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Original poster

The Mizen Family are incredible

22 replies

ButterflyMcQueen · 17/05/2008 22:34

I feel humbled by their courage and forgiveness
The mum is inspirational - not just lip service a great woman
the dad also not bitter
jimmy mizen

OP posts:
WendyWeber · 17/05/2008 22:37

Agreed, BM. I've read all the reports today and like you am humbled by their humanity.

(Mind you they are sympathetic to the other boy's parents - have they said how they feel about him?)

BreeVanderCampLGJ · 17/05/2008 22:38

I admire them,I really do. As a practising Catholic, I would hope to have their level of humanity and forgiveness, but I even at this distance I feel sorely tested.

Original poster
ButterflyMcQueen · 17/05/2008 22:39

at times like this i so wish i had a faith

sounds trite but is that where they get this strenght?

OP posts:
BreeVanderCampLGJ · 17/05/2008 22:41

BMQ

If I say it comes with the territory, it would make it sound a bit non commital.

Nighbynight · 17/05/2008 22:44

yes, agree, they are an impressive family. Just so terribly sad that they hit the headlines for such a ghastly reason.

Anchovy · 17/05/2008 23:01

This is very much the background I come from - the large Catholic families strongly rooted in a community.

I am genuinely overwhemed by their love, their strength, their forgiveness.

To be honest, they are much more likely to send me back to the Catholic church as a dynamic, supportive commmunity than any doctrinal thing I have come across.

These days I do not pray, but they have been very often in my thoughts.

Original poster
ButterflyMcQueen · 17/05/2008 23:02

well said anchovy

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hunkermunker · 17/05/2008 23:05

Utterly incredible. I often think of their dear Jimmy - am reminded by my own. Seeing her on the news the day after she lost him made me sob.

They are inspirational.

paperchain · 17/05/2008 23:20

This tragic event is v close to home for me, geographically. The family are amazing. It has been incredible round here, Police, media, hundreds of people paying respects. Such a huge outpouring of public grief and sympathy. And his class mates have all been around. In fact, it is the site of their school ties hanging on the railings that gets to me every time I pass.

RIP Jimmy

PCx

Tommy · 17/05/2008 23:40

I also admire them for their words but it worries me that they are, in fact, still in denial a bit which is how they can be as strong as they are. I don't doubt their faith or strength at all but I wonder how they will be in a few months when the reality hits home.

It's all so sad and such a bloody waste

BreeVanderCampLGJ · 17/05/2008 23:45

Tommy

They probably won't be as strong behind closed doors in a few months, but what they are feeling now is genuine Christian forgiveness.

In these days of increased religious intolerance, I think it is great that they feel they can send this message.

No hate, no intolerance.No promised retribution.

God Bless them all and Jimmy Mizen.

BreeVanderCampLGJ · 17/05/2008 23:45

Tommy

They probably won't be as strong behind closed doors in a few months, but what they are feeling now is genuine Christian forgiveness.

In these days of increased religious intolerance, I think it is great that they feel they can send this message.

No hate, no intolerance.No promised retribution.

God Bless them all and Jimmy Mizen.

nappyaddict · 18/05/2008 00:39

oh my friend is from lewisham. i hope she didn't know him

soapbox · 18/05/2008 00:55

I find their attitude such a relief from the endless anger and bitterness that sometimes seems to pervade everyday life.

More so because all of this happened not 200 yards from my DC's school, at a bakery we go to every Friday for our end of week treat

It is utterly heartbreaking to walk past the flowers laid out in tribute a sign of so many lives hurt and damaged, not just the victim and his family, but the perpetrator and his too. So many 'what ifs' and 'if onlys'

ttriflenorks · 18/05/2008 01:13

The Mizen Family have every right to hate, but by practising and showing forgiveness they are (hopefully) showing others that in this day and age courage and forgiveness in the face of adversity is the higher road to take, the one less travelled, but the higher road non the less.

Saturn74 · 18/05/2008 01:14

Such a frightening tragedy.

Jimmy did all the right things - walking away from the man who tried to start a fight with him. Yet still he was attacked.

His family are an inspiration.

These sorts of incidents are terrifying - who can prepare their child to cope with such unpredictable and relentless violence?

alfiesbabe · 18/05/2008 11:07

Truly inspirational. Let's all try to hang on to their words. It's the only hope for making a difference.

Blu · 18/05/2008 11:29

I think it's possible (but don't know, how could i know from the outside?) that if you come up against a loss so devastating, that any relationship with the cause of that loss - anger, hate, violence - is untenable. i.e if you succumb to hate and vengeance it seems to be too close to the things you want the most distance from.

They are a beacon, and I hope that their strength and outlook makes people think twice, and twice more. Their stance can't be too widely publicised.

AmiWhatAndWhy · 19/05/2008 11:08

Soapbox, you must be near me then?

I have had this in my thoughts since it happened, I am amazed at his families strength, I just hope some of their good rubs off.

I have emailed a fellow mumsnetter about this as she lives in the area too but it just confirms the skewed minds some of our youth have.

We were on Blackheath that Saturday and the DC were running around, a group of teenagers sat very close to us and were swearing and things so I started to pack up so we could move away from them. Then one said 'I just got a text from my mate someone's been stabbed near lee train station'. They ll seemed gleeful saying, 'oh wow if only we were school we'd have been out on lunch and seen it', then one said 'let's get the bus there, there might still be blood on the floor'. They all hurried off.

I felt sick to the core and it ruined my day completely. Then I got home and read the actual story which made me feel sicker still.
My DS is about to start preschool in the area and if this is the mentality it breeds we need to move sharpish. Is it a London thing, or is it everywhere? It scares me.

love to his family if they happen to read this.

MARGOsBeenPlayingWithMyNooNoo · 19/05/2008 11:10

that it seems to be something to get excited about.

Marina · 19/05/2008 11:16

As soapbox will know, we live close to Jimmy's school and dd's godmother lives in the same road as the Mizen family.
It is a devastating tragedy and I too am filled with admiration at how the Mizen family continue to conduct themselves with such grace and dignity.
It has sent shockwaves through schools in the local area. It's a monstrous reminder that bringing your child up to be loving, generous, hard-working and community-minded might not be enough to bring them safely through to adulthood.

Original poster
ButterflyMcQueen · 19/05/2008 17:17

well said blu

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