Wolfrum’s Morning: RIP Frank Motta
March 22, 2012 by William K. Wolfrum
Wolfrum’s Word
My cousin Frank Motta was murdered last week. You can find the details here. It was a senseless killing that hurt the entire community, let alone our entire family. Frank was a genuinely good man. A veteran, teacher, principal and volunteer, he truly cared and loved other people.
I don’t feel a seething rage at the killer of my cousin. In a week where we saw brutal murders in Toulouse, as well as the breaking of the Trayvon Martin murder story, I feel only a sadness for humanity. There is, apparently, one thing that binds all races – a disregard for life. More than that, I feel a sadness for Frank’s wife and kids and my entire family. Frank was a great man, and he proved it every day of his life.
Today’s Reading
Balloon Juice: Rachel Maddow does the unthinkable – she calls a liar a liar.
TPM: An arrest has been made in the fire-bombing attack on a pro-choice Texas state senator.
Crooks & Liars: This is not a War on Women. But if you have a baby and miss work, your job may not be there for you and there’s now nothing you can do about it, says SCOTUS.
This Just In
Comic Brian Posehn looks like that sloth.
Quote of the Year
“Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again.” — Mitt Romney advisor Eric Fehrnstrom, forever linking his candidate to a crappy toy.
Finally
Pals.
–WKW
Mr. Motta was my teacher in 1978-79, in Othello, Washington. Yes, he was a great man. I, on the other hand, wasn’t a great student. He pulled me into an office one day and spoke with me about my future, and what I wanted to do with it. I’ll never forget what he said, something like: “Mr. Miller, when you fail, you not only fail your family, your school, your community; worse, you fail yourself.”
From that day on, I tried my best at whatever I did, especially in class so I could get into college.
Had that kid in Spokane had only given Mr. Motta a few minutes of his time to talk to, Mr. Motta likely could have helped change his future, too. But I guess in the end, Mr. Motta has. Mr. Motta’s death will keep this kid off the street for a long time, likely preventing him from hurting or killing many others. Things happen for a reason.
My God be with you and your family.