(This letter by Leandra Esfakis was published in the Tribune recently in response to an article by Alesha Hart complaining about public indifference to the victims of crime.)
Dear Ms Hart:
Your article of last week speaks eloquently of the deafening national silence. You say that by our silence, and failure to attend the candlelight ceremony on June 15, to honour the victims of crime, we disrespected the memory of fallen victims and tomorrow's victims as well.
A candlelight ceremony is a symbol of sorrow, respect, and hope - for an effective response to the issues which create victims of crime. And poor attendance would indicate that perhaps we as a people are not caring enough to step outside our comfort zones, and honour those who have fallen.
I do believe, however, that we are caring. But what do we care about? And do we have the conviction and courage to defend what we should care about - at least our lives? Or is that we have no expectation of a better tomorrow, because we know that we put into positions of power, persons who are no more than a reflection our own weaknesses, and when tested are unable to rise above those weaknesses.
And so I would like to offer an answer to the last haunting question you raised: "I wonder who will speak clearly if something happens to me?"
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