The Attacker
One day last year I left my laptop computer at the Center, and had gone all the way home before realizing my error. That laptop is essential for my livelihood, and would have been difficult to replace.
I hurried back to the Center, and asked the staff member at the main desk if anything had been handed in. I knew I really deserved to lose it, to teach me a lesson not to be so absent-minded in future.
But I hadn't lost my laptop – a kind person had noticed that it had been left unattended, and had handed it in as lost property.
If only everyone in this world was as honest and thoughtful as that person. I made a special point of thanking him personally for what he had done the next time we met.
The person who returned my computer on that day was the person who attacked me on February 5th. I had not had any contact with him since thanking him for saving my laptop from theft, except for our occasionally greeting one another whenever our paths crossed.
I do not believe that the person who attacked me is a bad person. I would defend him vigorously against any such charge. But I believe, based on my experience of his conduct, that he is not a well person.
And in our senior center, where so many of the patrons are frail and vulnerable, we cannot risk having someone in our midst who might at any moment lose control and turn violent.
People should not be thought any less of because they suffer from an illness. We don't expect to be criticized for having a cold, or to be regarded as somehow 'wrong' for having arthritis. And if you have mental or emotional problems, you should not be condemned for it – but for as long as your condition makes you potentially dangerous to others, we have to take steps to protect ourselves. When you are well again, we will welcome you back into our companionship.
Since these web pages are viewed all over the world, it would be wrong for me to identify my attacker here. He deserves the chance to overcome his temporary difficulties privately and with dignity. At the same time, if you are a visitor to the center you have a right to be informed about any threats there may be to your safety in order to keep yourself from harm. So if you wish to know whether there is anyone around who is known to have a history of volatile behavior, and with whom you should deal cautiously, you have the right to request this information from the Senior Coordinator or the Recreation Supervisor. They are the people responsible for your safety.
And if you feel at any point that you aren't getting from these people the cooperation you deserve, remember that as a Center visitor you are one of their customers, and as a taxpayer you are one of their employers.