Who is the Victim

I recently read an article about a young man named Paul Broussard, a banker, who was beat and stabbed to death in 1991. He was 27 years old and he was homosexual. There were ten individuals involved in his death. Most were in there late tens. 17 year old Jon Buice was convicted and sentenced to 45 years for the stabbing. The article I read mentions all of the great things that Buice has done since he has been incarcerated such as received three degrees. Several people believe that 45 years is too harsh a sentence. That really bothers me. He murdered that young man in cold blood, took him away from his loved ones. Why should he be given any special consideration. Many people are playing Buice as the victim, saying that he has been a model prisoner since his conviction in 1992, and that he should be paroled at his next parole hearing. Everyone should remember that there is a young man who died at his hands, and he is the true victim in this story. His name was Paul Broussard. His family will never get to see what he could have become because his life was cut short. Mr. Buice's family can still see him. Even if it is behind bars. I am willing to bet that Paul Broussard's mother, Nancy Rodriguez, would give anything to have the option of visiting her son behind bar instead of at a cemetery. I urge everyone to remember that Jon Buice is not a victim. He is a man who committed a horrible hate crime, and he should do his time.



RIP Paul Broussard

To read more about this case go to:
Houstonpress.com or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Paul_Broussard

Jen

In Remembrance

About a week ago one of my childhood friends died in Afghanistan defending the USA. I had not spoken to him in years, but I still cried when I heard the news. It really made me think about how many people come through our lives that have an impact on us in both great and small ways. I hadn't thought about him in a while, but the moment I got the news I could remember his face, and his personality. It made me so sad to know that someone as kind and fun as him would no longer be walking around. It also made me feel a great sadness to know that it took something so tragic to force me to take that walk down memory lane. Sometimes we are so focused on the here and now that we don't enjoy some of the wonderful memories that helped shape who we are now. I encourage everyone to remember the good times because they may not last forever.

In Memory of Private D. Harris

A Simple Hello

Have you ever spoken to someone and they just walked right by without returning your greeting? I hate that with a passion. It personally offends me to speak to someone and be ignored. I feels like I wasted one of the very valuable breathes that the Lord allowed me on that person. Not only is it offensive, but it is simply rude to not respond to a harmless greeting. I am not talking about if you are on the train at midnight by yourself and someone approaches you. I am talking about at the office or in the supermarket. I am a very funny person so I speak to everyone I pass. I realize that everyone is not as talkative or funny as me, but a simple hello goes a very long way. Sometimes speaking to someone can make their day a little brighter. I know it always makes me feel good. Think about it. 




Love Jen.