Harold Keller / L’Observateur / July 5, 2000

I’ve heard it said that America has enough churches (approximately 480,000) and special programs to save the whole world. I agree, but with allof that, we have become one of the most violent nations on the face of the Earth.

Our educational system has fallen behind many other countries. Our childrenare dropping out of high school at an alarming rate. Drugs are a seriousproblem in every community. Teen-age suicide is the second-leading killer ofyoung people between the ages of 15 and 19.

What do people do when they get anxious for a solution? The first thing we do is organize a protest march or a meeting. We have become a nation thatloves to protest and march and snow our strength in numbers. Of course, alarge number of people exposing a problem and not being a part of the solution accomplish nothing.

Do protests and marches serve a purpose? They do, but the only thing accomplished is a public awareness of the problem.

Recently, I picked up an old magazine, dated 1997, in a Baton Rouge hospital.

The feature story was about ex-mayor Andrew Young of Atlanta. Mr. Youngwas being interviewed about his life. He was a key figure in the civil rightsmovement with Dr. King.In the interview, he was asked if the Million Man March in Washington, just prior to the article, impressed him. “It did,” he said, “but I get more excitedabout the 100 Men Black Club in Atlanta that adopted an eighth-grade class a few years ago.”According to the interview, it was one of the schools with the worst dropout record in Atlanta. After they were adopted by the 100 Men Black Club, thatclass graduated 95 percent from high school and over 50 percent went to college. “That impresses me,” he said.Those men didn’t march. They saw a problem and took action. The actionhelped to solve the problem for many young people. By motivating them toget an education, they solved a problem and, in doing so, enriched the community.

At the end of the interview, he was asked what he would do in retirement? “I don’t have time to retire, or die,” he answered. “I have too much to do.”After reading that article, I was motivated and realized, more than ever, that criticism without constructive action is indeed in vain. Mr. Young hasreminded me that we all still have much to do.

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