Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Why Are We Surprised?

There was an awful story on the news yesterday about a 61-year-old woman who was raped and beaten unconscious while visiting her mother’s gravesite at Toronto cemetery.

People are outraged and disgusted.

I agree with the feelings. What I don’t understand is people’s surprise and outrage that it should happen at a cemetery.

Let me clarify.

A cemetery is a place of peace, as one woman said. It’s bad enough losing your loved one, but then to be attacked while reflecting on your loss and remembering that person is disgusting.

But why are people surprised a lowlife, who obviously doesn’t care about people, would attack a woman in a place where no one is around.

People are using normal, sane judgments on a person who is neither normal nor sane.

What is obvious to us is not obvious to a person who could rape and beat someone unconscious.

We are learning today that 10 months ago, a homeless elderly man was beaten to death in the same cemetery.

I don’t remember hearing much about this.

Are people also outraged and angry an old man was beaten in a place of peace?

Apparently not.

I feel sickened by the story of the woman who remains in hospital and I hope her physical and emotional health recovers quickly. I do not wish to make light of her suffering as I can’t imagine what she is going through.

However, I think we need to feel disgusted, saddened and angry by every story that shows people can do completely terrible things to each other.

10 comments:

Nicole said...

Ugh, that's awful. I feel for those families.

Stephanie said...

I must admit that I find it interesting what makes the headlines and what doesn't. I agree with all whose sentiment is that this is a horrible crime and that no one deserves to be disgraced in this way. I do however find it interesting that this gentleman you speak of never made the headlines. Why?

Together We Save said...

I agree with what you are saying... sad the way things are going. I worry so much about my children and the life they will have.

Helen McGinn said...

I think sometimes people start to feel numb to the horror; there are so many stories out there,how much can people take before they switch off to allow themselves to lead their life without constant fear. The media decides what is front page news and what is a snippet in page 5 and I agree that they get it wrong at times; both stories are really awful, disgusting and tragically sad. Good post! x

Small Burst said...

what a horrible thing to happen to anyone. I hope both victims recover from this incident.

AiringMyLaundry said...

How awful :( What is wrong with people these days?

Christina Lee said...

Totally agree! Smart thoughts!

Bettyr said...

It is disgusting that such a terrible crime could happen in such a place. I visit my parents in the cemetary (not that one) but sad to say, I do feel uneasy even in daylight. I look around and am happy when I see someone else visiting. Isn't it sad that there doesn't seem to be a safe place for anyone these days.
I didn't hear anything about the gentleman who was attacked in the same place.
Heard on the news today (July 15) they arrested the guy who committed this crime. Let's hope this guy gets what he deserves and, not a slap on the wrist. I would send him away for life. How disgusting he is a human being.

Bettyr said...

It is disgusting that such a terrible crime could happen in such a place. I visit my parents in the cemetary (not that one) but sad to say, I do feel uneasy even in daylight. I look around and am happy when I see someone else visiting. Isn't it sad that there doesn't seem to be a safe place for anyone these days.
I didn't hear anything about the gentleman who was attacked in the same place.
Heard on the news today (July 15) they arrested the guy who committed this crime. Let's hope this guy gets what he deserves and, not a slap on the wrist. I would send him away for life. How disgusting he is a human being.

Unknown said...

I agree with you. It doesn't make the crime any more or less horrifying because it took place in a cemetary. I feel the same way when the media makes a big deal out of people with disabilities being harmed. They always say that it's awful and horrible that someone would do this to a person in a wheelchair, or whatever the case may be. And I agree, it is awful, but does it make it more awful because they are disabled? It's just horrible that someone can do something harmful to ANYONE in my opinion, some people are just demented. The people committing these atrocious crimes are mentally ill, they don't differentiate between old and young, feeble and strong, appropriate and inappropriate.