While Leah and I were vacationing at our favorite place, Tybee Island, Ga. Over the Christmas holidays an unfortunate chain of events took place in near by Savannah that sullied my view somewhat of this most wonderful city. What took place was a very sad event that has seemed to bring about even more division amongst it citizens than ever before. It all started when a young woman from a very well to do family went for a stroll with friends of hers through “Orleans Square.” At 3 am. It was here that her life was tragically cut short by a robber’s bullet. The fact that she became a victim to a senseless crime was bad enough in itself, but what in my opinion made matters worse were the comments made by a close friend of the family in response to the shooting.

Mr. David Simons obviously upset over this took action in the form of helping organize a committee to reclaim Savannah. He then fired off emails to many of the downtown businesses urging them to get involved in fighting crime since in his words…”crime now has a face, and it’s the face of someone we all know”. He went on to further exclaim that this crime was not just some tourist thing or another crack head shooting, but this crime had a face and it was the face of this well to do and respected young woman and of course this act would cause more of an outcry than in his words…”“It’s not going to generate the same response when you have a couple of crack heads running around shooting each other”.

This was the straw that broke this camels back. As soon as I got back to the room, I immediately fired off an open letter to this Mr. Simon’s to try and explain to him that crime has always had a face. I finished the letter to the editor, which I have written below and submitted it to the Savannah Morning News. I received a reply from the editor who told me they would be glad to run it if I could trim it down to 250 words…trim it…Ha. I wanted to add even more, in fact I wish I could have had a face to face discussion with Mr. Simon’s over this…for there is much that I have to say to those who separate themselves from others and enshroud their pious attitudes in the cloak of wealth and position…nevertheless, my open letter to this man is listed below. Comments and discussion on this are most welcome, for if the chance were to ever present itself, I would be more than glad to show Mr. Simon’s all the faces of crime.

An open letter of reply to Mr. Simons based on an article by Scott Larson

Savannah Morning News 12-28-05

“Crime Now Has A Face”

Mr. Simons, I am a perennial tourist to your area and currently enjoying the splendid culture of your wonderful city. However, I am really very offended by your response to the recent and very unfortunate shooting of Ms. Jennifer Ross as reported in the Savannah Morning News 12-28-05. I therefore take issue with your remark that “Crime now has a face for many of us who only looked at crime as a tourist thing or a drug deal gone bad”. I am sure that even you are a tourist sometime yourself and if you and your family were to be vacationing somewhere and God forbid, an act of violence were to touch you in a personal way, would you not desire and want the officials and members of society in the city you are vacationing to treat the violation you experienced as a matter of critical importance? How would you feel if someone in position within the city disregarded and nullified the importance of this act of violence against you my merely regulating it to a “Tourist Thing”?

I can assure you that crime has always had a face regardless of the prominence of the victim. I guess what I find so appalling is that a man of your current position and stature in life, would show such little regard for any who may fall outside of your social circle, i.e. your remark “It’s not going to generate the same response when you have a couple of crack heads running around shooting each other”.   Remarks such as these are not only heartless, but also biased to the point of inferring that a life outside a certain social arena is not worth as much, or deserving of any attention. I am of the opinion that all life is sacred and precious, and should be treated accordingly.

Granted there are those who you not so kindly put live outside the law and therefore place themselves into harms way. Nevertheless, this does not absolve society of its responsibility for a safe environment for all of its citizens. The formation of the “Save Our Savannah” watch group is a positive sign which if done in a proper and judicious manner will benefit Savannah and its surrounding communities. I applaud Mr. Michael Sullivan in his efforts to bring in people of “clout to help victims of crime who do not have influence” This is proper and positive action replete with constructive words of action.

 In closing, I would have to say that it is the indifference that you portrayed in defining what merited immediate and decisive response and what was just another “crack head shooting”. By the simple fact that you were defensive in you remarks by saying “ This could have happened to a prominent black person or their child walking from a restaurant”, gives proof that you not only separate groups by race or social status, but share an uneasy aloofness with others in your tight knit circle.

When someone is sick, a doctor looks to find the cause of the illness and then treats it accordingly. It is much the same with society; one has to look for the cause and then treat it. Putting a band-aid on a gaping wound does not heal the condition, but merely treats it superficially. What it will take to heal this sickness is action from people such as you who have and hold prominent positions in life. It will take people who will look at other people for what they are, human beings. It will take dedication from individuals who can see beyond the barriers that separate those who are blessed financially from those who are less fortunate. Many programs currently exist which facilitate and promote stability in crime-infested neighborhoods, but programs alone will not bring an end to violence. It will require action from those who are able to provide more to the programs than a mere figurehead presence.

I do wish to add to this letter by saying that my hopes and prayers are with Ms. Ross and her family and at no point does this letter intend to dismiss the criminal actions of those responsible for this tragic shooting. I fully advocate the apprehension and prosecution of those responsible for this callous act as well as any other acts of violence against any citizen regardless of their stature in life. You see Mr. Simons, we are all human and we all hurt. Not once do I think that the mother of one of the young men of “just another crack head shooting” could grieve any less than the mother of a child of social / political stature.

 It is when we separate ourselves from others in our minds and hearts that we truly separate ourselves from our true purpose in life. It is my hope that you will come to the understanding of why I was so offended by your remarks. I also have bore in mind that you are presently upset and concerned for the welfare of your friend daughter, I understand this and share empathy with you concerning this. I hope that she recovers fully and goes on to lead a normal and productive life. I just know that even though I am “Just A Tourist”, I know that if this was my daughter, son or wife which was done harm, I too would be angry, but I would not point fingers and blame groups that may fall beneath the number of zeros that I have in my bank accounts.

Sincerely and respectfully

J. Allen Wilson

PO BOX 464

Belton, SC. 29627

Email: Jallenwilson.bellsouth.net

            Jallenwilsonsr.aol.com