Colton no hero, but a victim, too

I just finished reading the Monday letter regarding the judge’s sentencing of Colton Harris-Moore. The writer’s contempt for Harris-Moore is obvious, as forgiveness seems to be lost on him. What sentence does he suggest would have been appropriate for the 20-year-old? What would Island County gain if Harris-Moore sat in jail for 10 years? What would our country gain? The system has already failed Harris-Moore, as one of the government’s duties is to protect children, and for him, that didn’t happen.

Let the writer see Harris Moore as an example of a blinded country unaware or unconcerned for the suffering of faceless children. It seems to me that the only way to get the attention of such people is to hit them in their pocket books by crashing their planes.

I don’t think Colton Harris-Moore is a hero. I think he is a suffering young adult, scrambling to save his own life. I hope he can find the space necessary while he is in prison to do the healing he needs. I applaud the judge on her decision, and if anything I think it was too stiff. I encourage the letter writer to find some space to do some searching of his own and release some of the hatred that he is operating through.

Anna Campbell

Gold Bar