By now, I’m sure most of you heard about the tragic death of Sean Taylor. The Washington Redskins player was shot in his house by an intruder. He later died from the wounds.
The reporting of and reaction to Taylor’s passing has been as swift as it has been speculative. The following article by Washington Post Columnist Leonard Shapiro is a prime example.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/27/AR2007112701111.htmlThis column bothers me deeply because Shapiro contradicts himself in his own column by stating, "At the moment, it is far too soon to draw any conclusions as to how or why this tragedy occurred, why another young black man is now dead from a gunshot wound in his own home... Certainly it would be terribly easy to rush toward some sort of instant judgment based on what we think we all knew about Taylor and the sort of life he once, and for all we know, still led. But really, we know nothing at the moment, and until we do, 'may he rest in peace' ought to be the operative phrase for this day."
But yet in the very next paragraph, Shapiro writes, "Still, could anyone honestly say they never saw this coming?"
That's like saying to someone, "I don't want to say you are stupid, but that was really a stupid thing to do."
To preface his statement with such remarks doesn't make the subsequent remarks any less biting or off-base. And to honestly answer Shapiro's question: I NEVER SAW THIS COMING!
I've never met Sean Taylor although I was aware of some his former transgressions. But to say I believed that one day a man (or men) would break into his house and shoot and kill him was inevitable is simply ridiculous.
Shapiro should follow his own advice and not rush to judgment.
