Admittedly unnecessary and inconsequential, but I have three thoughts on the decade-long kidnappings of the three women in Cleveland.
1. Serious, very relevant thought: The stuff I see everyday at my job. The stuff I read about in Syria and Englewood and a lot of other places. All horrible. But this is just about the most irredeemably evil thing I can conceive of in my mind. I don't know any details. I don't want to know any details. I don't believe in the death penalty, and the kidnappers won't receive the death penalty, but this pushes me about as close as I go to thinking a group of humans can decide that other humans should die.
When the dust settles, if someone reads this and finds out about a fund for the victims, or especially a scholarship fund for the little girl, please comment at the end of this blog. These women have faced unparalleled hell and money won't touch that pain, but at least it might lead to a new start for them.
2. Serious, less relevant thought: I agree that the media and internet coverage of Charles Ramsey is rather racist. But I also agree with the fact that it is a unique and unexpectedly up-lifting interview in the context of a horrible occurrence. My bottom line is that the man helped another human being when for all he knew it could be quite dangerous for him. And, without knowing for sure, he just seems to be being himself. I say let it be.
3. Less serious, completely irrelevant thought: This decade-long kidnapping validates every single outrageously paranoid and irrational fear that my Irish Grandmother, my Irish-Croatian mother and my Irish-Croatian aunt have ever dreamed up for why none of us kids/grandkids should ever do anything fun. Not joking, it's this kind of demonic, perverted scenario that was justification for all sorts of unmade plans and denied requests for socialization. And now it's real. Damnit!
And this story really has my own Croatian genes unballing from their histones and transcribing very paranoid thoughts of my own, such as: can a 13 year old cocker spaniel be re-trained to maul anyone who steps within 3 feet of my children?
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I don't usually take the news this personally. But this story has really struck me. Some evil just can't be processed.
1. Serious, very relevant thought: The stuff I see everyday at my job. The stuff I read about in Syria and Englewood and a lot of other places. All horrible. But this is just about the most irredeemably evil thing I can conceive of in my mind. I don't know any details. I don't want to know any details. I don't believe in the death penalty, and the kidnappers won't receive the death penalty, but this pushes me about as close as I go to thinking a group of humans can decide that other humans should die.
When the dust settles, if someone reads this and finds out about a fund for the victims, or especially a scholarship fund for the little girl, please comment at the end of this blog. These women have faced unparalleled hell and money won't touch that pain, but at least it might lead to a new start for them.
2. Serious, less relevant thought: I agree that the media and internet coverage of Charles Ramsey is rather racist. But I also agree with the fact that it is a unique and unexpectedly up-lifting interview in the context of a horrible occurrence. My bottom line is that the man helped another human being when for all he knew it could be quite dangerous for him. And, without knowing for sure, he just seems to be being himself. I say let it be.
3. Less serious, completely irrelevant thought: This decade-long kidnapping validates every single outrageously paranoid and irrational fear that my Irish Grandmother, my Irish-Croatian mother and my Irish-Croatian aunt have ever dreamed up for why none of us kids/grandkids should ever do anything fun. Not joking, it's this kind of demonic, perverted scenario that was justification for all sorts of unmade plans and denied requests for socialization. And now it's real. Damnit!
And this story really has my own Croatian genes unballing from their histones and transcribing very paranoid thoughts of my own, such as: can a 13 year old cocker spaniel be re-trained to maul anyone who steps within 3 feet of my children?
--
I don't usually take the news this personally. But this story has really struck me. Some evil just can't be processed.