We shouldn't have to be afraid!

I've written before about how I don't like it when newscasters or others say, "He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time" when someone is robbed and/or murdered. Most often they are completely wrong -- the victim usually had a reason for being where he was when he was, and there was nothing wrong at all about it. It was the thief/murderer who wasn't where he should be.

Another angle on that is the recent assault of a woman at a Whole Foods Market in Dallas. She was beaten and her $90,000 ring was stolen. A letter to the editor by Tye Thomas says the woman could have avoided this situation if she had not worn expensive jewelry. He says, "If you exceed the speed limit, expect to get a citation. If you eat foods high in fat, expect to gain weight. And if you wear a $90,000 diamond ring to the grocery store, expect that someone will commit violence to take it."

While I don't advocate waving your finger in the air and saying, "This ring is worth $90,000 -- come take it," I think his attitude is absurd. In the first place, exceeding the speed limit is illegal. Wearing a ring is not. Gaining weight from eating follows a law of nature -- being robbed of what is rightfully yours does not. If you have jewelry and other nice things, you should have a reasonable expectation of being able to enjoy them without being attacked.

To turn this thing back on Mr. Thomas, I wonder if he drives his automobile to the market? Shouldn't he expect some thug to hijack him for doing that? I wonder if Mr. Thomas has a nice home. Isn't he inviting burglars by living in such a domicile? I wonder if Mr. Thomas uses a computer for personal transactions. Isn't he inviting identity theft by doing so? See, Mr. Thomas, with your blame the victim mentality, we should all live in a monastery and never stick our heads out the door again. The solution to the problem is not for law-abiding citizens to give up their pleasures. The solution is for us to lock away the thieves and throw away the keys!

"Don't flash pricey jewelry." The Dallas Morning News; February 14, 2010; p. 2P.