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The other night my son was sucker punched, dragged from the metro in D.C., kicked while he was down on the ground by 6 black punks. 6 against 1. Wheres the justice in that? He's all of 150 lbs. and 5'8". And all because he stood up for other people who he felt were more vulnerable than he was. No one else on the metro even helped him while this was going on. What is up with this world? I have, and would again, stand up and help someone being bullied.
He was riding the metro home. These punks were making fun of people, bullying them, pushing people around. When they decided to pick on a guy who could not defend himself, my son spoke up. They backed off of the guy he was trying to help. And then on their way out of the metro, they grabbed and beat him.
Thank God, he's alright. His face is swollen and he wasn't able to talk very well for a few days. He has cuts on his head. He did not get a concussion. His knees and back are messed up due to being dragged and kicked. It all happened so fast.
I have vacillated between complete devastation, utter fear, and pure anger. It is a good thing that I don't have any weapons. I taught him at a very young age to stand up for those who are less fortunate than he/I are. Today I am doubting myself. Why did I bother?
Today I am feeling a lot of anger and am seeking vindication. It was also my mother's birthday and I am wondering why she didn't use her divine intervention to help. I am a long way from acceptance on this one.
-- Edited by Maria123 on Monday 13th of April 2009 10:24:51 PM
-- Edited by canadianguy on Tuesday 14th of April 2009 02:06:58 PM
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If I am not for me, who will be? If I am only for myself, then who am I? If not now, when?
I am so sorry about your son maria , and I certainly would be angry too . Unfortuantley God gave man free will and like the men that beat him some don't use it well . He will heal and thank God it sure could have been alot worse . as for the people that watched , well they have to sleep and wil be haunted by what happened for along time to come. Hugs to your son , in my mind he is a hero , not too many of those left . * hugs* Louise
Maria, what a terrible thing- I am so sorry this has happened to your son and to you. You have every right to be angry and so does he. I just wanted to let you know that both of you are in my best thoughts and prayers this day- take care, hugs, J.
Good for you for teaching your son moral values, great for him for standing up for himself & others. It is brutal to know that people will watch while something like this happens. I realize you're conflicted. Think about it, in society we are generally taught to look the other way. Not a fair fight but I dont think most crimminals or hoodlums are trying to be fair. Intimidation mixed with violence is a powerful force.
I have had a lot of people say to me that a physical beating is nothing compared to emotional abuse. That they would choose the phyical pain over emotional. I wonder if your son would have chosen differently if he knew the outcome or not or would standing there & doing nothing been a better choice for him to live with.
But I do understand, you need excessive violence to stand up to that kind of thing but so what's next, carrying guns? That only seems like it could possibly invite a more violent end ~ not always but it could.
I'm sorry you are angry & hurt and I'm sorry your son got beat up. The fact you both have so much integrity, is a beatiful and powerful thing. There never seems to be a cop around when you need one.
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Light, Love, Peace, Blessings & Healing to Us All. God's Will Be Done. Amen.
What an amazingly brave son you have raised. If there were more people out there like him, punks and bullies would not have have the freedom they have to be jerks.
What Kitty said about living with doing nothing is so right on I think. For someone that knows what is right and feels that urge to help, doing nothing might have been more damaging than the beating.
My first thought was...if just one responsible person there had been carrying a gun this might have been averted. Who knows?
Indeed, where is a cop when you need one?
I hope your son heals quickly and knows how much the hero he is.
I'm in shock here. BE angry, dear. BE angry, and then hand it over to HP. As always, easier said than done, but what are the choices here? Live in fear? Quit caring? Jump up & down & yell in the metro station? Sometimes it's impossible to know what the lesson is supposed to be, or indeed whether the lesson is for us or the onlookers or the hoodlums. Maybe it's an opportunity to discover and broadcast a message about what onlookers CAN do in a situation like that. Maybe it's a lesson in powerlessness (arrrrrrrgh!) - I don't know. As always, all WE can do is be honest, open, and willing. That makes us vulnerable, and sometimes we get hurt. I'm so sorry it had to happen to your son - he sounds like a wonderful young man.
OMG Oh honey you have every right to be angry. You have every right to be upset. What happened to your boy is atrocious. I hope a police report was filed. I am so sorry this happend
My daughter was a victim of violence and I completely understand your outrage.
HP was certainly nowhere in the hearts of those who beat your son, or in those who watched. And, that's what went wrong.
Life is a spiritual battlefield. I believe evil delights in these kinds of events, in all the fear it produces in the many who are affected. This program has taught me that fear is the enemy.
There is only one thing to do. Connect with HP, quietly placing the difficulty and worry in His hands. It is my best response to this crazy, crazy world.
I will be holding your son and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Love, gladlee
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The prayer isn't for Higher Power to change our lives, but rather to change us.
omg, thank god your son will be okay. As a Mother, I can only imagine what you feel right now. Angry is probably just tip of the emotional iceberg. Hold your son tight, kiss him, tell him you love him and bask in the glory that he is going to be okay. And thank him on behalf of us all, for being an ethical and moral being.
I can't imagine the rage you must feel, and the fear and pain. What happened to your son is tremendous. I would imagine it will take a very long time to process. Oh ya know the saying "it's not what happens to us but what we do with the experience that matters" and this is true, but there is no set time limit to actually gain the wisdom form the experience.
Thank God he is alive and that you didn't have a gun.....there is NOTHING like a mother's love. ((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))) for you and your son.....
((((((((((My Maria and son)))))))) Thank God it wasn't worse, but I know how horrified you are and you have every right to be ANGRY. This is something you won't forget, and I hope no such bad luck comes to you and yours ever again. Love, Sweetpea
From the bottom of my , thank you (((((((((((Abby, Jean, Kitty, David, Thinks, Tiger, Glad, Ness, Rora, Seren, Lou and Sweetpea))))))))))). Thank you for allowing me to feel my feelings, thank you for validating my anger. I am still angry and someone at my F2F tonight reminded me it's a process.
My program has gone completely out the window on this one . Because I am powerless over what happened to him, I am venting to whoever decides to call me to task these few days. I know it, I can intellectualize it but just for today, I don't care. Just for today, I have an I dare you attitude.
Ness, when I asked my son to please not speak out when he's alone (I was being selfish) his perspective is "Mom, what's the point of life if we don't take care of those who need it?" Just for today, I don't want him to be a hero.
love in recovery, Maria
__________________
If I am not for me, who will be? If I am only for myself, then who am I? If not now, when?
, thank you (((((((((((Abby, Jean, Kitty, David, Thinks, Tiger, Glad, Ness, Rora, Seren, Lou and Sweetpea))))))))))). Thank you for allowing me to feel my feelings, thank you for validating my anger. I am still angry and someone at my F2F tonight reminded me it's a process.
. Because I am powerless over what happened to him, I am venting to whoever decides to call me to task these few days. I know it, I can intellectualize it but just for today, I don't care. Just for today, I have an I dare you attitude.