Alcoholics Anonymous has a history of helping people rid lives of a dependency on alcohol.

Other similar groups have aided people in leaving drugs, gambling and even shopping dependencies behind.

The common denominator between these groups begins with step programs such as AA’s 12-step program. At the end of similar programs, those participants who have a desire to quit their dependency normally can end their habitual need.

The same is true for Selma. This is the concept that the National League of Cities is trying to get across to the City of Selma.

Last night was the first night of the NLC meetings.

The meetings are to explain the pamphlet and evaluation that was made by three earlier visits to the community regarding education, economic development, and government and race relations.

The meeting only had 70 people or so in attendance.

This could be considered a good start, but what if only 70 people showed up for the remaining two meetings.

Does that mean out of a city of 19,000 people that only 210 people have the care and desire to see the city better itself?

The answer may be that Selmians are not ready to admit they have a problem.

There are factions, both black and white, that if they were asked whether or not there was a problem there answer would be that everything is beautiful and no improvement is necessary. There are good things in Selma, which can and should be used as examples. However, ignoring the problems will never make them go away.

In our opinion, any city anywhere in the world can better itself.

The fact is that through the work of the NLC they found that Selma does have problems in government.

There is conflict and a need to communicate better.

They found that people believe there to be a problem in the education system and refer to the “white flight” of the 90’s as a contributor.

There is a problem in economic development due to the crime and depilated buildings not giving Selma a pretty picture.

There are problems in race relations 40 years after the march across the bridge.

These are not statements that were made up by the NLC.

This is the feedback that Selmians provided the organization.

Now that they have compiled the information, it is up to Selma to pave its own way for the future.

Anyone with a problem or dependency there must by a desire to fix it and people must admit there is a problem.