A teen's letter to a criminal

Dear Mr Crime-Offender,

Hi! We’ve never met but I’ve read a lot about your preposterous acts in the papers and seen some of your antics on the nightly eight o’clock news.

Each time you appear, my dad’s bound to ask us to stay far from you, and my mum will start her speech on keeping safe in public.

I’m thankful I’ve never come in contact with you and I sure hope I will never become your victim!

It’s always a wild ride whenever my friends and I talk about your most recent escapades. Sometimes I can’t help but wonder what the root cause of your actions may be.

What motivates you to conduct acts that you know will land you behind bars?

What drives you to keep doing all those deeds despite knowing that you may even lose your life?

Is it greed?

The “ka-ching!” sound of the cashier receiving payment?

Or is it the harshness of life that has brought you to it?

Most of the time, you told me it’s greed.

I’ll read about how envy has blurred your judgment and sometimes, I’ll hear about how hatred has caught you in its web.

It may be vengeance at work or even a result of a petty argument.

Whatever the roots of your actions may be, I’m definitely not a supporter of what you’re doing, what you have done or even, what you’re planning to do.

I believe in karma, for they say what comes around goes around.

I believe in retribution, for whatever misdeeds you’ve done will definitely come back to you, one way or another.

I believe that in everybody, there’s always a part in their hearts filled with kindness and love, despite the fact that sometimes, it may be clouded by life’s interference.

We’re all humans, desperate to survive in this world. Even though it is flawed to a certain extent, it’s still a beautiful and serene planet.

So, why go to the extent of stealing and robbing, killing and fighting, kidnapping and drugging?

You have your reasons, I’m sure of that.

But you must face the consequences of your actions. No matter how witty your words may be, you can’t get out of the reach of the law, and even your conscience. It’s just a matter of time before either gets to you.

I wonder at times what your family and friends feel when they see or hear you getting caught.

Are they disappointed? Sad? Angry? What about you?

When you were carrying out your “job”, did you spare a thought for them?

Or worse, what if they found out you had been lying to them all this while?

Nobody is born alone into the world. All of us have a family we need to be responsible for.

Whatever your life’s circumstances may be, please place your family at the highest level of consideration before planning your next move.

Also, do honour your country, her laws, and also her people.

In this world, not everything is about the flow of the dollar symbol in our bank accounts.

Not everything is about money and wealth.

Sometimes, it’s about love, relationships and the important people in your life.

And most of the time, it’s about those who cherish and love you with all their might, even if you don’t love them.

So before you act, think twice, or thrice even. Better still, don’t do it.

Sincerely,

Xiao Tian

This article was published on the Education column of The Star Newspaper on 17 April 2016