Tragedy is a wake up call
Star News
Editorials
Lilly Peters is dead.
No amount of purple ribbons, porch lights or prayers will change the horror of that fact.
It is for others to share the lurid details of her death. National and even international news organizations have reported on the details about the 10-year-old Chippewa Falls girl who never made it home after leaving her aunt’s home, just minutes from her own.
The words of those many articles and newscasts do not touch on the anguish and grief of her family. No parents should ever have to bury their child, let alone have to deal with such a heinous crime.
It is an already terrible crime, made worse, if that is possible, because of the added betrayal of trust by someone who should have inherently been a protector, but instead proved to be a predator capable of monstrous acts.
Children killed in violent acts are, sadly, nothing new. We see the headlines and listen to the news briefs of lives cut short and families ripped apart. The shock of those tragedies is blunted by distance and circumstance.
We feel a sense of security in our small communities. For many, there is a belief that nothing like that could happen here.
Incidents, such as the death of Lilly Peters, tear down that facade and remind us that the potential for violent crimes is constantly lurking.
The natural reaction to a crime such as this, is to want vengeance on a basic level of an “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” This does not bring back the dead.
The challenge of horrible crimes like this is to go beyond simply punishing the perpetrator, to try to understand what steps lead to that cliff. There are those who will be quick to point out the usual suspects in these sorts of situations — things such as video games, music or popular media that use violent imagery and devalue human life. If these were the only factors that trigger these acts, the streets would be constantly awash in the blood of innocents and the grief stricken wails of parents would drown out all sound. There is something more that causes someone to commit such horrible acts.
There is something fundamentally broken in any person who would commit such a crime. It is essential to find out what that is and look for the warning signs, which in hindsight can appear so obvious.
Beyond just identifying potential warning signs, there needs to be access to mental health services so that those who are broken can be healed before they hurt others.
When you throw a rock into a still pond, the ripples cascade in all directions. Sometimes these ripples are light, other times their force is enough to create lasting change on the shoreline. Over time those ripples fade and the water grows calm.
Now, while the ripples caused by Lilly’s death are strongest, there needs to be action and understanding and investment in mental health to ensure that all children can make it home safely.
