Societal disintegration within our nation's inner cities is not an isolated anomaly. Conditions in urban areas provide a barometer for conditions in America society at large. We are facing a nationwide crisis, a spiritual and moral free-fall, which has brought fear and uncertainty throughout America. The good news is that solutions to this crisis do exist. But if we are to tap the possibilities for moral and spiritual restoration, we must move the focus of the policy debate beyond racial and economic considerations. These strategies will never be able to address the root of a crisis that is essentially spiritual and moral. We must be open to accept a new brand of 'experts' whose authority lies in their effectiveness rather than in professional accreditation or advanced academic degrees. In this, we can be guided by the biblical story of Joseph.
