There is a piece of ancient wisdom found in the Judeo-Christian scriptures that must be kept in mind as we attempt to understand the tragic events of Thursday, February 7, 2008 at Kirkwood City Hall.
In the Book of Ecclesiastes, the poet reminds us that there is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”
It is very important, this recognition that there is “a time to keep silence.”
The terrible actions of Charles Lee “Cookie” Thornton have been a subject of constant speculation and debate throughout the St. Louis area, and indeed the nation, since he took the lives of five people and injured two others before meeting his own fate.
It is deeply human to discuss what is difficult to understand, and Thornton’s actions are difficult, if not impossible, to fathom. But we feel that, out of respect to the dead and the grieving, now is a time to keep silent regarding speculations about his motives and the meaning of what he has done.
The poet of Ecclesiastes also reminds us there is “a time to kill, and a time to heal.”
Tragically, Thornton decided last Thursday was his time to kill. Now is the time to heal – for his victims who are alive (in particular, Kirkwood Mayor Mike Swoboda, whose condition remains critical), for the families of the dead (including Thornton’s own kin), for Kirkwood, for the neighborhood of Meacham Park.
The poet reminds us, further, that there is “a time to break down, and a time to build up.”
Kirkwood and Meacham Park are broken down by the actions of Thornton. A time will come to rebuild, and it will come soon.
There can be no doubt that Kirkwood and Meacham Park will never be the same. Without question, what Thornton has done and what may have driven him to do it will be on the minds of the citizens of Kirkwood, Meacham Park and greater St. Louis for a long, long time.
The people of Kirkwood and Meacham Park will, in time, ask hard questions of themselves. This is to be expected. Hard questions will be asked of them. But now is not the time to begin to ask hard questions about race in connection with Kirkwood and Meacham Park.
Mass murder is an unfathomable act unto itself. People overcoming the incalculable trauma associated with sudden, mass murder should not be expected to move immediately beyond the specific situation of that trauma to consider deeply entrenched issues of race and inclusion. Thornton’s actions fall so far outside the scope of rational, appropriate behavior that it may never be possible to make enough sense of his story to apply it to the issues that need attention.
There will be a time to speak of these things. Now is not the time.
There is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”
Difficult as it may be to believe today, the people of Kirkwood and Meacham Park will once again dance and laugh.
Now is a time to weep, mourn and heal.