Sometimes A Diversion Doesn’t Work

The creek in the neighborhood  

Saturday afternoon baseball is calling. I fear, however, that my Giants are stalled in a locked elevator and unless someone can reach the panic button, the door will remain closed and players will have to wait until next season to see the sunshine. With that rather depressing thought rattling my brain, I will move on to another issue.

Rape. Here’s why. Yesterday morning in a lovely, quiet, upper class neighborhood adjacent to mine, a senseless attack was committed. According to reports, a young mother, only thirty-two years old, had taken her two children to school, and then returned home. Unbeknownst to her a man had entered her house while she was gone. She had no idea anyone was there until he - a six foot, plus, white man with a potbelly - was upon her. A knit cap had been pulled over his head so she was unable to give any facial description, and that’s a shame. The monster bound her, raped her, and cowardly fled away to God only knows where.

Everyone in our part of town is aghast by news of the attack. “It’s horrible. Can you believe it?” they ask, their faces skewed with shock and worry.

“Things like this don’t happen here,” they say. And that’s true, of course, until something like this does occur.

It happened, right here, in close proximity to a park where children, flanked by their mom, grandpa, or nanny play on the swings or dig in the sand; where men and women jog or stroll; where people walk their dogs; where neighbors dig furrows in the community garden. It happened where the dog walker makes her rounds; where teenagers zip around on skateboards and bicycles; where little ones fish the creek for crawdads; where would-be superstars play hoops in the street. In this quiet neighborhood it happened.

I believe rape should be a capital offense. The act clearly is not about sex; it is about power and control, and it is indescribably violent. My heart aches for the young woman who was raped, in a brutal act, destructive beyond words. Her own trauma is paramount, but she does not bear the burden of the assault alone. Her husband, her children, her family, her friends will be burdened as well, likely for a long time. Even folks such as my husband and I, distant neighbors who do not know her at all have been affected by news of this atrocity. We, along with so many others, have to wonder, why? Why? What kind of fiend takes it upon himself to destroy a woman’s sense of security, dignity, and privacy? What kind of lowlife feels it his right to terrorize an innocent human being, altering her life forever? I know, this is not the first rape in history, but this one has come too close to home.

This thug needs to be found and arrested. If he has a criminal record perhaps DNA evidence will help. If not, maybe he will “spill the beans”, brag to his buddies, or slip the truth to a person who can’t keep a secret. Law enforcement officials are investigating, no doubt about it, but we neighbors will be on the lookout too. And as for the woman, I hope she can retain her self-worth and find peace.

At the end of the day, seek peace.