A Reliable
Voice in the
Community
Volume 6
Issue 25
Sept. 2 - 8, 2009
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A Reliable Volume 6 |
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Breaking News
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It gives one hope
Phillip and Nancy Garrido have been charged with 29 felony counts surrounding the kidnapping and holding of Dugard and her two daughters — which Garrido is said to have fathered — against their will in a backyard encampment near Antioch. With each day, the story gets more interesting: from reports of the disturbed couple being involved in other crimes to a missed opportunity by authorities in 2006 that might have ended decades of imprisonment for Dugard a few years earlier. It is sad and unfortunate that so many boys and girls across the country “disappear,” never to be heard of again. Fortunately, many would say, Dugard’s story has a happy ending. Or does it? Being a mother myself, this story is one of those that touched my heart and soul. I know if anything like this situation had even remotely touched my life, it would be difficult to go on. For Dugard’s parents, there are answers and closure. I am elated that this story has a happy ending. However, for the now 29-year-old and her daughters, 11 and 15, the nightmare turns into a bad dream. Almost 20 years have been “erased” from Dugard’s life — time she could have had with her family, going to proms, getting married and/or living life to her fullest. She must now cope with being thrown into a much better world — the one she should have never been snatched from — but one she is not completely familiar with. And her daughters … they must learn how to cope with “dad” being what society terms, and rightfully so, a very, very bad man. We have been given hope with this story of good prevailing over evil. But we as a community, as a nation, can’t enjoy the media hype and turn our back on Dugard and return to our own lives once the excitement dies down. Hope is about wanting the best for something or something. My hope is that the Dugard family is not left to fend for themselves. They’ve done enough of that already. Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig is an award-winning journalist who resides in Oakland. If you have an individual, organization, issue or other topic that may be of interest to the Globe’s readers, contact her at talk2mfc@yahoo.com. Visit her blog at www.stpminute.blogspot.com |
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On Thursday morning, Jaycee Lee Dugard, after entering the Concord Police Department, told the tale of more than 18 years of torture, abuse and neglect after being kidnapped in 1991 near her home in South Lake Tahoe.