Summary: A 14-year-old boy, by the name of Johnny Delaney, was found with severe head injuries, in Ellesmere Port in May 2003. He died shortly after reaching the hospital. Two 16-year-old boys on trial were believed to have assaulted him because “he was ‘only’ a Gypsy,” and they admitted that by assaulting him, Johnny “got what he deserved because he was a Gypsy.” Witnesses claim to have seen the two boys kick and stamp Delaney on the head. Delaney belonged to a travelling community based in Ellesmere Port, who had been victimized by the teen group that the two 16-year-olds belonged to. The two boys admitted kicking Johnny, but they did not believe that they had caused his death. Some officials believed that the root of this incident was racial prejudice.
Response:
This incident reflects the consequences of being different from the community one lives in. It shows that society decides if an individual fits or does not fit into society; if it thinks that somebody does not fit in, society will make sure that person is gotten rid of, regardless of the method. In this article, the boy is bullied and killed for being someone that the two elder boys did not think should be accepted into their community. This article connects to the novel One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey. In the novel, McMurphy is a significant character because he stands up against Miss Ratched’s words and regulations and is different than all the other patients. He tries to revolutionize the existing traditions and thrives to bring change to the ward. However, because of his personality, because he is so different from everyone else, McMurphy ends up being lobotomized, and in the end, murdered. This is how society gets rid of people they believe should not be accepted.
Vocabulary
Word 1: prosecute
a. "Prosecuting, Christopher Vospa QC said he would argue a confrontation began when one of the defendants' group shouted racist abuse at a group of travellers on a playing field."
b. prosecute: to institute legal proceedings against a person. From Latin, and late Middle English, perform, discharge, execute, conduct. First Known Use: c.1500
c. Many of the people involved in the bullying incident were prosecuted by the Disciplinary Action Committee.
Word 2: defendant
a. "Prosecuting, Christopher Vospa QC said he would argue a confrontation began when one of the defendants' group shouted racist abuse at a group of travellers on a playing field."
b. defendatns: a person or institution against whom a charge is brought up in court. Anglo-French (Middle French, Old French defendant), accused, plaintiff. First Known Use: c.1400; Middle English defendaunt.
c. The defendants claimed that they were not responsible for the victim's death.
Word 3: altercation
a. "The jury was told that after a 'minor altercation,' Johnny and his friends ran off."
b. altercation: a heated, noisy argument or dispute. From Latin, quarrel, disagreement, clash; squabble, tiff. First Known Use: 1350-1400.
c. The altercation between the two friends soon lead to a bruised nose and a broken wrist. (dictionary.reference.com)
