I came across a news report about two burglars who tried to cut open a big safe using a welding torch. The safe contained a large quantity of commercial fireworks, which exploded, killing both men.
What infuriated me was not so much their criminal conduct - which reaped the reward it deserved - but the reported reaction of at least one family member.
Kent Keeler, a cousin of Ethan Keeler struggled for answers on Wednesday.
Keeler says family members are wondering why Ethan would have put himself in that situation.
“I think he just didn’t know who he was yet,” said Kent Keeler. “I feel like he was trying to find out where he belongs.”
Keeler noted that his cousin was always put family first.
“He stood up for me in high school when people would pick on me,” said Keeler. “He put family over everything.”
There's more at the link.
I don't know about who he was, but I think he'd demonstrated precisely what he was - a criminal. As for 'trying to find out where he belongs', clearly it wasn't on someone else's property, stealing their stuff . . . but you'll look in vain for any acknowledgement of that fact from his relative.
Why do family members of criminals always seem to make excuses for them, instead of admitting straight out that they were crooks and asked for what they got? All that does is encourage ongoing criminal behavior by others who are motivated by their (bad) example.
Peter
