Somedays I have a hard time. But really, it's not my problems that upset so much as when I dwell on the problems others endure.
We are moving and have had a hell of a year dealing with our kids, selling the house, sick family, and all the struggles that are normal for so many families. But when I put in perspective to the struggles other families are facing I feel... I feel like a shmuck and I should realize how blessed I am, and therefore do what I can to help others who are worse off.
Bryan Stow. He could have been any number of men you or I encounter on a weekly basis. A seemingly normal guy who liked his team and wanted to hang out with his buddies and watch a game. But on March 31, 2011 two monsters disguised as humans willfully decided to take his life from him, seemingly because he was a San Francisco Giants fan in the rival Los Angeles Dodger stadium.
Here is the story and interview from Youtube courtesy John Fund: Bryan Stow on Rock Center.
What gets me upset is not just the brutality and banality of the attack, but the aftermath. I consciously put myself in Bryan's position and try to imagine that life. One day life is yours, and you have autonomy and free will. And the next you are utterly dependent, and in the least dignified ways. Your cognitive abilities are diminished so I am unsure how well you can control your state of mind. Your physical abilities are almost diminished so normative ways of physiologically transforming your mental and emotional states are confined to small gestures and fantasy. Rather than being a son who will take care of your parents in their senior years they take care of you. Instead of providing for you son and daughter, they will be working to provide for you. No one wants to be a burden. No one wants to feel purposeless. No one wants to lose dignity. No one wants to wake up to this nightmare.
So much of what you and I take for granted was stripped away from Bryan Stow because two thugs wanted to act out, cowardly attack him, and continue to beat him while he was defenseless. Had it been a disease like ALS or the like I would find it calamitous, yet not at all on par with horrific tragedy Bryan Stow and his family endure.
Plus, when you think it couldn't get worse... IT DOES.
The two Amalekites who mercilessly beat Bryan Stow were sentenced just 4 years and 8 years in prison. That's it!? People get more for theft of material goods or drugs. How the hell is this all these degenerates get for the theft of Bryan's life, dignity, and all that goes with it. His children lost their dad. His parent's lost their son. His sisters' lost their brother. Society lost a good and productive man. And the "just" result is 4 years in prison for one assailant and 8 years for the other?
Here is the judge's reaction and words to the convicted criminals at their sentencing:
Yes, one of the thugs is smiling and laughing as the judge is speaking. Incredible. And a great reminder that there really are people out there who are evil. There are monsters. They appear human. And they must be stopped.
These two monsters deserve just punishment. Yes I'd emotionally prefer a literal lex talionis ruling, and see them beaten until they are brain damaged and need a colostomy bag. But that won't happen (nor do I intellectually think it should happen.) The least they or "justice" system could do is sentence them to a "life sentence" each as they have take the life of Bryan Stow and those of his loved ones.
As Dennis Prager said in his show regarding this case, sometimes our justice system is criminal.
Below is a modified Mi Sheberakh prayer I mentioned in the show (for those like myself who have a difficult time with prayer, but want to say a prayer on behalf of those who are ill and in need of healing):
May the One who blessed our ancestors --
bless and heal Bryan Stow
May the Holy Blessed One
overflow with compassion upon him,
to restore him,
to heal him,
to strengthen him,
to enliven him.
The One will send him, speedily,
a complete healing --
healing of the soul and healing of the body --
along with all the ill,
among the people of Israel and all humankind,
soon,
speedily,
without delay,
and let us all say: Amen!
NOW we can help and support Bryan and his family though support4bryanstow.com.
Give what you can and spread the word.
It takes a world of good to counter a single act of evil.
So step up!
Do good!
And help Bryan and his family live a better life.
Blessed is the True Judge
