dark and hopes for the best.
The other night, playing safe,
I chose to pay an extra day's
rental fee on a videotape
rather than return it late in
the evening to a store in a
neighborhood that is perfect-
ly pleasant during the day
but deserted at night except
for the video store and some
creepy panhandlers in the
parking lot. Jerry Weber's
death made paranoia seem no
longer so far removed from
wisdom.
One hears many solutions
to the problem of random,
violent crime. Some people
demand the death penalty'
and longer jail terms, in order
to get the criminals off the
street.
Not only is the bad
news getting
closer, but the
systems on which
we rely for
protection are also
failing.
Others call for increased
social welfare spending, since
it is clear that dwindling
economic opportunities and
disrupted family life con-
tribute greatly to social
disintegration and crime. It
seems obvious as well that
the constant barrage of
violence on television and in
films creates an atmosphere
in which violence becomes
normal. And the statistical
connection between violent.
crime and drugs, especially
cocaine use, is also clear,
though it may be argued
whether jail, treatment or
decriminalization is the best
response.
But there is also the larger,
context: the criminal ir-
responsibility of large cor-
porations; the pandemic
graft, violence and even coop-
eration with drug-dealing by
government officials; the
mysterious but, it seems,
nearly universal ability of
elected office-holders to
become rich while in office;
the outright dishonesty or
barely legal sleaziness of pro-
minent businesspeople, not a
few of them respected mem-
bers of the Jewish communi-
ty. Much of public life seems,
in short, to have become a
form of white-collar crime.
One has the pervasive sense
of being ripped off by those
who can get away with their
crimes and their loot because
they are wealthy or powerful
or well-connected. Small sur-
prise that in an atmosphere of
corruption and irresponsibili-
ty, street crime — blue collar
crime — should also flourish.
Having painted a portrait of
May the coming
May the coming
year be filled
year be filled
with health and
with health and
happiness for
happiness for
all our family
all our family
and friends.
and friends.
AARON & MELANIE WALLIS
FAE & MARTY WEINSTOCK
& FAMILY
May the coming
May the coming
year be filled
year be filled
with health and
with health and
happiness for
happiness for
all our family
all our family
and friends.
and friends.
ARNOLD, JOYCE, JASON
& JOSHUA WEINER
THE BROWNS
FRED, HELEN, MARTIN,
STEVEN & RODNEY
1111. 311 11112
11c132
nnyn 111115 Inn -
to all
our friends
and relatives.
to all
our friends
and relatives.
SANFORD & ADRIENNE CUSS
& FAMILY
NAOMI & MARVIN KATZ
ALLEN, STEVEN, JOEL & DEBBIE
lann nalls intn
to all
our friends
and relatives.
to all
our friends
and relatives.
HELEN, IRVING & RITA KOZUCH
NORTON & SHERRIE STERN
SCOTT & KEN
varon 11112 11141'2
iamn 11w r\
to all
our friends
and relatives.
to all
our friends
and relatives.
BENJAMIN &
ESTHER HALPERIN
LOUIS & LILLIE DORF
To All Our
Relatives
and Friends,
Our wish for a
year filled with
happiness,
health and prosperity.
THE SLAIMS
JOHN, CHERYL, ERIC & JENNIFER
A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family.
MAXINE, MARK, WEND! STEINER
& HARVEY, LARRY, MICHELLE GOLD
A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family.
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
THE LEVITINS — NORMA & LEONARD
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
THE LEVITINS — JEFF, LINDA & RICKY
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
CANDY, ELIOT, JOEY, LONI MARCUS
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
THE MOSS FAMILY
JERRY, MARSHA, JULIE, STEVEN & MARC
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
HELEN & HERMAN NEFF
,
Best wishes for a
happy, healthy
New Year.
Best wishes for a
happy, healthy
New Year.
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
JULIUS STOBINSKY
MARLENE & MEL WASSERMAN
LIBBY & LARRY NEWMAN
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
99