A Tragic Situation

It's 3 in the morning and I am awake thinking about Raym. His house was broken onto yesterday in the middle of the afternoon, his TV stolen and the boxes in his closets opened and strewn about his apartment. Two of his neighbors witnessed two guys crawl into his kitchen window and walk out the front door carrying that enormous TV. Neither one called the police and both refused to get involved by talking to the police for fear of retaliation by these thieves, who live in the neighborhood and can be easily identified by both of them. I feel just heartbroken about this tragic situation.

I would like to think that I would act differently, that I would have called the police so the culprits could be caught in the act and I would never even need to testify, the police would do it for me. I would like to think this.

In the meantime, I am far away from my son who is now afraid of a return visit from these motherfuckers. Afraid that their brazen criminal act was so simple the first time, they will consider him an easy target and a new source of income in the future.

I am trying to remain grateful that they did not clean him out, that he still has his computer, his furniture and his life, but part of me wants to hop in my truck, drive to LA and stand sentry with a baseball bat in his apartment. Part of me would, at this moment, welcome the opportunity to smash in the heads of these guys as they came through the window, delivering the rage and anger I feel towards them and their violation of my son, stealing his feeling of security in his own home.

Another part of me wants to scream at these neighbors, ask them what they were thinking as they cowered in silence and let this happen while they watched. How can they feel safe in the neighborhood while they know this is going on. I think of the saying " All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for enough good people to do nothing." And my heart is heavy with sadness.

I am trying to remain grateful through this tragic situation, but it is difficult.