Printed in The Voice of the People
12-19-03
The Sun Telegram
399 N. D St.
San Bernardino, Ca. 92401

Effects of Abuse

I want to commend Madison Lawrence for being a responsible person who took the time to thank the Firefighters, Search and Rescue, CHP, SCE, Forestry Service, Red Cross, and sheriff's deputies. ("Third-grader's thanks," Dec.10)

I can understand how you were afraid of the fire, and how it made you mad and sad. You said, "How could a person purposely set a dangerous wildfire?"

Normal people don't set fires. The people who set these fires are not well in the mind. Statistics indicate they were almost certainly abused as children. Because no one helped them when they were little, it made them into monsters who start fires-fires that burn thousands of acres of wilderness, kill defenseless, wild animals, burn hundreds of homes, and kill people.

Maybe there are children in your class who are alone, afraid, and being abused. If you see a child alone, be their friend. If you find out they are being abused, report it to your parents, your teacher, your church, or any responsible adult. Maybe you can make a difference in their lives and they will have help in this terrible time of their lives.

Because of the fires these sick people set, we were all made victims of their childhood abuse.

Stephen Park
Redlands