anything I title this just seems trite and trivializing :-(

Aug 25, 2011 12:20

I don't tend to watch the news. In fact, I actively avoid doing so most of the time because it makes me feel angry and helpless and I don't like those feelings, especially when there are some days it's enough of a battle to get up and go on with my day just dealing with my own issues. I know that's selfish, but it's self-preservation too.

But every now and then something comes along that makes the news that I can't and *won't* ignore.

I'm sure most of you who live in San Diego and probably a lot of you here in Southern California have heard by now on the news about this horrific story. (Warning: potential triggers for domestic violence and...I don't even know what else.)

Basically, Alyssa Rokov's estranged husband (I refuse to dignify him with his name) went to the house where she lived with her mother and daughter, apparently looking for revenge. When he didn't find Alyssa there, he murdered his daughter and mother-in-law instead before engaging in a gun battle with police and then committed suicide by burning the house down with himself inside (presumably so he could shoot any firefighters trying to save it :-( ).

Hooley's Irish Pub, in Rancho San Diego (right next door to the Edwards theater on Jamacha), is collecting donations of money, clothes, etc. for Alyssa tonight. I don't know what time the fundraiser starts, but if you're in San Diego and want to help, I'm sure you can call them (619-670-PINT) and get the info. :-(

I'll admit, to my shame, that I only heard about this because this family was very dear to some friends of my family, but that's not why I'm angry. It would be easy to trot out all the usual platitudes about needing to end domestic violence, but I'm going out on a limb and saying that's not good enough. I think we, as a species, need to reject the concept of revenge. Because as long as we glamorize it, as long as we glorify it and justify it and excuse it, we will continue to produce people who think that doing something like this is okay. That their anger or hurt or embarrassment or WHATEVER justifies murder and destruction on this scale, or any scale.

It's not okay. It's never been okay, but I don't think it's ever going to stop happening until the human race as a whole stands up and says that with one voice.

(Yeah. Like that's ever going to happen. :-( )

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real life

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