Escape from the Past

When someone goes out of their way to help someone else, does it seem appropriate to reveal the helper's scarred past? We all have something in our past we don't want everyone to know about. I know I do. But, should that disqualify us from doing the right thing from then on? That's what our news media seems to be insinuating.



On May 6th, in Cleveland, Amanda Berry was attempting to escape the captivity that she, her daughter and two other women had been suffering through for the last decade. Charles Ramsey saw her struggling to escape and went to her aid which eventually led to freedom for all four (ABC News). Charles went out of his way to help a stranger and, for that, is a hero.

However, within days, we were being unnecessarily and inappropriately told all about Mr. Ramsey's past arrests and convictions for domestic violence (The Smoking Gun). Do I need to know about that? If he were about to marry my daughter it might be important. But, if my daughter were trying to escape from an evil, sadistic madman, I'd want someone nearby who, regardless of his past, would run to help her. Someone like Charles Ramsey.

Unfortunately, this isn't the only instance in which the news media has tried to discredit our heroes. One of the local newspapers here in Fort Wayne; The Journal Gazette, has a practice of listing the names of officers involved in police action shootings, including any previous suspensions or other disciplinary action to which they may have been subject. In all occasions, these officers were protecting their lives or the lives of innocent citizens when it became necessary for them to act. It seems so very easy for reporters to discredit officers from the safety of their desks while that very safety is being provided by the same officers whom they discredit. Shameful.

Do we really want our heroes to consider what is going to be revealed to the public should they act to help others? I certainly don't want that thought even entering their minds when they're making a split-second decision about saving my family. I'm not saying we should forget the past evil deeds of predators and the like. But, our heroes must come from us; the fallen. We should recognize that we're all human and leave our dirty secrets covered unless they're relative to the conversation.