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I cry for Ralphie, especially when he's crying while looking his mother in the face and facing what happened. The year is 1940, and Ralphie is nine years of age at the time (meaning that he was born in 1931; almost a half-decade after my mom's mom, and a half-decade before my dad's parents). Ralphie is part of the infamous Silent Generation; in which abuse is either tolerated and even encouraged, or just plain not talked about. By the way, I'm quite sure that Joe Paterno has had the "Silent Generation" excuse used for him-- after all, he grew up in the "You don't talk about it" culture.
Having gone through abuse myself and hearing of a cousin's work in which she has to deal with horrendous cases of abuse, I can relate to Ralphie. That Farcus is just a plain old bully isn't the case, but Farcus' situation (obvious abuse-- perhaps neglect being the full, but still painful, extent) isn't an excuse for him to pick on and abuse Ralphie. Ralphie is an obvious target for Farcus because (from all outward appearances, such as to Farcus' eyes), Ralphie seems to come from an intact and good family (He doesn't. His dad isn't exactly Husband or Dad of the Year.).
As the saying goes, "Abuse begets abuse" and (as Dr. Sandy Wilson put the saying in other words) "Hurt people hurt people." The saying is based on-- besides common sense-- direct-from-the-Bible admonitions:
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
The desire to hurt others because of being hurt is a strong desire. Then the desire to hurt others affects that others are hurt. Then the hurting of others brings forth that more people want to hurt other people.
By the way, be thankful if you have been abused:
9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
Those who have not known the richness of suffering do not know the richness of hope-- "Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation". Anybody who has been free of suffering will have no reason to hope for something better than suffering, for redemption, and for salvation.
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas (And this Yehudit celebrates both Thanksgiving-- Yom L'Toda-- and Christmas-- Chag Mashiach.).
Having gone through abuse myself and hearing of a cousin's work in which she has to deal with horrendous cases of abuse, I can relate to Ralphie. That Farcus is just a plain old bully isn't the case, but Farcus' situation (obvious abuse-- perhaps neglect being the full, but still painful, extent) isn't an excuse for him to pick on and abuse Ralphie. Ralphie is an obvious target for Farcus because (from all outward appearances, such as to Farcus' eyes), Ralphie seems to come from an intact and good family (He doesn't. His dad isn't exactly Husband or Dad of the Year.).
As the saying goes, "Abuse begets abuse" and (as Dr. Sandy Wilson put the saying in other words) "Hurt people hurt people." The saying is based on-- besides common sense-- direct-from-the-Bible admonitions:
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
The desire to hurt others because of being hurt is a strong desire. Then the desire to hurt others affects that others are hurt. Then the hurting of others brings forth that more people want to hurt other people.
By the way, be thankful if you have been abused:
9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
Those who have not known the richness of suffering do not know the richness of hope-- "Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation". Anybody who has been free of suffering will have no reason to hope for something better than suffering, for redemption, and for salvation.
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas (And this Yehudit celebrates both Thanksgiving-- Yom L'Toda-- and Christmas-- Chag Mashiach.).
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