Just when I was sure Cincinnati was going to the dogs, along comes salvation in the form of absurdity.

        O.J. is coming. I'm feeling the healing already.

        Take with me a leap of faith — higher and broader than even those bounding steps that Mr. Simpson took through airports. Wander with me this new straight and narrow. One nation under a groove.

        O.J. Simpson — ex-football great, entertainment personality and ex-murder suspect — is to emcee a Foxy Brown and Juvenile concert. His appearance at Music Hall next month is being billed as a “healing” event for the city.

Roll with it

        Even before the marriage that ultimately ended in assault and murder charges, Mr. Simpson was no symbol of racial solidarity. He excelled at sport, fame and enjoying life. But he has been reborn, a Victim of the System.

        I'm trying to believe here, so let's roll with the new.

        I expect that when I see my Peacemaker's face, when I hear his TV-friendly voice hailing rapper also-rans, when I witness the spiritual power behind those autographed footballs tossed into the audience, then I'll believe and be healed.

        And the lion will lay down with the lamb.

        Mayor Charlie Luken and the Rev. Damon Lynch III will realize they are brothers at heart. Notice the same stiff backbone, the same stubbornly squared jaw. Separated at birth.

        And everything is going to be all right.

        The police will lay down their weapons, pounding their department-issued pistols into plowshares.

        They'll embrace their formerly fleeing suspects. And the cops and crooks alike will jam together, brothers bobbing to the beat. It'll be like one of those Michael Jackson videos.

        And young men won't need to run no more.

Homeless no more

        The upper classes will say, “Heck! We don't need the clean-shaven lawns, these well-maintained streets and our semi-spectacular public schools. Let's shed our riches and give our homes to the poor.”

        And the homeless won't need shelter no more.

        There will be a great co-mingling of the races, here in the eighth-most-segregated city in the nation. Folks from Evendale and Over-the-Rhine will mix it up in the sweetest blend along O.J.'s magical mystery hip hop trip.

        And every thing is going to be all right, once the Juice takes the mike.

        We'll descend from our tower of babbling, speaking together with one voice. Rap, that wholesome soundtrack of youth, the promising siren call challenging the 'quo, will be a great equalizer.

        Yo! The “usses” and the “thems” will don backward baseball caps — tags still on. Our pants shall sag onto our buns. And we'll walk the walk, that limp-sneakered slouch of the faithful.

        And we won't study race war no more.

        Instead, we'll feed on the manna from heaven. Money from the rap world will flow through the veins of our community, enlivening our downtown, filling the pockets of promoters, blacks and whites, anointing the truth sayers, talented or not.

        So, bow low, Cincinnatians, as the Sweet Chariot of Fame plunks a prophet of peace into our midst. Rap, that heavenly vehicle, is blessing Cincinnati with an O.J. moment.

        Take a minute to meditate. Feel that cool, balmy breeze of healing washing through our racial and social desert?

        You don't? Infidel.

        Denise Smith Amos can be reached at 768-8395, by fax at 768-8340 or e-mail at damos@enquirer.com.

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