Just a little note of geographical and demographical 
education of our Nations Capital... the D.C. neighborhood 
of Anacostia has been plaqued with high crime for at least 
20 years that I know of. The Anacostia River is so 
polluted near this neighborhood it's pathetic. The living 
conditions of the people who live in this neighborhood is 
unbelievable, especially when you think they are only 
blocks for our suits of K street and the Mall, White House 
and Capital. The latest statistic I've read is that this 
community is 95% African American. Many great Americans 
have grown up in this neighborhood and somehow pulled 
themselves out of this poverty. I see nothing wrong with 
the National Zoo, which is located on Conneticut Ave. 
celebrating African American's Day. Especially if it can 
instill some pride in children from neighborhoods like 
Anacostia and show them some other ways of life ourside of 
what there current living conditions are. I'm all for it, 
I want my tax dollars spent on it. So that they will know 
that the people of this country do care about them and 
they don't have to join a gang to feel like they are part 
of something.

And IMHO, shame on our politicians in DC for allowing 
neighborhoods like Anacostia to continue to exist so close 
to their own front doors. I suppose they figure these 
people can just "eat cake". tsk tsk.

Off soap box.

> In a message dated 6/22/2007 6:58:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
> [log in to unmask] writes:
> 
>> Didn't the National Park Service have to cancel its annual African American 
>>