Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
George Young, a special projects coordinator at the Paraplegic Development and Outreach Foundation was crippled after being shot at 13 years old. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
GEORGE YOUNG has more than a passing acquaintance with violence.
At home in Fletcher's Land in west Kingston, Young talks about friends and family who have been either hospitalised or killed in gun-related incidents. Among them is his mother. She was shot and killed in the United States while intervening in a dispute between her ex-partner and then current partner. Young was eight years old at the time.
In the intervening years, he saw more than 20 relatives and friends either killed or injured in gun-related incidents locally. He himself is a victim of violence. At 13 years old, Young was hit by a bullet while making his way to referee a game.
The injury confined him to six months in hospital and intense rehabilitation at the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre in St. Andrew. For the following five years, Young was in and out of hospital and was forced to leave school because of poor health and limited facilities for the disabled.
CONCERNED
Now, the 29-year-old is crippled and gets around by wheelchair. He is concerned not only about his disability, but the number of lives destroyed by crime and violence.
"All things negative are a waste. In doing this (using the gun), children are losing their fathers and mothers and society is losing resources. It's a waste," he said. "Often, society is egging you on to seek violence. Sometimes, if you forgive, you can be seen as a 'soft soap'. Not many people realise that to be non-violent and humble is the source of real strength."
MENTAL PROGRESS
He has come a long way. George admitted that feelings of anger and thoughts of revenge once consumed him, especially immediately after the incident.
"(With violence) one does not have to deal only with the physical trauma but mental trauma, and that is much more critical than the physical aspects ... I was angry at the individual (who did the shooting) ... but I forgave him.," Young said.
Anger has now been tempered by an inner peace under the guidance of his 'four angels' (his four sisters), a brother-in-law, owners of a recording studio in his neighbourhood and his mentor, Reverend John.
RASTAFARIAN BELIEFS
This inner peace also springs from a combination of Rastafarian beliefs, religious science meditation and Buddhist chanting, which are helping him to achieve several of his goals such as a higher education. But the disability has affected the quality of his life. He has little money, limited opportunities and limited access to buildings.
"My legs can't move, but I realise that life is what you make it. So not because I am in a wheelchair I should wait for alms," said Young, a special projects coordinator at the Paraplegic Development and Outreach Foundation, an agency focusing on the needs of the disabled.
