From a parent

Yesterday I emailed a friend of mine, a Canadian expat living in Mexico. He makes his living via the tourism industry. I was interested in his opinion of matters that have been getting a lot of international attention such as the controversial presidential elections and the protests in the city of Oaxaca and local (Toronto) medial attention, more specifically, the double murder of the Domenico & Annunziata Ianiero and recently Adam DePrisco.

I wondered what the sentiment in Mexico was, if he was seeing fewer tourists and how he felt about this issue. I realize that his response was written in haste and most likely isn’t articulated in the fashion and respect that I know this man embodies. However, I wanted to share with you what I feel is probably a typical response, especially with people who are impassive and child-less.

“I don't mean to sound callous, but I don't give a crap about the kid who got killed in Acapulco or the couple that got killed here last year... you remember that guy that we met in the bar in Puerto Escondido who had been beaten up? And after chatting with him for a bit we decided that he deserved it? Well, anyway, the media is now a form of entertainment as you know, its purpose is no longer for informing people, but rather for entertaining and sometimes for intentionally misinforming.”

There is a lot that can arise from this debate and I especially agree with the misleading and sensationalism that mass media presents. However that was not where I wished my discussion to go.

My response was such:

You are callous but probably normal. If this happened three years ago I would care less (I don’t want you to confuse this with the phrase "I could care less" because that denotes not caring at all but syntactically it is correct. I would care, less) however I would still feel sorrow on behalf of the parents. I don't know how other people contextualize this but I think about my nephews and because it happened in a place very dear to my heart (Mexico, not Acapulco) and a place where my good friend lives (you!) I think about their people getting this news, over the phone, and heartache it must cause; heartache and utter shock. It just hits you like a freight train from nowhere.

Yet, being a father now this incident has shaken me to the core. I think about the poor boy, really a child. I think about him and the joy he must have had prior to going and while he was there. The excited look on his face; his innocence really...one that I see in my baby (Abby)...then I think about the moment before he is confronted with death; the fear, the loneliness, the pain he feels when his head is being bashed in; his child-like face, lips, nose, eyes becoming disfigured and bloody and his confusion and fear as to "why is this happening to me?". I think about this and I think about Abby...and my heart breaks.

I hope that death is instantaneous

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