I’m sorry for my absence from these pages of late.
My life has been very hectic with family and friends lately, particularly one friend who was the victim of a vicious and brutal hate crime from which my friend is still recovering, both physically and psychologically.
I will say no more about the matter to preserve this person’s privacy, but the criminals (or as The Field might call them — animals) are still at large despite stealing my friend’s cell phone, driver’s license and using my friend’s credit card to pay their tax bill. Someday, I hope they receive the justice they so richly deserve for what they did.
I would ask all of you to hold my friend in your hearts and say a prayer ( if you hold such beliefs) that my friend can be healed of all the wounds that remain, that linger on long after the awful deed recedes into the past. Even more than justice I wish to see my friend made whole again, and able to return to the life that those of us who have never been victims of such senseless, terrorist acts will ever fully understand.
If you have had a friend or family matter who has suffered as the victim of a hate crime, my thoughts and prayers got out to the both of you this morning, another morning in America like any other, just not the way Ronald Reagan envisioned (and tried to sell to us all in its imaginary beauty as our reality), however.
For as long as there are people in this country and in the world that would do violence to foster hatred, so long as they threaten any person whom they feel, in their ugly blackened hearts, is different from them in some small, insignificant way, so long as the humanity of so many of our people is denied and degraded on a daily basis by those who hold and express such poisonous beliefs, and so long as our friends and family members must live in fear because there are those among us whose actions place their lives at risk, there can be no Great Society, and no Morning in America.
I am sending Warm Thoughts of Love and Healing to your friend and all who love them.
I was a victim of hate crimes in my youth before they had a name for them. It takes a long time but eventually you can put it behind you except when you have nightmares but those do get fewer and fewer as the years go by.
Thank you.
I’m sorry about your friend, and hope they can recover.
On another note, you’ve been missed. Glad you’re back!
I’m sorry, too. I don’t know what to say, except your friend should not let this shadow his life because that would please his attackers very much. It will heal in time but it may take a very long time. I was attacked and beaten and left for dead at the age of three in a racially changing neighborhood. I didn’t really heal until around age 50 when I realized that the three faces in my mind, that I swore to kill as an older child if I ever met them again, didn’t exist any more. Those teenagers were old men and probably dead, given their violent life-style. So don’t push your friend. Just nurture him or her.
The credit card use is evidence. If the police ignore it, try the reporting that as a violation of his/her civil rights.
I am also sending warm wishes to you and your friend. Be open to your friend and allow them to express their emotions. Often times people will tell victims to “get over it” as they have judged enough time has passed. Healing takes times that varies from person to person.
One thing struck me as I was reading your post, if they used your friends credit card to pay a tax bill then they will be identified. Has the credit card company reversed the charge? The police notified of the tax bill id (they can then go to the municipality etc to get further information) to catch the bad guys?
Good wishes
So long as people continue to hate others, there can only be mourning in America.
My prayers are with your friend, Steven.
My best wishes and sympathies to your friend. As the physical trauma heals, I hope your friend is also able to find whatever help is needed for the psychological trauma as well.
This is also why having the Hate Crimes bill signed into law, and getting DADT repealed are so important — every step forward that de-legitimizes hatred and fear of gays (or any other minority) is a step towards ending it… (or at the very least, provides much stronger deterrents to those who cannot otherwise behave like civilized people.)
And yes, you were missed! ::hugs::
Hello Steven. I know there isn’t anything I can say to take away the ugliness of what has happened to your friend only time can do that. Mental wounds are the hardest to heal and each person is different in that respect. Time and the care of family and friends.
I can only add and send my good thoughts out there along with everyone else’s.
My prayers are with you and your friend.