Re: Swan killing case postponed, news, Aug. 19

The lead article in the Gazette was quite troubling in its portrayal of the anger that community members are feeling about the delay in the hearing of the case against the young man accused of killing Angela, the swan.  

While we all were outraged at the tragedy of this death, I hope that we might also consider what we can do to stop the cascade of anger, revenge, and destructiveness. There is no question that it is horrible that an innocent bird and her eggs succumbed; but can we not also consider how to use this event to assist the young man in question to move forward in a positive way?

As a community, I hope that we can work toward restorative justice with the accused, rather than making him an object of our wrath and desire for punishment. With restorative justice, there is no denial of the seriousness of the charge, but there is an opportunity for the perpetrator and those who were affected by the crime to work together to find reconciliation and healing.

Do we want this young man to be ruined by this one act? Do we as a community wish to perpetuate the anger and rage that fueled the crime in the beginning? Can we, rather than continuing to vent our rage on the accused, consider ways to bring something positive out of this very sad event?  

Louise McColl
Stratford