AMBER KELLER / L’Observateur / April 28, 1999

Over the Easter holiday my Uncle Ronald and Aunt Dawn, who live in another part of the state, took their four children on vacation. While they were gonesomeone broke into their garage and stole their go-cart. Needless to say, theywere furious.

Was it the fact that they couldn’t live without the go-cart? No. What upsetthem was that something they had worked for was stolen from them. Evenworse was the fact that someone told them who stole it, but the police have been unable to track down this repeat offender.

My uncle’s mind immediately went to work thinking of “crazy” ways to find this criminal. He explained to me how he wanted to put posters all over theirparish with the thief’s picture on them. On the poster he would write,”BEWARE, I am a thief.” He also mentioned that he was sharpening his machetejust in case the thief was stupid enough to pay them another visit. He was justkidding, of course, but this reminded me of something.

In the Old Testament days, if you were caught stealing they would cut your hand off. To us who live in the 90’s that may seem a bit extreme, but hey, I betthere were fewer thefts than we have now. There are so many repeat offenderswalking the streets that you have to wonder if maybe our laws should be more severe. The person suspected of robbing my relatives has been in and out ofjail several times. No wonder he continues to steal. When he’s caught hemerely gets a slap on the hand.

This incident has really made me stop to think. It seems to me that theextremely high crime rate in America is, for the most part, the result of a great lack of the fear of God. So many people these days just don’t seem tocare. It scares me to think that crimes like stealing, rape and murder arecommitted by culprits who often feel no remorse. Where has this country’sfear of God gone? More importantly, what are we going to do to get it back? If you have any questions, or comments, write to straightkids@juno.com. orP.O. Box 1493, LaPlace, La. 70069.Back to Top

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