This is my Vancouver
Dear Nathan,
You may never read this, you don't know me, and I don't know you. What you did on Wednesday was one of the most horrendous things I've ever witnessed.
I was deeply moved by your video statement tonight - moved from anger and sadness, to compassion. Skeptics ask whether your statement was motivated by remorse or merely a response to getting caught, but I suspect it's a little of both - why wouldn't it be?
The sad reality now is that by coming forward you've opened yourself up to an onslaught of rage that should be directed at the thousands of rioters, not just one. That took guts, regardless of the motivation.
While you were rioting downtown, I was safe at home with my family - watching in horror as the city I love was trashed. I was devastated, not so much by the physical damage or the sad end to the Canucks run - but by watching a massive number of young men, the future leaders of this city behaving in such an unbelievable way.
In the days that followed, my sadness deepened as I listened to every rationalization and explanation possible -- from anarchy, to poor upbringing or parenting, to a society damaged by the evils of social media....none of which I believe to be true.
Nothing that large and powerful is ever that simple.
You made a mistake Nathan. A stupid, ridiculous, mistake. But that's what it was -- a few hours, a few bad choices, compounded and encouraged by hundreds of cheering rioters. The sad part is, we've all made mistakes, and done things we've deeply regretted because a crowd (or worse, a group of friends) has cheered it on - most not as public as yours - but mistakes none the less.
In the weeks and months to come, your life is going to continue to be difficult - but in that time, hold onto who you are and extend yourself enough grace to get through it without allowing anger and rage to take over. You had a bright future ahead of you before Wednesday night, and how you continue to respond will determine if you become stronger as a result of what has happened or are destroyed by it.
What you did in coming forward took extraordinary courage, and I hope many more follow in your footsteps. Taking ownership and apologizing holds power - it's not a reset button, but it does make a difference.
It was one ugly night, nothing more, and nothing less. While your family is being forced from their home by another kind of rioter, know that there is at least one person in this city that commends you for your actions in the last few days and will be praying for each of you as you face the consequences ahead.
Tara
You may never read this, you don't know me, and I don't know you. What you did on Wednesday was one of the most horrendous things I've ever witnessed.
I was deeply moved by your video statement tonight - moved from anger and sadness, to compassion. Skeptics ask whether your statement was motivated by remorse or merely a response to getting caught, but I suspect it's a little of both - why wouldn't it be?
The sad reality now is that by coming forward you've opened yourself up to an onslaught of rage that should be directed at the thousands of rioters, not just one. That took guts, regardless of the motivation.
While you were rioting downtown, I was safe at home with my family - watching in horror as the city I love was trashed. I was devastated, not so much by the physical damage or the sad end to the Canucks run - but by watching a massive number of young men, the future leaders of this city behaving in such an unbelievable way.
In the days that followed, my sadness deepened as I listened to every rationalization and explanation possible -- from anarchy, to poor upbringing or parenting, to a society damaged by the evils of social media....none of which I believe to be true.
Nothing that large and powerful is ever that simple.
You made a mistake Nathan. A stupid, ridiculous, mistake. But that's what it was -- a few hours, a few bad choices, compounded and encouraged by hundreds of cheering rioters. The sad part is, we've all made mistakes, and done things we've deeply regretted because a crowd (or worse, a group of friends) has cheered it on - most not as public as yours - but mistakes none the less.
In the weeks and months to come, your life is going to continue to be difficult - but in that time, hold onto who you are and extend yourself enough grace to get through it without allowing anger and rage to take over. You had a bright future ahead of you before Wednesday night, and how you continue to respond will determine if you become stronger as a result of what has happened or are destroyed by it.
What you did in coming forward took extraordinary courage, and I hope many more follow in your footsteps. Taking ownership and apologizing holds power - it's not a reset button, but it does make a difference.
It was one ugly night, nothing more, and nothing less. While your family is being forced from their home by another kind of rioter, know that there is at least one person in this city that commends you for your actions in the last few days and will be praying for each of you as you face the consequences ahead.
Tara
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