Thursday, April 25, 2013

Crime Means Always Having to Say You're Sorry

Let's stop making excuses. People need to take responsibility for their actions. "My bad!" is not good enough. We're not toddlers. Apologizing does not make your offense disappear any more than kissing a dislocated elbow aligns the bones and ligaments again.

This morning I saw a story on the news about a dude who entered the wrong house and took a shower. According to the report, Dude entered a neighbor's house. Or not. Because he lived a couple of streets over, and he and the homeowner had never met. Not exactly what I would call a neighbor. Someone from the area, perhaps. But not a neighbor you might borrow a cup of sugar from, or pick up the mail for when they're out of town.

Not only did Dude take an illicit shower, he kicked in the door, rummaged through the silverware drawer, and rattled some doorknobs. The homeowner woke up to the door-kicking and locked herself in her daughter's room. Or not. Because the report quoted the woman as holding onto the door as tight as she could. Not a very good lock. She called 9-1-1. The police arrived and didn't let Dude use a towel.

According to the report, Dude had been drinking "several pitchers of hard liquor" at a nearby bar until 4:00 a.m., then walked to this house, thinking it was his own. Gosh. Several pitchers of hard liquor! Dude can put it away! And of course, everybody knows that you kick in your own front door every time you go home. And take silverware with you to the shower.

Anyway, in spite of the issues I have with this news report, the Dude situation became even more interesting when the station quoted "Dude's Father." That's what it said under the written statement in a box on the TV screen. "Dude's Father." Not Mr. Richard Dude. Simply "Dude's Father."

The statement made by Dude's Father purported that Dude is a really nice guy who is really sorry and embarrassed. He will be going back to college to study business. And he will not be drinking any more adult beverages. “It’s unfortunate; he’s a really good kid. It was a freak accident and he feels bad about it.”

Seriously, Dude's Father? The train has already left the station. Let Dude apologize for himself. His picture was flashed on the screen about ten times, along with his name. He's not anonymous. The fact that he's appearing before a judge in June means that this was more than a freak accident. It was not a cute little misunderstanding. Dude kicked in a door and was found naked in a stranger's house.

People really need to take responsibility for their own actions.

6 comments:

  1. I could have written these words! Parents are enabling their offspring to be total goof-offs. I don't care if he is going to college. He needs to be accountable.



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  2. Couldn't agree more. Makes me think the parents will be paying out to smooth this over. I hope the woman will press charges.

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  3. This guy was lucky she didn't have a gun.

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  4. Birdie,
    Yes. You don't get many do-overs when you mess up as an adult. High time he learned that lesson. If he was so sorry, why didn't HE appear on camera and say so? His dad already admitted that Dude broke and entered and showered, though freakishly accidentally. It's not like he would be incriminating himself.

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    Kathy,
    Makes me think the parents have covered for him all his life. She gave a blurred, voice-disguised interview. It sounded like she's going to make him realize he made a mistake invading HER home.

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    Stephen,
    She's lucky he didn't think she was his "wife" and commence to gettin' it on! You never know when a drunk 24-year-old man is going to kick in your door at 4:00 a.m. and take off his clothes after helping himself to something from the silverware drawer. It's hard to keep police in your nightstand drawer.

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  5. Helicopter parents! The story does sound fishy.

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  6. Linda,
    At least the police didn't let him use a towel. That's a baby step towards learning there are consequences for your actions.

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