I Love The Smell of Napalm In The Morning

As you may have seen on the CBS Evening News With Katie Couric’s Legs last night, Philadelphia is having a bit of a homicide problem. Well, okay, it’s a “homicide problem” in the same way that the Delaware River is “wet.” But anyway, you probably didn’t see it, actually, since like 14 people watch it, and I’m guessing they’re all over the age of 70 and don’t have the Internet.

Anyway, now that the homicide crisis has hit national news (uh, again, right?), the mayor has kicked it into high gear and closed a bar where a triple homicide took place after an argument over the Bernard Hopkins fight. (Well, okay, the ridiculous situation might have a lot to do with it, too.)

Anyway, national correspondent Byron Pitts also wrote a blog post about the story, and, hoo, boy.

I’ve seen war up close and there is no mistaking what’s going on in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. War zones have a certain look. A certain feel. There’s even a smell to it. After spending several days in Philadelphia, I must admit there are striking similarities.

I’ll be honest; I don’t think Philadelphia has smelled like war since Wilson Goode dropped a bomb on a city block. But perhaps Pitts is right.

Since 2001, there have been more than 10,000 gunshot victims in Philadelphia. Imagine that, 10,000 people? The Boston Garden can hold just over 19,000.

Ahh, the old shootings-to-Boston Garden comparison. Actually, the Boston Garden can actually hold a total of zero people, since it was demolished in 1998. But did you know that if you added up all the people who watch the CBS Evening News you could fill about a quarter of Shibe Park? (Bada-bing!)

According to Wikipedia, “War is a prolonged state of violent, large scale conflict involving two or more groups.” The killings and gun play in American cities seems to meet at least part of that definition of war.

CBS clearly cannot afford an actual dictionary, being forced to lookup everything on Wikipedia.

Philadelphia: City Under Siege [CBS News]
Battleground: Philadelphia [Couric & Co.]
Mayor: Homicide Scene Bar Out Of Business Until Owners Talk [NBC 10]
Thanks, RJ