Let's Pray That Maria's Death Was Not In Vain

Please say a prayer for Maria Santos Gorrostieta, a Mexican politician who stood up to local drug barons despite three attempts on her life. Tragically, the fourth attempt on 15 November was successful and this 36-year-old heroine was brutally murdered. Her story is one of rare distinction inasmuch as this very talented doctor of medicine, who lost her first husband to drug traffickers in 2009 and was herself shot three times during a 2010 assassination attempt, refused to yield in the face of overwhelming odds and despite fearing for the lives of her children remained true to her Catholic faith and sense of duty toward humankind.

My first thought on reading about this story was to pray that the perpetrators paid in full for their crime and also that Maria’s death would begin a backlash against organised crime which is blighting so many of the world’s great cities.

I cannot begin to understand the magnificent defiance shown by Maria but what is really upsetting is the lack of security for someone who was clearly earmarked for assassination. What have we become?

The filthy rich get richer while the poor are dying in misery and yet governments do nothing; organised gangs run many of the world’s cities while police watch on and do nothing – only today I was stopped by a police car outside my house when travelling to my local gym. The car came roaring up with full siren and flashing lamp, the PC got out of his car and introduced himself as PC xxxx from Haywards Heath and then thanked me for stopping (what did he expect a chase down the dual carriageway!) before asking me to turn my steering wheel full lock to check my tyres. I explained my car had just had its MOT and had new tyres. He agreed my tyres were in perfect condition and on my asking why I had been stopped and by any chance was it because of my hood and dark glasses he replied “No, it was because your car is in such a state”. I then explained that I had the car since new and after twanging the side in the church car park I decided to keep it the past 12 years as it has never let me down. I went on to say how I had washed it only a few days ago to which he replied “you shouldn’t have bothered” before returning to his car and driving off.

Yes, although I chuckled, I was a little surprised that someone would be so rude about the look of my car as I have always thought of it as quite a handsome looking Fiat Brava, but why I tell you this story is that my first thought was the scant resources of our police force were being wasted. My car has got 50,000 miles on the clock is in good repair and doesn’t immediately strike you as a death trap. I’m sure there are many cars on our roads that are equally old and many would be in far worse condition than my car which is rarely driven.

I thought of Maria and the absurdity of the situation – this crazy mixed up world where crime should be targeted and yet a PC’s shift can be filled by the routine stopping of old cars!