That's it.
Hello all. I'd like to ask you all to take a look at the fella there in the picture to the left there. Pretty normal looking fella eh? Well he wasn't, and I'd like to explain.
In 1996, I entered the Weyburn Comprehensive School. I was assigned a locker in the shop hallway. And would soon be introduced to the fellow there to the left, by the fellow to the left. His name was Landon Pitre and was... and still is the weirdest person I have ever met.
Landon wasn't what I would say well liked in the school, myself included. He was 2 or 3 years past normal graduation time, any friends he would have gone to school with were gone, and he wasn't having much luck with the current batch of students. He was very in-your-face, dressed very originally (I remember him talking at length about acquiring a 7-11 uniform shirt) but always friendly and (yikes) availiable. Seems I couldn't go to the store without running into him.
I can't really defend what I thought about Landon in High School. I was young, really, too stupid to really see this guy who was alone with a bunch of younger people, trying to fit in. Add to that the fact that he must have had a learning disability to be in school that long (it took him 6 or 7 years to finish I beleive). When I look at him now, I see an admirable person who really pushed through to get what he wanted. It makes comments I heard from some of my teachers and even principle seems cold and pathetic. I'm only 25 and I can see what's wrong with shaming someone with a learning disability infront of the school or a class.
But that's not my issue.
In 2003 Landon was stabbed in the heart at the Midtown Plaza, trying to break up a fight. He died from his injuries.
I had assumed that the justice system did it's job and put this guy away forever and that although not vindicated, Landon would at least be remembered as a hero instead of a high school dunce.
But a recent article from the CBC informed me otherwise. THREE YEARS. After his parents asked for the maximum punishment!?! THROW THIS KID IN JAIL AND THROW AWAY THE KEY. If he had a knife in his hand, he MEANT TO DO HARM. He should be punished for his crimes and harshly.
At least one thing has come of this tragedy. I have a better view of a man I once disrespected and I've seen again how the justice system fails to serve the good of the people.
Thank you for your sacrifice Landon, and I'm sorry if I ever did anything to upset you.
Landon Pitre is a hero.. but you're still weird. ;)