Trying to cope with the loss of loved ones by violence

DO NOT lose heart or hope! The steeper the road, the faster it rises toward ever wider horizons.

Life is a talent entrusted to us so that we can transform it and increase it, making it a gift to others. No man is an iceberg drifting on the ocean of history. Each one of us belongs to a great family in which he has his place and his own role to play.

Selfishness makes people deaf and dumb; love opens eyes and hearts, enabling people to make that original and irreplaceable contribution which, together with the thousands of deeds of so many brothers and sisters, often distant and unknown, converges to form the mosaic of charity which can change the tide of history.

(Said by a greater man than me!)

Gun + knife criminals revel in their reputations

Browsing around WH Smith's (as all of us in England or other parts of the UK must have done at some time or another), the 'True Crime' section sounded alarm bells. A sizeable section made up of several shelves, the faces of the bad, the violent and the ugly were impossible to miss.

Time is at a premium as I write this so will add to this post later sometime. However, thought I would throw open this post to comments from all. What's your opinion about these type of people enjoying plenty of shelf space in our stores while the work of the good, the kind and the gentle often goes unnoticed? You tell me.

Anti-stab knife - useless or useful?

Thought I would highlight a mini-debate happening on this blog about the anti-stab knife invention.

Theresa Cave, a prominent campaigner against violence, says the following:

"As a mother who's lost a child to knife crime and who is now quite experienced working to tackle the problem in communities, I find it ridiculously believable, sadly and in a cynical way, that it's quite possible this anti-stab knife would be used somehow as an alternative weapon to 'ordinary' stabbings.

"It could become a new, fashionable way to injure victims, slashing people to frighten them rather than kill.

"For instance, suppose a druggie owes money to a dealer, the dealer can introduce the 'slasher' anti-stab weapon here.

"It reminds me of the days when some violent people used to use a Stanley knife but with two blades in it, separated by a two pence piece. The effect was devastating, making an unstitch-able slash. I believe it was nicknamed the 'Chelsea Smile' :-( !!"

Theresa runs an anti-violence website and Facebook group - the Chris Cave Foundation (set up in memory of her son) dedicated to her campaigning.

Her comments are food for thought. You can read the rest of the debate by visiting the earlier anti-stab knife post.