Blame

Facing History and Ourselves III had a lively discussion, tonight. Our group seemed split between whom to blame. The subject was the 60 Minute Video of the "Bad Samaritan". This is the story of 18 year old David Cash witnessing his friend abuse a seven year old girl. David turns away and sits outside waiting for his friend. His friend, Jeremy Strohmeyer assaults, rapes, and murders the little girl, Sherrice Iverson. Jeremy immediately confesses his crimes to David and the two continue playing the machines in the casino and leave and move on to other casinos. The pair act like nothing ever happened.

Everyone agreed that the physical and sexual assault and murder on a little girl was morally reprehensible. Everyone, also thought that not helping the little girl was equally inexcusable. Yes, David Cash was wrong and should be punished in some way, but the laws of the state, at that time were not broken.

Public opinion vilified David Cash.

The discussion seemed to have one theme--blame. The crime was done. David's behavior was the topic of the discussion. Not only his behavior during and after the crime, but his behavior after, in defending his actions, or rather inaction.

Some of my cloistered brothers thought David was a psychopath. Some thought he might have been in shock and afterwards had to defend himself. Milt thought that his intelligence quotient may be high, but his emotional quotient was below average. Bob said that there was a disconnect between his thoughts and feelings. Some said that was the problem--he didn't have feelings.

Others, like Ron thought that the self-righteousness indignation of David's accusers were typical of today's hypocrisy, In fact, Dr. Pope said David's behavior was an indictment of today's society. (See my poem, A Window into Darfur:http://oprize.com/_wsn/page2.html
) Nowadays people love violent video games. Good news is usurped by bad news. Children are shooting up their schools. People solve their problems by shooting the people they think are responsible. The public acts shocked, but the truth is they love to see, hear, and be a witness to violence. They lust for it.

Comparing the Good Samaritan with the Bad Samaritan was very thought provoking. Did the priests in the Good Samaritan act any differently than David Case? Weren't both the priests and David thinking only of themselves--the trouble helping would cause? Aren't both stories of prejudice? Couldn't the Chancellor of the University of California at Berkeley be called a "Good Samaritan" because he didn't cave under the "mob" opinion. He stated the school's policy. Period.

Finally, we had WWJD. Everyone is a child of God. Everyone deserves our love and forgiveness. It is easy for us to be judgemental, after the fact. "Judge not, less you be judged." Both Jeremy and David need forgiveness. The Kingdom of God is in each of us and in the midst of us.

Most memorable stories of the night are Steve Pope's homophobia and Ron's forgiveness. Dr. Pope told of his being homophobic until he met a "gay man." Upon self examination of the reasons why he was homophobic, Steve blamed himself. Fr. Lataste would say that the minute he realized he was wrong, he was forgiven. I would say that he wasn't at fault. He was formed to think that way. Steve seems to suffer from scrupulosity.

Ron's story was moving. Ron spoke of his 5 year old sister's murder and his having written a letter to her murderer forgiving him.

WWJD?