNatte. As a Catholic connected with St. Vincent's parish, we will remember him and his family at Mass. We will certainly begin to look at the broader police issues -- control or community security. Regarding "polarization" . . . From a Catholic moral point of view, peace and security is built on justice (equality) and development. It is not enough just to "wait" for peace to come -- civil disobedience is the core of social change. The bottom line is, how willing are those who say they are socially sensitive in being willing to give up something of our own for the common good? Our lifestyles do reinforce the misery and violence we see around us. I take responsibility for this. Who in the liberal-religious community is able to reach out to the disenfranchised and groups with the message of Uhuru? Our European lifestyles have been built on the backs of the civilizations of the Third World, while our country becomes more "Third World" each day! Can we begin to understand that the poor are not the problem, but those who have created our prostituted so-called civilization. Like the Soviets, we too as a Western ideology need drastic change toward democracy. As the Church, we seek to become more sensitized toward political change in a spiritually-poor society. I am willing to reach out, be present and be of service toward all of us changing -- but I am not naive to think we need to wait forever. I believe the business community and Penn need to be more sensitive toward the community they serve. Security is built on a relationship; are the goals of these institutions too different from the needs of the area? It would be good if some of the folks from Penn who disagree with my daughter's column mature in their educational endeavors and being to understand how society really works and if it can be salvaged. The University ought to be helping us to understand the underlying issues of racism, and not just react to what is seen and heard. It would seem David Duke could have a hey day at Penn! God bless you in the educational role in society. I remember fondly Chuck "the clutch" Bedinarick and "Reds" Bagnel of noted Penn football in a bygone era. May we have an era to look forward to! TOM WEIR "Public Policy Minister"