Happy In Bag

Friday, June 22, 2007

Remembering: A Proposal












A gas station clerk was killed in a robbery at this business a few years ago. It really bugs me that there's no trace of that terrible incident at the site. I'd feel better if a small bronze plaque with the victim's name and date of death was set in the pavement. Such a tribute would serve two primary purposes. Aside from honoring the dead, it would remind customers and employees that something awful once occurred at that spot. Imagine the effect these modest memorials might have if they were permanently installed at the location of every homicide. The heightened awareness might result in a public outcry that could eventually result in reduced crime.

UPDATE: Since Crime Scene KC has linked to my mere seed of a concept, I felt obligated to invest some additional thought in my proposal. It seems disrespectful at best and morally irresponsible at worst not to acknowledge murder sites. As someone wrote at Crime Scene KC, "there were five murders on the single block on Forest where I grew up. To think today that none of the current residents have any idea..." The plaque I have in mind would be something like 10 by 4 inches- unobtrusive, but large enough for pedestrians to spot as they pass it. As an anonymous poster commented here, I was wrong to imply that the government should get involved. Instead, this proposal would work best if the community at large supported the project and brought pressure to bear on property owners at each site. A respected guy like Alvin Brooks could bring the appropriate type of grassroots support to this project. Funding might come from individual or even corporate donors.

8 Comments:

  • At 10:54 AM, Blogger FletcherDodge said…

    Although, the constant reminder that you could be murdered here probably wouldn't be too good for business.

     
  • At 11:06 AM, Blogger Happy In Bag said…

    Obviously, most of the business community won't embrace this concept. Even though I share some of your libertarian leanings, Emaw, I recognize that the only way my idea would work is via government mandate. And I'd support that.

     
  • At 12:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    i was just in ward parkway mall this week and as i walked in the entrance by the fountain i thought the same thing.

     
  • At 1:57 PM, Blogger Happy In Bag said…

    That's the idea, Anon. And what about the parking spaces where two people were killed? My little plaque idea can be applied there without disrupting anything. Sadly, dozens of these memorials would need to be placed throughout the area each year.

     
  • At 4:03 PM, Blogger Spyder said…

    Like the roadside crosses where someone was killed in a car accident.

     
  • At 4:59 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Happy, if you want the government to mandate "memorials" at murder sites (including private property), then I want them to approve blog posts before ridiculous ideas get posted.

     
  • At 5:02 PM, Blogger Happy In Bag said…

    Spyder- Yes.

    Ha ha. Nice jab, Anon. Fair enough.

     
  • At 9:28 PM, Blogger Don't Need Anything said…

    oddly enough, just about 2 hours ago i saw a group of people standing around a memorial on the side of 635 just south of merriam drive. i was unaware of a death there, but i almost pulled over and joined them.

     

Post a Comment

<< Home