« PATRIOT | Main | Ex-Prez Carter: Bush has brought U.S. "international disgrace" »
September 29, 2006
IN RECOGNITION OF DAVID BURKE'S KINDNESS
by Jack Lee
It's good to know there are some people out here like David Burke, a caring man who helps run a shelter for homeless people. I regret to say, it's also worth reminding would-be hitchhikers that preditors like Shawn Ransom Stuart, also exist and now for the full story, how these polar opposites crossed paths:
In today's Enterprise Record, "Homeless and hooked on drugs since her mid-teens, the 24-year-old woman realized too late that she had accepted a ride from the wrong stranger." So begins the story. The young victim was beaten and raped and if she had not escaped her captor by leaping from his truck, she might now be dead and just written off as another missing homeless person.
The story notes, "David Burke, who heads up the Greater Oroville Homeless Coalition, accompanied her to court and comforted her afterwards. When he learned about the violent rape, Burke said he scraped together enough money to buy the homeless woman some food and medicine, and also funded her residential drug treatment through The Skyway House, where he works." If it wasn't for this person's compassionate intervention, the future for the victim of this violent rape might have turned out much worse. It's good to know that one random act of kindness can bring about so much good...there is hope for this world with people like David Burke in it.
Terry Vau Dell, a senior journalist for the ER based in Oroville, did an excellent job on this story and if you missed it, here is the link.
Posted by Post Scripts at September 29, 2006 10:58 AM
Comments
Dear Jack Lee,
So what gives you the right to say that Shawn Ransom Stuart is a preditor?? He was just a man in the wrong place at the wrong time!!
Cindy Stuart
Posted by: Cindy Stuart at October 2, 2006 03:10 PM
Wrong place, wrong time...? No Cindy, he brutally beat, kidnapped and raped a defenseless, young woman. Getting angry or making excuses, won't change what was done and it won't give you peace. I hope you will come to understand this some day.
There are a number of places open on Sunday where you might find some comfort.
Posted by: Jack at October 2, 2006 03:59 PM
Hey Cindy,
I think that you need to read your own writing, think about it, it wasn't like a car accident. That is a completely moronic thing to say. People don't accidentally do that kind of stuff. That guy did that because he is a predator, not a nice man that was at the wrong place at the wrong time. I actually laughed when i read what you wrote, and I don't laugh at a lot of things. Now, i'm a 13 year old kid just to let you know...Next time you write, double check it and make sure you aren't going to embarrass yourself with a stupid comment.
Posted by: anon. at October 2, 2006 04:13 PM
I'm not angry I just feel you need not use his name and call him a preditor..this was his fist offence..You make it sound like he does it all the time or did!! Why would you feel I need peace I don't even know him!!
Cindy Stuart
Vancouver Wa.
Posted by: Cindy Stuart at October 2, 2006 05:09 PM
My mistake, I thought you must have been a very close relative. Glad to hear you're not. So I guess now I can say what I really, really wanted to say the first time and thats:
ARE YOU NUTS?!!
Posted by: Jack at October 2, 2006 07:27 PM