The Other Side

Another tragedy of the last few weeks is the death of a 12 year old child in Brisbane.

Now I say upfront I cannot imagine the pain that his parents, friends and family are going through and these thought are not meant to diminish those, or belittle them, in any way shape or form.

I have spent many hours wondering about the "perpetrator". What grief must his family been feeling? That there child was capable of this; the realization that so much, if not everything has changed in their world. The stigma of this will be hard to escape.

I ask myself why this child was carrying a knife - was he trying to show off or be cool, was he a bully, or was he living in fear and thought he needed the "protection" the weapon would give? Was this the first time he had carried it, or was it something he had been doing for a while, whatever his motives?

Were others, adults specifically, aware that there was something going on? Were there clues?

This child's life is irrevocably changed - whether he is found guilty or not, he will live with knowing that he was reasonable for the death of another. Was this something he had ever contemplated? Was it even 'real'? Does he, at 12, even really understand?

There is strong community and social support for the family of the child that died. That is as it should be. What support will the perpetrator and his family receive as they try and rebuild their shattered lives, for surely that is what we wish for them too.

Art: "Knife" by dv8-