CaliforniaBride

My thoughts are with this family

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10388519/

Somehow it seems worse when these things happen so close to xmas. Why is that?

britvic

Nothings worse than loseing your child, but whats happend to this poor family is beyond reasonable thought.

Just Jenney

Losing one child is bad enough -- but losing both your children within minutes of each other in separate accidents -- I can't even imagine.

Deputy's Two Sons Die in Crashes Same Day

What adds to this tragedy is the fact that at the time of the crash, the first son was speaking on his cell phone with his father, which possibly (probably?) contributed to the cause of the crash.

~ Jenney

neil

One of my bosses 17 year old son died in a car crash thanksgiving weekend - he was such a great kid and over 2500 people turned up to the wake, the local cops who found him insisted on escorting the funeral car - it was almost like a presidential funeral with cops at all lights along the route, tv relay of the funeral to a local hall so as many people as possible could be part of it. It's impressive that someone so young made such an impact on so many people's lives, but incredibly upsetting.

britvic

And theres people out there that believe in him upstairs

Just Jenney

I know, I know...

~ Jenney

neil

and that's who many people turn to at times like that.

CaliforniaBride

Religion functions to reduce anxiety, doesn't mean God exists.

Rete

As my husband so aptly puts it and to which I agree: I believe in a higher power, not in organized religion. That higher power might be nothing more than the grey matter between your ears. To call upon it for assistance to find the strength to overcome adversity or to thank it for the good fortune in your life, hurts no one. Organized religions and its franatics hurt others. Not the belief in a higher order.

CaliforniaBride

Don't necessarily disagree. Except to say that the very existence of organised religion harms no one. It's the activities of the people who are operating outside the rules of those religions that cause the harm.

Partystar

Both cases are just awful, I can't & don't want to imagine how I would be feeling in that situation, it's just terrible.

Just Jenney

It all comes down to what one believes -- or doesn't.

Those who follow organized religion and its rules believe those rules apply to everyone -- even non-believers. However, eif one doesn't believe in organized religion, then that person isn't breaking any "rules" because those rules don't exist to them. You can't be "outside the rules" of something which you believe doesn't exist; you can only be considered to be outside those rules by others who believe those rules exist.

Everyone has the potential to cause harm to others. It doesn't matter whether they participate in organized religion or not.

~ Jenney

Rete

Now I see that as a matter of respect. Respect does not have to be taught religiously but through an upbringing that teaches and shows children that the thoughts, opinions, and lives of others are as valid and as important as theirs. That to earn respect one must live humanly without selfishness but with consideration for others.

My car has the potential to cause harm but I don't drive in a manner to deliberately cause harm to others or their property. Accidents occur as do instance where one person may unintentionally emotionally or physically hurt another. Again, IMO, it comes down to respect.

Rete

I live day in and day out with a husband who lost his son over 20 years ago. I see how he behaves and saddens and grieves on his son's birthday or the anniversary of his death. It is not the same as my saddness when I think of my departed mother for she lived until her 60's and one anticipates the death of a parent no matter how they are loved. To lose a child, regardless if they were six years old like my husband or in their 20s like this family with the dual accidents, the grief is an emotion which is always with you even though buried so that you can continue to cope with life.

Just Jenney

I totally agree.

~ Jenney