The young man we prayed for today at the Holy Ground Memorial Prayer Vigil was Frankie Hope. He was only 18 when he was shot and killed a few nights ago near his home. Family members described him as a quiet young man who was very good with young children. His last name, Hope, is unusual. It made me think “what hope is there in life when so many young men in our city are dying senseless deaths?” There was only a very brief mention in the newspaper the other day of his death. His name was not even mentioned. He was not a great leader like the former Prime Minister Bhutto who died today. He was like so many of the other 120 or so homicide victims in Milwaukee this year, just another number. Perhaps if Mr. Hope and the many other homicide victims of Milwaukee had gotten just a bit of the press coverage given to famous persons that are killed, there would be more hope of ending the violence. For when a person is killed that we know, publicly or personally, it makes a difference in how we respond. Each life is just as precious as any other human life, be they a politician or vagrant, white or black, rich or poor. It is in this belief, of the sacredness of all life, that rests my hope, the hope that we all can realize how we are all brother and sisters, connected to each other. When persons know and love each other there is hope that there will be no violence between them.

We often can see in nature, like in a garden, the connection between things. A garden needs light, water, seed and a healthy soil to grow. If one is missing the garden can suffer and even die. It is in the connectedness of all these elements that the garden lives and thrives. The same is true between human beings, in our family and friends, in our city, in our nation and world. However, we often fail to see it.

For those of us standing around the site of Frankie Hope’s homicide today there was a common thread of sorrow, prayer and song that brought us together in the hope that the violence will end. If one person can make a difference, as they say, just think what a difference and what hope rests with many persons coming together.

The annual candlelight commemoration of homicide victims of this year, 2007, will be held on SUNDAY, DEC 30 at 6 pm at St. Gabriel COG at 5363 N. 37th Street. If you want to feel Hope, come and pray with the family and friends of the 2007 City of Milwaukee Homicide victims. Our prayer together can be the seed of hope, and if nourished can grow
to end the violence in this city.

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