This Disease/Blame the DOC

This Disease

There are things that terrify each of us. Things that we dare not say out loud or put on paper. Scenarios which should not be dwelled upon for fear that too much concentration will somehow bring them to life. Then there are those issues that we must talk about no matter how frightening, otherwise we risk having them spread like a virus. This week in our community I’m aware of at least three individuals who have made the unfortunate decision to take their own lives. Three people that will be remembered not only for how they lived, but for the empty spaces they leave behind in the hearts of those that knew them.  

Growing up as child in this area, I must have been guarded by my parents from such horrors taking place because I can’t recall suicide being as large of an issue as it is now. As hard as I try to think back, I can only remember two people that were loosely connected to me who chose to end their own life. One a family friend who’s attempt was not successful and consequently spent the rest of his years deformed by a split second bad decision. The other a rising star in high school. The kid we all wanted to be, who on the outside appeared to have life figured out, but on the inside struggled to fill some missing piece. 25 years later and I can’t step out onto a soccer field without remembering how much he loved the game and wonder what he would be up to now had things been different. Had he known how much he meant to those lucky enough to be around him even for a moment, would it have made a difference?

I’m not a counselor. I’m not a trained therapist who has spent years learning to help others fight their demons. At times I struggle with anxiety and depression just like everyone else. Although I don’t have a state issued license on the wall with my name in bold print certifying me to help with such things, it doesn’t mean I can’t recognize that suicide is a disease which is quickly spreading through our community. I don’t need a degree to listen to your problems and neither does anyone else. If you are reading this and think you are alone and nobody will understand, you’re wrong.

This morning as I was walking through the house I noticed a verse my wife had written on the refrigerator; Psalm 147:5 “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit”.

There are people around us that are hurting and all too often lately we don’t realize it until there’s no time left to let them know they are loved. I encourage you to look for those around you who are pulling away and pull them closer. Make sure your children know there is nothing they could ever do to separate themselves from your love or that of our God above. Remember to ask questions and have conversations and to not get so caught up in your own life, that when somebody you care about begins to lose value in their own, you take notice and are there to remind them how important they are. It doesn’t take special training to listen, to give a hug, to be a friend, to cure this disease called suicide. All it takes is love.

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If any of us can help deter anyone from taking his or her life, we earn multiple stars in our crown. The dearest friend Shoalanda ever had placed a gun to her head and pulled the trigger. The friend was two hundred miles from the Shoals, but there is enough blame to go around and to reach across the Southeast. We live with it. We sincerely hope you never have to.

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We continue to look into the Four-Way Motel/Half-Way House situation. From what we can ascertain, this project was initiated by the Alabama Department of Corrections in some form. If any city or county agency is to "blame" for its location here, we would first look at the Tuscumbia business license office or planning commission (if the city has the latter). 

So, no, neither Tuscumbia Chief Tony Logan nor Colbert County Sheriff Frank Williamson brought these people here. Blame certainly lies elsewhere.

Altruism aside, the McKinney family is making money by hiring these offenders. It may be a good work, but it's also profitable. 

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There are currently 122 sex offenders residing in Colbert County, at least that's the registered number with past convictions. In the past three years, only two have been arrested, and these arrests resulted from a violation of SORNA address change requirements. 

These figures should put some of this into perspective.