Asa Coon was an angry child even by his uncle's admission. Earlier this week he wounded 4 at his Cleveland high school before taking his own life. He was 14 years old.
Fourteen years old with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Fourteen years old and no recourse, in his eyes, but to do what he did. I can ask why all I want. I can debate it all I want. The fact remains that a child, fourteen years old, who should have been looking forward to the rest of his life is now dead.
I don't watch the news as reports of this nature affect me terribly. But after an innocent song on the drive to work, they slip this in anyway. I need to get an iPod. And part of the terrible effect is predictable. I need to know more about the person. I need to try and understand why. It doesn't make sense. I know. But I research it and read it. The very thing I try to avoid by not watching the news. I even emailed Carole Cohen the day I heard. A veiled attempt to express my condolences to her lovely city for something like this happening there? I don't know.
I don't know why I'm even writing this. But I need for the universe to know that Asa was not a mistake. He was not just an angry child who had a history of neglect and violence. At the age of four he was the subject of neglect. At the age of four my girls were watching Barney, plump, fed and dry. He had a history of violence and a strained relationship with his mother.
His classmates described him as "odd." That just about broke my heart. Who among us doesn't want to leave a legacy the day we go? I will remember Asa Coon differently and I didn't even know him. I will remember him as a boy who played chess even though the demographics were against it. He eventually played well enough that he beat his teacher and went on to win a citywide tournament. I will remember him as a troubled youth who fell through the cracks. The cracks that get bigger every day and allow more of our precious children to fall through. Our children. Our future.
My condolences go out to his uncle, Larry Looney, and everyone else who loved Asa.
I realize this had nothing to do with real estate. But it has everything to do with life. What else is there?
Maggie Dokic, SFR is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida selling residential real estate in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Gables by the Sea, High Pines, the Redland and other select areas of SW Miami-Dade County.
Maggie has earned her SFR certification to be able to better serve the needs of her customers in today's non-traditional real estate market. SFR is a Short Sale, Foreclosure Resource Specialist. Designees have been trained to understand the highly specialized options available to Sellers facing short sales & foreclosures and Buyers looking to buy them.
For more information on our local real estate market, or to see or sell a home in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables or the Redland, visit my Miami Real Estate blog or contact me at Maggie (at) TheBlogThatAteMiami (dot) com.
The opinions expressed herein, are those of the author, and not necessarily of Keller Williams Realty.
None of this information is to be deemed legal or financial advice. Please contact your attorney or accountant for same.
I feel the same way. I can't stand to watch the news, it makes me very sad.
Everyone has something to add to this world.
Maggie, it always breaks my heart when I hear of angry children. It's a lack of love, not just of their parents or caregivers, but of all of us. How many times do we see people who are hurt and do nothing. I was at a church conference one time and heard the woman who was speaking ask, "How many women do you sit beside in church are thinking of committing suicide"? We need to learn to ask for help and be there if someone DOES ask.
A very poignant post Maggie, and one that's needed.
Jayne - I believe that wholeheartedly. A lot of people just never know that they make a difference to anyone. It's very sad.
Linda - I feel as if I am looking for an answer, when I know that there isn't just one. It just stinks to look back and see that something could have been done.
Leigh - yes! I ran the gamut of emotions. None of them were pretty.
Sarah - I need to start blogging outside. =) Thank you.
BLR - I know what you mean and that is one thing I do not like about Florida...how easily a gun can be obtained here. I grew up in NYC where it was near impossible to get a gun..legally anyway.
Maggie -- hmmmm a tough issue and I am glad you wrote the post -- its a reminder for us all that LIFE is short and tomorrow is not promised to anyone so do what you can TODAY.
Maybe later today, I'll be able to share what the Eid prayer was about -- Maggie --my fast ended today. I plan --GOD Wiling to fast a few days throughout the year. What you discussed here has a lot to do as to why fasting is prescribed for us.
Peace be with you
This is all so sad Maggie! When children are so severely neglected they will do anything (including lash out violently) to get ANY kind of attention.
I did react a little harsh with the pot smoking incident on my daughter's bus last week but that all has to do with kids doing stupid things to get a reaction and attention ~ even if it is negative. The same kids were involved with a violent act this week and HAVE been punished but it wasn't like I could see that coming from a mile away. Doing a small thing first, more than likely a neglectful parent will come to the defense of their child because they just can't see it. This is huge for a child who doesn't get this on a regular basis and will lead to larger things if there are no consequences in the first place.
My heart bleeds for neglected, battered and mentally abused children all the time.
Monika - there's such incredible sadness in that statement.
Randi - I had forgotten that you were once that in your former life. How difficult it must have been for you to leave it...thinking you hadn't made a difference. I'm sure you did. Someone today is better off because you came into their life.
Chris - I stopped the news about 8 years ago for the same reason...my sanity. There are times when I will stop someone who is going to tell me something horribly graphic with "I don't want to hear about it." But they continue, thinking I don't mean it and I have to tell them "No, I REALLY don't want to hear about it." To me it's much more than something to discuss around the water cooler. It's heartbreaking.
Aziz - I pray you gained what you set out to =) Life is precious and quite often taken for granted.
Renee - it sounds like I need to catch up on your blog. I missed some stuff! You're right. An act of this magnitude doesn't come from a casual neglect. It's a deep rooted need that has been unmet for a long time.
I'm off to an open house y'all! (I don't say that in regular speech by the way. As a former New Yorker I am more prone to say "you guys!") I am taking Aziz and Leigh's reading recommendation, The E-Myth Revisited. Can't wait!
Maggie I feel the sadness for all of the people involved. I hate that our kids had to miss more school when they could be learning; i hate that metal detectors are needed but needed they are! I hate that children can't feel safe in school which in some cases is a place they escape to in order to feel safe somewhere because they don't feel safe at home. Some of the issues are no different than they were when I grew up; some aren't.
I have a different take on everything though. I watch the news, I take it all in. I want to make sure that I can vote a certain way if I have to or open up a dialogue on a subject if needed, or go to a meeting to talk about an issue if needed.
And I hate that in order to get on the front of the Washington Post Cleveland has to have the highest rate of foreclosures or school shootings.
An added thought: the school in which this happened has one of the highest graduation rates in the City. Good teaching is going on in this school. I hope this is not lost on everyone.
And Maggie I thank you for your good thoughts in the email.
Thesa - I had forgotten that you worked in criminal defense at one time. I know for a fact that I could never do that. Thank goodness we have folks who can. It needs to get done.
Missy - I love how we get to know so much about each other just reading and commenting. You always impress me.
Carole - I really can't take the pain that comes along with all the sensationalism. The issues I keep up with in other ways. I seek them out. And I figure if something earth-shattering is about to happen, someone will let me know. I'm glad the school where this happened has a good track record. Our own Southwood Middle, an excellent school in an area with one of the highest household incomes in the county, was the site of a gruesome murder a few years back. One student slashed another's throat in a bathroom stall and left him there to die. As I mentioned to you already, I make the effort to not get sucked into the bad because it can color everything ugly. There's a lot of good going on. I just wish there was a whole lot less bad.
Gary - sometimes, when I'm overly stressed, I take a deep breath and ask myself if in 100 years anyone will care about that particular item causing me stress. Most of the time the answer is no and I can see things in perspective.
Kaye - wow, you were a teacher? I still remember all my teachers, some more than others. They each contributed something of importance though. Thank you.