Fun-seeking man lets dad's BMW roll into river
However, when I looked up the article online the headline had been changed to this:
Police: Man jumped from bridge after sinking dad's BMW in Indian River Lagoon
The latter definitely has a more tragic tone, don't you think? In my mind it evokes scenes of a distraught son who, having spent a lifetime trying to please an overbearing, materialistic father, finally snapped and decided to end his misery with a farewell act of vengeance and a dramatic plunge to the ultimate release from his tortured life. Or perhaps the BMW-sinking was accidental, and the son, having never measured up to begin with and now faced with admitting this colossal mishap involving his father's prized possession, chose instead to end it all. Or maybe the father was in the car when the son drove it off the road, either accidentally or intentionally. Despairing that he had just drowned his own father, the son, consumed with mind-altering grief, dragged himself up the pedestrian walkway to the apex of the Barber Bridge and threw himself off in a desperate attempt to join his father in eternity.
Here's what really happened, according to Elliott Jones, reporter for the Press Journal:
VERO BEACH — A 25-year-old man rolled his father’s BMW into the Indian River Lagoon and then jumped 60 feet into the water from the Merrill Barber Bridge — all as a lark, police say.If there is any remotely redeeming aspect to this nonsense, I would say it's the fact that apparently (though perhaps unbelievably) there was no alcohol involved.
Charges haven’t been filed in the 2:30 a.m. Monday incident. But George Peniston of the 100 block of Terrapin Point could face legal consequences, said police spokesman Officer John Morrison.
Jumping off a bridge could be considered disorderly conduct punishable by six months in jail.
And submerging the car at the city’s MacWilliam Park boat ramp could violate state anti-pollution laws, the spokesman said.
When interviewed by police, the youth did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Also, Peniston did not want to hurt himself, according to police reports.
He just said, “He placed the vehicle (a 2006 silver BMW) in drive and intentionally let it roll into the Indian River” near a boat ramp at the park, reports show.
Then, “He thought it would be fun to jump off the bridge and was only doing it for his own entertainment.”
After jumping from the bridge, fishermen on a pier under the east end of the bridge saw someone swimming and yelling for help.
One of the fisherman, George Lewis, jumped in to aid Peniston as people called authorities. County Emergency Medical Services personnel pulled the two from the waters and took Peniston to Indian River Medical Center.
While at the medical center, Peniston’s parents, Eric and Deborah, said their son told them he let the BMW roll into the river.
Later officers tried to press the youth for further details. He asked for an attorney and stopped talking.
On Monday morning the car was pulled from the water.
Now, I guess the perpetrator was described as a "man" strictly because of his age. Doesn't sound like a man to me. In fact, I noticed that the url of the article contains these key words: "...police-teen-jumped-from-bridge-after-sinking-bmw/" leading me to think that the police and/or reporter initially assumed they were dealing with a wayward teenager, only to discover later that the joker is 25. In fact, several times in this deep and engaging news item, the prankster is described as a "youth" - I guess Elliott Jones forgot to go back and replace these references with "adult male who should have known better and is now a tremendous embarrassment to his parents." I can't help but wonder what George Lewis thinks – the real man who jumped in to save this supposed victim. Do you think that the “fun-seeker” will pay the tens of thousands of dollars in property damage? And did this whole thing turn out to be as “fun” as he had hoped?
His ridiculous prank brings to mind Rosemond's comment back in Chapter 2: “Today's parents are not curing toddlerhood,” and this 25 year old child is apparently lacking in Grandma's 3 R's: Respect, Responsibility, and Resourcefulness.
But alas, there but for the grace of God go I. And God has graciously put John Rosemond's latest book in my hands and thus encouraged me in my daily battle to ward off the multitude of destructive cultural influences attacking my children.
The thing that really stuck with me this week after reading Chapter 3 is the concept of kids making a meaningful contribution to the family and how beneficial that is for everyone in and outside of the home. To quote the author, "Occupying a bedroom, watching television, playing video games, and consuming family resources are not acts of contribution..." Because of our lax summer schedule, this is the perfect time of year for me to teach my kids more household responsibility and raise the bar on my expectations. For the most part they've been fairly receptive this week - I must be careful not to expect too much too soon, not to react to typical but for the most part empty protests, and not too be pushy or mean about it - just calmly and confidently state my requirements and help them learn new tasks. Step by step they'll gain a true understanding of family, teamwork, respect and self-confidence.
Two questions before we move on to Chapter 4:
1) I can't quite get my mind to grasp the difference between self-esteem and self-respect. Is this just symantics, or can you explain the subtleties to me?
2) I noticed the author didn't really tie in the chapter's title to the content. Why do you think Chapter 3 is called "The Serpent's Currency"?
Be sure to ponder (and comment on if you like) the questions on pages 92 & 93, and then move on to Chapter 4. I love the title - "The Tower of Parent-Babble"! I'll see you back here next Monday (or Tuesday!).
Blessings and peace,
Eleanor
Romans 12:2
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