By DAVID MARLOWE

‘Only the good die young’

Maybe there’s an element of truth to that old saying, or maybe, its just one manner of justifying a loss that cannot be explained in terms of logic, or understanding.

Young people aren’t supposed to die. They are supposed to grow up and experience all the wonderful things life has to offer. They are supposed to graduate from high school, and perhaps college. They are supposed to marry the beautiful girl next door and have a passel of kids. They are supposed to own a nice home, in a nice suburb, have a successful career and spend their leisure time experiencing the American Dream. They are to grow old, gracefully.

When young people die, the hurt goes deep, deeper perhaps, than any other type of loss.

When that death is the result of violence, the impact of the loss is even greater. How does one cope with the news that their son or daughter has been murdered…then be faced with the probability the murderers were supposedly “friends” of the victim? How do classmates deal with the visage of death, suddenly invading a world that should be centered around senior proms and good times with true buddies?

There is no good answer, unless it is to find solace in love of God, who feels our every misery and provides the strength to carry us, when we cannot bear the weight of our loss alone.

My heartfelt prayers and I’m sure, the prayers of everyone in the River Parishes, go out to the Wayne Rogers family, on the tragic loss of their son.

Know that we share your loss, for with the death of Jim Rogers, our communities have also lost. We’ve lost the promise of a young life, unfulfilled. We’ve been made aware, once again, that life in our parishes is not idyllic, not as peaceful as we would like to believe and without its share of evil.

Our prayers also are directed at the lives of those allegedly responsible for this tragic loss, for their families, too, it is time of great pain.

If there is anything to be gained, it is to bring to the attention of every citizen who lives in the River Parishes, that the needs and problems of our youth are not being met. Young people are dying. Young people are enslaved on a daily basis to the drugs that spawn the type of senseless violence that ended the life of Jim Rogers. As adults and parents, the real responsibility lies with us, with the lessons we teach, and the examples we provide. If there is to be change, only we can make it happen.

There are no winners, when a young person dies. It’s simply not supposed to happen.

DAVID MARLOWE is editor and publisher of L’Observateur. He may be reached at (985) 652-9545.