It has been a week since British teenager Jimmy Mizen, aged just sixteen, was murdered in a shop. It is no point reiterating that this was an unprovoked and senseless attack; just about all attacks on people in the UK these days are unprovoked…and completely senseless.
Seeing his parents speaking out this past week has been one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever witnessed. Yesterday his family laid their son and brother to rest. More than 500 people turned out to bid Jimmy goodbye – 500. It is a testament to the all-too short life of this young man that such a large number of people cared enough about him, and his family, to attend and support them.
While most of us who look on feel rage and horror at what has happened to this beautiful boy and his wonderful family, Jimmy’s parents maintain that ‘anger’ is the one emotion they want us to feel the least. Just looking at Jimmy’s mother it is obvious this woman has barely slept in the past seven days; Margaret and Barry Mizen are living every parents worse nightmare right now and yet they find the strength to ask that society cease this omnipresent ‘anger’ that seems to pervade every aspect of life these days.
If anyone has the right and need to express anger it is Barry and Margaret Mizen; it is a natural response when one’s child has been so cruelly taken away. But sadly such ‘anger’ is no longer restricted to grieving parents or just moments in heavy traffic – children are being born into, and raised in, environments where nothing exists but uncontrollable rage. It is there at birth and lasts a lifetime.
I am concerned for this couple; sometime, somewhere they are bound to confront the anger they are perfectly entitled to feel. It is surely there in some way - though kept at bay through their strong faith in God – and there will be a time when it will surface triggered by a memory, a moment or just the sheer reality of Jimmy not being in his room. It may not happen today or tomorrow, but perhaps in a month or even six months. As a mother myself I can only imagine what they are feeling – such good people should not have to deal in such sorrow.
The Mizens ask that people hug each other more - love each other more. They should know, they raised each of their own children in an environment of love, hugging and understanding. What a terrible tragedy that their son has been taken away by someone who was not.
Jimmy’s parents, Barry and Margaret, at his funeral yesterday.
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And what people had to say…