Sonya Roberts: Stop Forgetting About Tragic Deaths After the Funerals
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By Sonya Roberts | AC JosepH Media Guest Blogger
EDITOR’S NOTE: Cumberland County resident Sonya Roberts allowed Front Runner New Jersey to repost moving comments she made on her Facebook page Sunday after the tragic shooting in Fairfield Township where two people were killed and 12 injured.
Today is a sad day for our community.
A day that has happened on numerous occasions but this one seems to be the worse so far. Our children, lost, and for what purpose? But my real question here is, “what happens after the funerals?”
It’s sad to say, but it seems after the funeral everyone seems to forget, except the people who were close to the person who has been ruthlessly murdered. John Fuqua and Carole Seabrook Green, I’m tagging the two of you in this, because I know you are both great influences in our community and with you being tagged, more people will see it, but this message is definitely NOT directed towards you.
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I have been back in Cumberland County for a little over a year. I follow Cumberland County happenings because you always need to know what is going on in your surroundings. You always need to know what’s going on. I’ve watched people senselessly die, everyone RIP on the book, but once the funeral is over all you hear is crickets. After the funeral people seem to forget.
I will be 50 years old next month and I think my generation pushed the “no-snitch rules” to their limit. Now people see but no one talks, because they have been programmed to believe if they do, they will either become the next victim or they believe that they will be exiled from the community.
A life is a life is a life. We need to step out and stand up, use our voices to be heard, and put these monsters who have destroyed families behind bars. They have destroyed lives and families and the same should come of their life. Destruction but by the justice system that is not quite so just.
I was watching John’s life and I saw people post that “it starts at home with the parents.” As John said, that is true, but when we see that the parents have dropped the ball, who is willing to step in and help a young person get on the right track? I have seen some with the worst parents change their circumstances and have a great life while those with the greatest parents change their circumstances and become the worst.
Children live what they learn and unfortunately much of what they learn is on the streets. They are learning from the wrong people so, yes, the community needs to be involved. The community needs to step up and pick up that child that is from bad circumstances and at least try to head them in the right direction.
Not just our children, but our young adults, our grown folks, etc., etc., etc. Sometimes we all need help, and if we can’t reach out to our brother, then who are we supposed to reach out to?
The government is definitely not the solution. I remember when Mr. Kelley did the rally and the “enough is enough video” was shot. It started as a “stop the violence rally” and transformed into a publicity stunt for the book of Guinness World Records. The government is useless.
At this point, it is up to every man, woman, and child to step up and do their part to make our community a safer place to live. It starts with one, and there is definitely more than one willing to step up to the plate and give assistance.
But at the end of the day, we have to stop forgetting after the funeral. The funerals don’t stop.
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