The drug wars are heating up again in Rochester. After a bad year in 2003, this year started calmer. But, the boys in the hood can’t keep it that way. And, in the last two days, two dead.

I wish Al (Bore) Gore or Nancy (Petty) Pelosi or Robert (Klucker) Byrd had the same level of outrage over young American men killing eachother every day as they have over a few Iraqis in Victoria’s Secret. Don’t they understand that the culture and violence of our inner cities are far more a threat to America than any of the actions taken in Iraqi prisons? The murder rate in our nation’s capital is higher than that in Iraq over the last year.

We need to address this. We need to start expecting things from our inner city residents, from all Americans. It’s time that Americans acknowleged that they have responsibilities as citizens, not just rights.