FROM: Terry Lynch@aol.com; POB 241035; Montgomery, AL 36124-1035 
Phone: (334) 272-4217 voice  (334) 277-3582 fax via arrangement

DATE:  July 11, 1998 

TO:  Letter to the Editor      

SUBJECT:  Use A String To Count Homicides

Someone doesn't know how to count.  Since when did the homicide 
rate in Montgomery reach almost 365 per year?  That is the 
conclusion one must reach if they use Clint Merritt's Opp Alabama 
adding machine (see "Racism Charges Often Groundless," June 11 
"Opinion" page).

I imagine in Opp they still count on their fingers.  My point is 
that lies and falsehoods should not be reprinted even on the 
"Opinion" page. Reprinting lies does nothing but outrage the 
community!

It hurts and harms the entire community of Montgomery to reprint 
lies that are racially motivated or which reflect racial 
prejudice, bias or hatred.  There is not "a homicide almost 
nightly" in Montgomery, much less in any largely "black 
community."  And quite frankly I don't know of any other city 
that is quite "like Montgomery."

Crime hurts an entire community.  Crime is not black or white, 
red or yellow.  Crime doesn't have color.  So lets stop talking 
about it like it does.

What gives crime color is people who have hatred in their hearts 
and prejudice in their souls.  You can tell who such people are 
because of the filth and lies which pour out of their mouths.

I'm not going to name any names.  Just turn on your ears and 
listen.  When you hear the muck and feel the mud hitting you in 
the face, you know it is slung by people who do not want harmony; 
they go mud slinging only to arouse anger, fear and cause hurt.

For those who do not have enough fingers upon their hands to 
properly count, I suggest using a string.  Tie a knot in the 
string for each homicide and you will see that over a twelve 
month period Montgomery's homicide rate is on the order of 20-30 
per year.  Demographically homicides probably occur citywide and 
are a blight upon all citizens of our lovely town!

Sincerely, Terry Lynch
Montgomery, AL