Requiem for an Unknown Young Woman

Be happy, young man, while you are young,

and let your heart give you joy in the

days of your youth.

Ecclesiastes 11:9a

My daily perusal of the Internet brought me to a tragic story that again proves the old adage, Money can't buy happiness.  The tragedy that unfolded in Kansas City this morning is heart-breaking, but the media aftermath to the events is sad, indeed.

Jovan Belcher, a starting linebacker with the Kansas City Chiefs and at age 25, already a four-year NFL veteran, erupted into violence early this morning, turning a gun on his girlfriend and shooting her several times.  Her mother was in the home at the time and called 911.  When the police arrived, the young woman was dead and Belcher was gone.  A few moments later, police receive a call from the Chief's training facility where Belcher was outside the entrance of the building, holding a gun to his own head.  The team's coach and general manager were attempting to talk with Belcher; when the police pulled up, the young man pulled the trigger and ended his life.

In the media storm that broke when the news became public, the Los Angeles Times, CNN and the Kansas City Star reported the bare facts of the tragedy.  The NFL issued the following statement:

  "Our thoughts and prayers are with Chiefs and the families 

and friends of those who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy. 

We connected the Chiefs with our professional counselors to support 

both the team and the families. We'll continue to provide assistance."

Most of the news outlets included Twitter comments in their reports - all of which were regarding the young man who perpetrated this tragedy - his career, his loss to the team, why would he do this when he was so successful and making so much money, and the burning question of whether or not the Chiefs will play their game scheduled tomorrow against the Carolina Panthers (the NFL told the Panthers to get on the plane to Kansas City).  No where, in any of these early reports I have read, does anyone talk about the young woman who lost her life in a hail of gunfire - not a single mention, except in pronouns such as "those" who lost their lives or "the families" involved. 

Matt Miller, writing for the Beacher Report, began his online article with this accurate and thoughtful statement:

There are times as writers, reporters and analysts 

when the game doesn't matter. Today is one of those days.

And later in the article:

Whether or not the Chiefs play Sunday seems trivial, 

as this tragic end to two lives is much bigger than a game.

Sadly, Mr. Miller does not mention the young woman either.  In fact, he ends his article saying,  "Helping the players and team staff grieve should be the priority of all involved."  No, not really.

Somewhere in Kansas City tonight there is a mother who is reeling from the unexpected shock of the death of her daughter.  Whether or not she actually witnessed the tragedy is irrelevant to her suffering.  Her child's life was snuffed out in an instant.  As a mother with three grown daughters of my own, I believe that the world should be grieving for the loss of this precious young woman, certainly to the same degree it is grieving the loss of the man who took her life.