Mother pleads for an end to childhood violence

I can't stop thinking about the horrific incident that took place in Florida this past week involving 5 teenage attackers dousing another teen with rubbing alcohol and setting him on fire. I try to keep my blog on the positive side of life and focus on kindness, but who in their right mind could find anything positive in such a nightmare? Surprisingly, I did find kindness in the heart of this grieving mother.

Valerie Brewer, the mother of the victim, was on the GMA Show Thursday morning. She spoke directly to parents, asking them to wake-up and do something about childhood violence (i.e., step up to the plate and get involved in raising your own children, teaching them right from wrong-my words, not hers). There wasn't anything vitriolic in her words. She simply pleaded that we love our children and love EVERYBODY's children. I think she nailed the problem on the head here. If these boys had been taught and shown how to love and respect ALL people, this could have been avoided.

I don't know how you can refrain from becoming angry and bitter after such a tragedy. The years ahead of this young boy are going to be painfully difficult to say the least. Valerie chose to go on television during what must be her darkest hours, and call attention to the violent tendencies among our children before they escalate to this point. Her plea reminds me of Darrell Scott's activism, spreading the word that violence is never the answer. Darrell lost his daughter to angry teenage retaliation against other teens during the Columbine shootings. Both of these families have suffered such heartbreak and use their pain as a duty to call attention to the problem of childhood violence.

Family friend Danny Martinez has set up a Web site and foundation so people can help the victim, Michael Brewer, and his family with financial costs.
http://www.facebook.com/michaelbrewerfoundation