Dana on Humzoo

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A Great Loss

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
A Great Loss

There are certain people you meet who just seem to emanate happiness, kindness, joy. Sometimes you don't even realize the magnitude of their influence. They tend to be quiet souls, gentle, humble.
Stephen Johns was one of those men. I had the great pleasure of working with "Big John" for almost 2 years. He was a giant. A big, tall, strapping man. Yet there was something simply soft about him. You could see a gentleness in his hands, his eyes. He saw thousands of people every day yet he always had a smile for each. He was helpful, he was a friend. I never saw him grow impatient or rude though he had a pretty tough job.
He was killed by hate today. A deep, bitter, sick sort of hate. A hate I prayerfully can't even begin to comprehend.
But I'm fighting tonight to not grow hate in myself. Everything in me rages against the 88 year old COWARD who killed this innocent man. It is bursting in me. The utterly senseless, brutal thing this "man" did....He took away a father, a friend, a coworker, a husband. FOR NOTHING. FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
Why must we hate? Why must we hurt?
I am so lost tonight as are many people I care about. I ask you all to pray for the people affected by this tragedy. The museum employees are a pretty close-knit family and healing will be a long time coming. You never want to see anyone killed by violence, but the taking of this life in particular is devastating.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

7 Comments

1) Wishing we could turn back time...sending all of you affected, peace.

Angi Wednesday, June 10, 2009

2) I am so so sorry for your loss. For everyone's loss. And for such a senseless loss. I can't answer your why. But I hope you can keep that hate from growing inside yourself; do not let yourself drop to the depths of his level. My heart aches for you, and for all who are directly affected by this tragedy.

girlcarew Wednesday, June 10, 2009

3) I think Girl is right--you can't lower yourself to this level. John would never have done that or wanted it done for him. I'm sorry for your loss and the useless waste all in the name of hatred. My heart goes out to you and all those impacted by his loss. May you find comfort in each other.

LGrant Thursday, June 11, 2009

4) I heard about this on the radio. I am sorry for your loss and will be thinking about your museum community. Hate breeds hate. I hope you can all find peace.

Spike Thursday, June 11, 2009

5) This morning I am realizing how much worse this could have been. Johns' death is horrendous, but it is so much less than what could have happened. There are times when there are literally hundreds of people waiting outside that entrance. A majority of those people tend to be children. I am so thankful it ended where it did. The security that often felt stifling when I was there did it's job completely.

There is one thing I keep seeing my head. In the video of the killer being taken away by ambulance a paramedic reaches out and holds his hand. I don't know why, maybe it was just a reflex, maybe for a medical purpose. But I wonder how that felt to him. I wonder what he was thinking as those people struggled to save his life. Is he regretful now?

I never really realized how vital the museum is to the world today. Hate didn't end when Hitler died. Every person who walks through that exhibit, speaks with a survivor, or pauses in the Hall of Rememberance is changed. I pray that change is permanent and lasting.

Dana Thursday, June 11, 2009

6) John probably would say he gladly gave his life to save children. He sounds like that kind of guy. I don't understand that kind of hate or that type of individual. I guess that means my parents did something right raising me. I'm not saying I don't have prejudices--we all do but I realize that flaw and work to improve it--not use it to hurt others. I'm sure the paramedics try as much as possible to stay neutral. Their job is to save lives--not to judge who lives and dies. Hospitals probably have the same issue--looking at the body they are working on as someone who needs help--not judge why he is there or what he might have done prior to being there. It has to be hard not to judge those individuals and feel anger at being able to save the criminal and lose the victim. Maybe some people will rethink their feelings after hearing about this tragedy but sadly the ones like the killer will not hear and learn. Hate will unfortunately survive.

LGrant Thursday, June 11, 2009

7) As a retired nurse I can tellyou that I have cared for many people who some might not think deserve compassion. I think its the hand of God's love that works through us. When you are in the throes of an emergency, in my case maybe a burn patient or an elderly soul losing his grip on life, we are able to set aside judgement and give the care that we pledge through our chosen careers. On the other hand I remember talking to my staff and saying that they in return should not judge the families of sweet old Mrs. Jones who could have reeked havoc on their lives. I am so sorry for this tagic loss and hope that you can dwell on ther herosim of your friend.

dannie Thursday, June 11, 2009