[ OUR OPINION ]
Once in a while, amid all the news of war and terror, of political conflict and corrosive corruption, of economic turmoil and social disruption, there comes news that is uplifting and gives hope to the human race even in events of terrible sadness. Tragedy brings out
courage, kindness
THE ISSUE A child in Philadelphia escapes her kidnappers, while 4,000 people turn out for the funeral of another little girl in California.
Erica Pratt, who is 7, was kidnapped, bound with duct tape and left in a filthy basement of an abandoned building in Philadelphia. Somehow she managed to chew through the tape, break out of the basement and scramble to a first-floor window where she called out to other children playing nearby.
They got her out, took her home and called the police.
Said Police Inspector William Colarulo: "I have 21 years in the police department and I have never seen this kind of heroic act of bravery committed by a 7-year-old."
Apparently all sorts of rumors and unanswered questions swirl around Erica's kidnapping, including speculation that members of her family were in the drug trade and her abduction was connected to rivalry between gangs. No matter, she is still a gutsy child and we are glad she is safe at home.
A continent away, Samantha Runnion's funeral in southern California drew hundreds of people who had never met her or even heard of her before she was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and asphyxiated, and her body left beside a highway in the mountains. She would have been 6 years old today.
One mourner, a young mother, came from across Los Angeles to attend the funeral. Another drove for more that three hours to be there. Neither had known Samantha in life. "It could have been in our neighborhood, it could have been one of our children," said Lisa Genera of Anaheim, who brought her 3-year-old daughter, Ashley.
It has been said that America is a collection of small towns where neighbors help one another in times of need, celebrate with one another in times of joy and mourn with one another in times of sorrow. Hawaii residents frequently show such generosity of spirit: Two years ago, 256 bone marrow donors showed up at a fund-raiser for Honolulu Police Department Capt. Alvin Nishimura, whose battle with leukemia ended with his death in February of this year; and little Alana Dung, who fought the disease until her death at age 3 in 1997, inspired thousands of isle residents to sign up with the Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry.
Those who attended Samantha's funeral sought to give what comfort they could to her grieving mother, Erin. At the church service, Erin said, "Knowing that her death was handled with the utmost integrity and her life cherished by so many does bring some solace. We are overwhelmed by the love people have shown Samantha."
Hug your keiki today or hug a neighbor's to honor Erica and to remember Samantha.
BACK TO TOP
Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.Don Kendall, Publisher
Frank Bridgewater, Editor 529-4791; fbridgewater@starbulletin.com
Michael Rovner, Assistant Editor 529-4768; mrovner@starbulletin.com
Lucy Young-Oda, Assistant Editor 529-4762; lyoungoda@starbulletin.comMary Poole, Editorial Page Editor, 529-4790; mpoole@starbulletin.com
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin (USPS 249460) is published daily by
John Flanagan, Contributing Editor 294-3533; jflanagan@starbulletin.com
Oahu Publications at 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-500, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
Periodicals postage paid at Honolulu, Hawaii. Postmaster: Send address changes to
Star-Bulletin, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.
