I have been following a few missing people at Websleuths for a year now and Mickey Shunick's case prompted me to join. I have to say the similarity of Mickey to Lauren Spierer was startling, they have so many things in common. I know it has been said that the two cases are not related but it makes me wonder, even so.
I have a daughter who is 30 years old but I still worry about her when she's out and I still call her almost everyday. Things have changed so much since I was young, my grandchildren will never know what it's like to run outside and play and be care free. When I was young we had to be close enough to hear my mom's whistle. Now our children need to be in sight of someone, even if it means using a buddy system or going in groups. (Grown-ups should do this too.)
Even as an adult, I no longer walk or ride alone at night and I don't go to isolated places during the day. I miss my solitary nature walks, but it's not worth the risk to go alone. It's not fair but it does seem to be the "new normal" more like the "new
ab-normal".
Many people also seem to believe in the notion that bad things don't happen to good people, the idea that if we are a good person that our goodness will protect us. I wish it were so, but it is not. We must teach ourselves and our family members to think in a different way now. We don't want to always assume the worst obviously, but we can no longer just assume that we are safe, either. Vigilance, awareness of ones surroundings, don't travel alone at night, be somewhat guarded when you encounter strangers etc.
Maybe these bars could put up posters to remind people, especially young women, to be careful walking or traveling alone at night.
lease:
