might be useful to think of that as one person dying 2.6 million times.

In the United States, almost one in three (32.2%) young African American men in the age group 20-29 is under criminal justice control on any given day in prison or jail, on probation or parole. In our nation's capital, the figure is 50%. We believe that a nation that incarcerates such a high population of one group of its citizens has a major flaw and that it cannot lay claim to be the world’s model for human rights.

We don’t know the solution. However, the figures cry out for government, at all levels, and volunteer agencies to try various approaches to address this national problem. Our failed War on Drugs has not only been unsuccessful, it has exacerbated the problem. We need to find ways to improve inner city schools,  strengthen family units within the African American communities, encourage the media to project a stereotype of success rather than hoodlumism and reverse the epidemic of drug use throughout our society. We believe the latter is the greatest terrorist attack on the United States in our lifetime.

Our great way of life is perhaps best protected if we find ways to improve the economic status of those nations where poverty abounds. All refugees need a place they can call home and that applies especially to the Palestinians.

If you have managed to read this far, you may be asking what our opinions have to do with greetings at this Holiday Season. By addressing the above concerns, we would act out the traditional Holiday wish of, “Peace and Good Will to All People.” Americans are virtuousness and just. We have done much good after September 11th. We just need to do more. 

Remembering

There is no question in our mind what the most memorable event of the past year was. As many have stated, the attack killed more Americans than major military actions in World War II. About 5,000 people died in the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. At Pearl Harbor we lost about 2,400 and on one of the bloodiest days of World War II, D-Day, 2,500 allied troops were killed.

The carnage was so great on September 11th it is hard for us to appreciate the magnitude of the tragedy. It has helped us to consider that only one person died, 5,000 times. We applaud the New York Times for continuing to tell the personal story of each victim to help drive home the true magnitude of the catastrophe.   

As a result of the September 11th attack, our government and our allies have declared a war on the perpetrators. If that war is successful, some good may come form the slaughter of the innocent victims.

Doing More Good

When 5,000 people are killed inside of a couple of hours, the world population is aware that a disaster has struck. However, when lives are ruined or snuffed out one by one, it is easy for us not to notice. How wonderful it would be if the energy that was developed form the September 11th calamity could be tapped to address some of our major disasters.

For example, the U.S. Surgeon General attributes to cigarette smoking approximately 400,000 deaths annually, about eight times the number killed in the September 11th attacks. (See page 2 for how this may help our economy.)

Another major preventable disease is AIDS. That tragic infection has taken a total of about 439,000 lives in the United States between June 1981 and June 2000. Worldwide, in 1999 there were 5.6 million new infections and 2.6 million died. Again it

The Spinelli Holiday Newslette