Dear Ask Paul B Readers,
I just got wind of an all too familiar story from the streets of Chicago. A young boy of 13 was playing basketball with a few other friends. Shots rang out and this young boy was shot in the neck. He died en route to the hospital. Darius Brown is the exact same age as my son, and I am numb just hearing this news. Yes, people die every day, every second, in this violent world of ours. People are being slaughtered in the streets of Tripoli, Syria, and other hot-beds of political unrest. Darius was playing basketball, and most likely had not one iota of an opposing political view to the shooter. Darius was just a kid, who was one fantastic basketball player, and he was enjoying what he excelled at. He did not live on the streets of Beirut, Syria, Lebanon, or Libya. He was not a political person, and was not a target for any particular reason, but he is now gone-gone forever. I am numb and without any legitimate answer for this boy’s murder, on the brink of manhood, and the rest of his adult life. What has become of our world, our society, our neighborhoods?
When I heard Darius’ Mom speak about her loss, she was not crying as she explained that he was “doing what he loved- playing the game of basketball.” It is both a sad truth as it is a testament to our society that we have all become too accustomed to senseless murders, loss of life, and our own children being caught in the cross-fire of a world gone mad!
I will no doubt hug my son when I walk through my front door tonight, and thank the Lord that it wasn’t he who had chosen the wrong park to enjoy his passion. But who is next?
Paul B
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