I’m sure none of you are strangers to the story of the women who have been held captive for the last 10 years in Cleveland. We native Clevelanders have heard all about the young girls, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, who went missing in the midst of their regular daily lives. Gina was walking home from school and Amanda was walking home from work when they suddenly disappeared without a trace. We saw the agony on their families faces, pleading for help in finding their daughters and we watched the annual vigils of family and friends on the local news as the crowds behind them became smaller and smaller.
They slowly became “those girls who went missing” and they left our thoughts until once again, the vigils were held and we silently hoped that the families could accept that the girls just weren’t going to be coming home. But the families never gave up faith that both would be found alive and Amanda’s mother died believing that someday….someday her daughter would be home.
And thanks to the heroic efforts of a modest man named Charles Ramsey, both girls and a third named Michelle Knight are finally going home. Lots of chatter abounds about what a colorful character Charles Ramsey is and how simple he is but no one can dispute the amazing deed that this simple man accomplished. He stepped in when most wouldn’t get involved and for this, I applaud him. He's been offered reward money and has humbly turned it down, saying that it should go to the girls.
Some people are upset by the song parody that has been created but it was made in light of the fact that this tragic story has an amazingly bright outcome and it helps to bring some levity to the tragic events.
God bless Charles Ramsey. I'm a proud Clevelander today.
I watched this and immediately wanted to give him a hug. The world would be a much better place if there were more people like Mr. Ramsey.
ReplyDeleteHell-o Christine,
ReplyDeleteThe three girls suffered horribly. In certain respects, they had their lives taken away from them. They were dungeon concubines to a cruel psychopath. How can they experience peace?
The story became immediate world lead story. British Broadcasting had it front and center, the first item i read (on it) was from Agence France-Press. Currently, there are several gruesome world stories with hundreds dead. The visceral denouement of this sad tale has caught everyone's attention.
Mr. Ramsey, and the other neighbor who saved the girls were Good Samaritans. They, the girls, and the monster are all Clevelanders. We have around us: the good, the suffering, and the evil.
I hope they don't waste time and money putting these guys on trial. Straight to the chair.
ReplyDelete"but it was made in light of the fact that this tragic story has an amazingly bright outcome and it helps to bring some levity to the tragic events."
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, Chrissy! And I also agree with your first commenter, that this world be a MUCH better place if there were more people like Mr. Ramsey.
" He's been offered reward money and has humbly turned it down, saying that it should go to the girls."
And that just goes to show you what an awesome man he is!
Thanks for sharing this today, girl!
X
He does seem to be quite the character.
ReplyDeleteThank God he stepped up when the situation arose.
A horrible story, but with a fantastic ending. Mr. Ramsey is a true hero - and, he puts a smile on my face.
ReplyDeleteThis guy represents the kind of Midwestern values I've been preaching to New Yorkers about for years - that basic instinct to help a nearby stranger who seems to be in need. Someone I used to hang out with once got sexually assaulted on a crowded lower Manhattan sidewalk in broad daylight - and nobody so much as motioned to come to her aid. I told her that a sidewalk full of my native Clevelanders would have reacted differently.
ReplyDelete@the house of hale,
ReplyDeleteYou're so right!
@S,
It's amazing how this story has gone worldwide. You provide a very accurate summation of how all of us interact side by side. If we thought about that, it would probably render some of us paralyzed.
@Indigo Wrath,
Exactly. The faster he can rot in hell, the better.
@Ron,
Just found out that Mr. Ramsey went to my high school. How's that for a small world?
@Simply Suthern,
The people that work with him say they were surprised how reserved he was in the interviews. LOL
@Travel Girl,
Yep. He's one of the good ones.
@The Roving Retorter,
So true! That's what I love about this town.
Hey! Couldn't agree more!
ReplyDeleteAnna