Snitch

Abstract

Do the ends justify the means? Is bribery and corruption acceptable if, at the end of the day, it serves the greater good? In this work of philosophical short fiction, Reverend Clarence Washington has been the senior pastor for nearly forty years at Gethsemane Baptist Church in New Orleans. Post hurricane Katrina is he working hard to get his church, and the surrounding area, improved so he can better serve his congregation and the community. Clarence is called by the mayor because there was a mugging in his ward just a few nights earlier. This scares the bankers who are putting up the necessary building loans. Clarence goes to the local gangs and pays them to keep the streets safe for visiting tourists and white people. To smooth things over he crates a multi-congregational coalition in support of the project. The mayor visits Clarence and tells him the budget for the renovations will need to be cut, there simply isn’t enough money for everything he wants. Of course, there are “overhead expenses” for the mayor’s campaign. Clarence’s wife is also on salary from Clarence’s church. Seems corruption goes both ways. In retaliation, Clarence calls the FBI to tell them about what’s been going on in the mayor’s office.