Parish
Don't Ignore the Importance of Personal Responsibility
RECEIVED Thu., July 7, 2005
Dear Editor,
In his letter, Marcos Andres Flores wrote that we would all do well to remember that although Daniel Rocha had made some bad decisions in his life, "he still had the rest of it to correct them" ["Postmarks,” July 8].
Unfortunately, Rocha's last bad decision forced Officer Schroeder to choose between her own and another officer's safety and that of a person who had just disobeyed her and ran, knocking her down in the process.
Daniel Rocha's death was tragic. That he didn't get the chance to learn from and correct his mistakes was tragic. But ignoring the concept of personal responsibility for the choices we make is wrong. We would all do well to remember that, instead of focusing blame on the cops for Daniel Rocha's last bad decision.
In his letter, Marcos Andres Flores wrote that we would all do well to remember that although Daniel Rocha had made some bad decisions in his life, "he still had the rest of it to correct them" ["Postmarks,” July 8].
Unfortunately, Rocha's last bad decision forced Officer Schroeder to choose between her own and another officer's safety and that of a person who had just disobeyed her and ran, knocking her down in the process.
Daniel Rocha's death was tragic. That he didn't get the chance to learn from and correct his mistakes was tragic. But ignoring the concept of personal responsibility for the choices we make is wrong. We would all do well to remember that, instead of focusing blame on the cops for Daniel Rocha's last bad decision.
Erin Dempsey
