Book of Poetry — ‘Born from Silence’
In May 2004, their then eighteen year old son, Scott, was assaulted by twelve to fifteen young men on a front lawn in Rosedale, Toronto. The criminal justice system took three and a half years to complete. Only two of the young men were charged (assault causing bodily harm), both acquitted.
‘Born from Silence’, a book of poetry, tells the story of the assault, the criminal justice system that harmed them all, and the healing that came in uncommon ways.
Reclaiming the Story… bearing witness
The Story
In the absence of justice, something had to be done for Scott. When a journalist was unable to write the story, Deborah chose to follow through. The book was written to give a fuller story back to Scott and the young people harmed.
The Ritual
On May 30, 2007 Deborah presented the book to Scott and the young people harmed by the assault and the criminal justice system in the presence of family, friends, members of the judicial system, and those from restorative justice.
The Healing Power of Story and Ritual…
bearing witness, the ripple grows
Community
The healing power of story and ritual reconstituted (imperfectly) community, a culture of peace; restoring and healing some of the broken relationships within and without.
