Editorial: Our communities are not invulnerable, but we can’t live in fear
The last few weeks have taught us that even in Charles City and New Kent, we’re not invulnerable to serious and deadly crimes.
A few weeks ago, an attempted armed carjacking took place in Providence Forge’s Forge Center, an area that is visited by literally a thousand people every day. The result of that crime was the serious injuries to two people. This past weekend, a man lost his life in a shooting in Charles City, the county’s first homicide in more than a decade.
Most of us view these crimes as serious, as we should. But when we hear something like this happening in areas close to home, we panic. Believe it or not, there are people who think these crimes are just for the big city. There are times where living in the areas that we do may cause us to have the mindset of “It happens in the big city and it’s an everyday thing.” But regardless if it’s in a big city or in our small communities, these are crimes regardless. Nobody should have to experience a nonsense death or a serious injury because of wants. Remember crimes impact not only the victim, but families and the community as well.
I will say this though. We must continue to be brave and courageous, even when we are afraid. Is that oxymoronic? It is, but fear won’t stop events from happening. We must continue to live our lives and not be deterred by the behavior of one or two individuals. Living in fear will only result in us struggling in our lives. It’s okay for us to be afraid. It’s a natural human feeling. But we should also know that we are blessed and that we can do a lot of things by being more aware and being in a place that benefits us all.
Our strength comes from understanding and knowing that we are supported by each other. Complications will arise, challenges will be presented, but it is up to us as individuals to do the right things. We can get through these situations and do our best to prevent them. But we can’t live in fear because they have occurred.
Stay safe, stay smart, and stay blessed. Each and every one of our lives are of value as we all have a purpose. Don’t get derailed from your blessing by seeing the negativity of situations.