Grieving Mother Fights for Mercy

Susan Barich lost her son when a drunk driver was driving the car her son was in, and crashed. The drunk driver, Jessica Binkerd, had been at a party with Susan's son, Alex Baer. They left together and Jessica swerved over into the other lane and hit another car head on. The other driver was not injured. Jessica broke her ankles and suffered other injuries. Alex died at the scene.

Susan believes it was an accident. She believes Jessica has enough to deal with knowing her friend was killed because she had been drinking and then chose to drive. Susan does not believe putting Jessica in prison will somehow make it different for Jessica, or somehow change the actions of all the others who have been drinking and then drive. It is not a deterent in her mind, and she is working to help keep Jessica out of prison. She is asking for mercy.

Susan is keeping her own blog about her feelings and how she is dealing with the death of her son at http://atthehearth.wordpress.com/. You can read one of her recent postings where she describes a study she participated in while studying at college. She was asked to play "wack a mole" and then drink and play "wack a mole" again. It made an impact, and Susan wonders what we are doing to help others understand the true debilitating effects of alcohol...or cell phones, aspirin, or advil for that matter. In another article posted today on Reuters, it was reported that 81% of Americans do other things while they are driving such as shave, eat, and talk on the phone. 5% of Americans confessed to answering email while driving.

I believe Susan's point is the crash was an accident. The problem is bigger than just Jessica Binkerd drinking before she was driving. Susan is trying to point out that individuals in our society are not safe drivers in many ways, and "but there for the grace go I". You know, we've all been there.

Maybe Susan is off base. Maybe not. But she is making us think. And she is taking the bold and often difficult step of forgiveness. Read the article about her found at the LATimes. I'm not sure I would be able to forgive so quickly. And I think I would be pissed at my child for getting in the car in the first place if it wasn't a safe place to be. And then I would remember all of the times I should have talked to my child about doing the right thing. In the end it would be my fault. Then I might be able to step beyond and begin to forgive. Susan jumped into it so quickly. For Jessica, and for Jessica's mother, Susan's request for mercy is a small touch of the hand of God. I'll try to do the same.