Death of the Ice Cream Man
By soccermom
@soccermom (3198)
United States
July 19, 2007 2:36pm CST
Sorry folks, this will is not about the nostalgia surrounding the old fashioned ice cream man. This is literally about the death of the ice cream man.
There was a Hispanic man, Isadoro, 42, that used to push an ice cream cart around the local parks and sell his goods to children and adults alike. He used to frequent the park where I held many fall soccer practices, and the kids used to get so excited when they heard the bell ringing that signalled his arrival. He was a mentally slow man, dependant on his brother for a place to live and support. He was here legally, and pushing his ice cream cart gave him great joy and a sense of dignity. He may be mentally challenged but was still a productive member of society. He was kind, friendly, and a reminder to everyone who saw him of simpler times.
Isadoro was shot in the back of the head and killed Sunday night at 6pm. while making his last rounds(no pun intended) at a local park. He was killed by 3 boys. 2 were 17 and one was 18. They were caught and arrested and the local paper has been flooded with the story and editorials as to what a shame this is. Here's what really enflames me. I have sat and read about how the public schools and teachers failed these boys, how there is not enough programs for at risk youth. Blame is being placed everywhere except where it should be...at the parents. These boys were obviously raised with no value for human life, and it pained me to see one of the parents on TV talking about how if their son had better teachers, etc..they may not have gone this route. By looking at the mother I can make the judgement that she was not winning any parent of the year awards.
I just wanted to vent, and see if I'm wrong in believing that for the most part our childrens behavior is a reflection on their upbringing. I hope Isadoro finds peace, and a need for his services in heaven.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@SpitFire179 (2536)
• Canada
19 Jul 07
Your not wrong at all, most times the blame should be placed on the parents and how they brought up their child, there's not enough good parents out there anymore who instill good morals, understanding, truth, and so on in their children.
i'm sorry about Isardo, i hope you find peace with this as well, and those boys find reality.
RIP IceCream Man.
2 people like this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
19 Jul 07
I don't know why SpitFire, but htis has bothered me all week. I don't know if it's because he was such a fond memory of fall soccer or what, but I can't even tell you how irked this has me. As far as the boys go, all I can think of is WTF? Who kills the ice cream man? I know they will be in prison and be like " I'm serving time for killing the ice cream guy." WTF?!?! This was so senseless it makes me sick.
1 person likes this
@SpitFire179 (2536)
• Canada
19 Jul 07
I know hunni, i don't understand it either, these kids need to get their heads on straight, but just as you have a feeling, i have the feeling that their gonna think this is something cool and when they get out go doing it again.
I hope they get the biggest sentence possible.
oh, hey if you wanna chat or anything, if you got yahoo or msn or both send me a message.
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
20 Jul 07
oh had sad I like the Ice cream person that comes around here even if we dont buy something all the time ahe still will wave at grandddaughter.
And of course it is the parents fault fo they probably didnt pay attention of what the boys needed and it was proably the easyiest thing to do was love and talking to them to find what they needed to hear from the parents it isnt up to the teacher to give full guideune to the kids I t need to start at home!
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
20 Jul 07
One of the moms is pulling the "single mom: card, which I think is a pile of garbage. I've seen plenty of kids grow up in single parent households and turn out just fine.
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
23 Jul 07
This made me tear up when I read it- and then I got mad! How dare
that mom- I agree with you- Childrens morals and knowing right from
wrong comes from HOME- teachers can teach them- but it is ultimately
our responsibility to show our kids the way and teach them- Sure the
schools failed these boys also- but they are old enough to know better-
I blame the kids and the parents! I'm not saying that when a child
commits a crime it is always the parents fault- but it isn't the
teachers fault either- And I say shame on these parents for saying
so! I hope he finds peace also-
@seagoddess28 (873)
• Canada
24 Jul 07
This is a very sad story. Not only is it sad, it is infuriating. How can a life be so disposable, that the killers don't even think twice about what they did (walking away laughing (!), and the blame pointed every which way except at the culprits? I agree with you that the parents are a major cause of the coldblooded callousness and disregard for a human life that these killers have shown. But they are 17 and 18, no longer young! Surely, conscience is a personal part of one's character, not something totally learned or imposed from outside! Not all untended and morally neglected children lose their sense of right and wrong. We can only weep for the loss of our collective innocence, and the deadly numbing of our collective conscience. May Isadoro rest in peace.
@fpd1955 (2074)
• United States
20 Jul 07
This is truly a sad thing. It is made even sadder by the parents that seemingly are taking no responsibility in their son's actions. I agree with you, it starts with the parents and family values first. Teachers are supposed to teach and they have a strict curriculum that they teach our children. It is totally up to the parents to teach their kids, at a young age, how to be good, kind and caring human beings. They should be taught the value of every human life...from their parents.
Senseless acts of violence from young people always disturbs me to no end. There are too many outside influences that can have deep effect on a child's mind. Movies that show graphic violence is a big one, but it is up to the parents to make sure their impressionable children do not see this type of "entertainment". It isn't easy to make sure of this, but nobody said being a good parent was easy.
R.I.P Isadoro
PEACE
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
20 Jul 07
Parenting is the hardest job anyone could ever have, unfortunately nobody has to go through a credentials check to become one. And you're right about the outside influences. These boys did grow up in a bad neighborhood, but I still see it as no excuse for the atrocity they committed. It ticks me off that it's sort of being "brushed under the rug" because the victim was Hispanic. Had it been a middle class white guy the whole community would be up in arms.
@jodenton (222)
•
19 Jul 07
Wow! That is such a horrible story! As you say I hope Isadoro finds peace as well as his brother who must be grieving terribly right now.
I would just add that one shouldn't be too quick to judge anybody in these situations. I'm sure in a perfect world nothing would have failed these boys. The teachers would have been better, the parents would have done a better job but I am a firm believer in the Savage Garden lyric that 'your parents did the best job they knew how to do'.
Perhaps if society wasn't so capitalistic these parents may have been able to spend more time at home bringing up the children rather than having to perhaps work all the hours that God sends! I don't know all the facts in the case as well as you do.
There is also the possibility that the kids were just plain bad, rotten eggs. Even the best parents (and I don't know by whose standards this can be rated) can produce criminals....a bit of, luck of the draw.
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
19 Jul 07
I really try not to judge. But in this situation it was hard not too. Here was this mother standing there looking like she had just rolled out of bed, like she could care less what her son did, blaming the schools and everything else. I have seen kids that come from wonderful households turn out bad. I just don't think blame can be laid on the teachers, etc...
