George,

In response to Valerie's comments on graffiti I thought I was as clear as I could be in avoiding stating that there is a causality between graffiti and urban decay. Rather, urban decay has, as one of its symbols, the profusion of graffiti.

The tolerance of this tagging suggests, in an urban environment, that folks have given up on their surroundings. Granted, it is easier to clean up (hardly Sisyphean if the "artists" are apprehended) painted walls than the social conditions that lead to the painting. (There is plenty of room for argument that social conditions might be intolerable, without granting leave to its "victims" to inflict visual terrorism on innocent civilians. The parallels to this terrorism and the more dangerous kind plaguing us today could also be discussed.)

Still, if a person is gun shot and bleeding to death, we will stop first the bleeding then treat the gunshot.

Al Weed (electronic mail, May 15, 2002)