I agree with you that continuing violence doesn't help anyone and only perpetuates the problem. The only thing I would add is that it does indicate the level of anger, frustration, and empathy for the victim people in the community feel--particularly when legally, the Drews will walk away with no legal consequences for their actions.
I don't believe the Drews should suffer physical violence because that is always wrong. But if they are shunned by the community, if they have no business clientele, if they feel despised by everyone around them...perhaps they will begin to feel a little bit of what Megan experienced.
Your point, a good one, is taken.
But do people who feel shunned and abhorred by society often grow towards a deeper, more-loving understanding of their fellow human beings? Or is it more likely that such shunning and rage just teaches and reinforces what these people obviously already believe - that it's a dog-eat-dog-world where other humans are out to get them?
Brutality comes in many forms and fashions, not always physical, and some would say that emotional and social brutalization is the cruelest form of violence. Surely Megan knew that.
I know it seems a lot to ask for gentle compassion to be shown towards someone like Ms. Drew (or others who do terrible things), but I think it's worth pointing out that two wrongs don't ever make a right. Why would those of us heartbroken by the emotional cruelty aimed at Megan be secretly or not so secretly supportive when such cruelty is aimed at someone else?
I posit that it's because we see Megan as innocent and Drew as guilty. But thinking we know who deserves to be treated poorly and who doesn't will
never assist us in stopping human cruelty towards one another. Which, as I said before, is more important to me than distinctions of victim and perp.
I pray daily for Megan's family and the Drew family to have peace, healing and growth from this horrible event.
