Comments on: A Royals fan’s plea to Luke Heimlich to change the dialogue and empower your victim

By: nikadimuz

nikadimuz — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 21:24:57 +0000

First, thank you for your bravery to tell us your story. I am sorry you ever had to experience those horrible events.

I work in the child welfare field and have to work with children who have experienced the same types of traumatic events as you. There is nothing that tears my heart and stomach out more than thinking about having to put a victim on the witness stand to relive the events one more time – after telling the story at least three prior times.

Bill, what I can tell you is that the victims do relive it, every day. There is no getting away from it. Having your abuser become a professional baseball player will only deepen and broaden the wound. It will only become more difficult for the victim to overcome the pain and all the emotions this author so eloquently stated. All those people who do not know and should not know what happened, thinking they are doing a good thing, asking her about her uncle the professional baseball player will only cause more damage. I for one hope the Royals play no role in this.

By: Josh

Josh — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 17:19:42 +0000

Well said. As for the writer im sorry he was never able to get resolution for his situation. Our family had the same situation where my 5 year old sister was the victim and our 12 yr old cousin the perpetrator. Now before continuing i am saying the situation is like the letter writer not luke hemlich. I have no knowledge of his situation and have no idea if he is guilty or not. My point is our family kept it in house and eventually my parents and sister were able to forgive the cousin. I can tell you that forgiveness from my sister/parents was a powerful thing. My sister at least according to her in forgiving him was able to move past the incident. Even to the point of having a relationship with our cousin. I tell this only for the writer in the hope that one day you can have the same peace my sister and parents have as well.

Now this situation is completely different. Hemlich maintains his innocence. Either way without knowledge of the situation no one has the right to tell the kid he cant play baseball. Ive noticed the mob is really hammering dayton moore for even discussing it. Some even calling for his job. Even demanding hemlich has no right to play baseball. Well i will continue to ask the mob until i get an answer, what job is he entitled to have. Because if you are the arbitor then you better be specific.

By: TheChiSportsFan

TheChiSportsFan — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 21:37:49 +0000

Thank you very much for your transparency and sincerity in writing this. I’ve been incensed at the cases of athletes like Reuben Foster, the Auburn football player, the entire Duke Lacrosse team and other athletes whose accusers eventually admitted they falsely accused them.

But in cases where no one can ever prove either account, and stories like yours where it involves children, I hadn’t weighed the possibility that the victim’s side could be affirmed regardless of admitting fault.

I pray that you find permanent peace and that your plea is widely considered.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 20:20:20 +0000

I agree with those who thought the essay sounded heartfelt and impassioned. And gut-wrenching. That said, I wonder about some content. About reliving this tragedy. Heimlich is not doing the reminding; the media are. Does the victim relive this, too? This depends on how much she reads, sees or is told. From my extensive reading on this, I never noticed the victim’s family making any mention of this until an Oregonian reporter unearthed it. I did not see any family protesting Heimlich’s success at OSU until after media outlets published details. Here’s my big question: How does Heimlich change the dialogue by acknowledging the girl’s reality? How does this work? Does Heimlich remake his story to fit the girl’s narrative, especially if he’s insisting he’s innocent? Would it be better for him to lie and say something happened if nothing really did happen? Who or what most affects the girl’s reality? Her uncle or her parents and support group? Heimlich’s movements and counseling have been well documented since last June. How have those in the girl’s family handled her trauma? How is this “story” really about her? The media choose how this story will be told. The author’s situation and Heimlich’s niece’s story are similar in that both say they were molested. The stories and probably the aftereffects diverge. The author was too terrified to report this. Completely understandable. So there was no criminal justice involvement. There appeared to be no aftercare or counseling available for the author. I’m more than aware of untreated psychological trauma. While we don’t know if the girl has undergone counseling, but these days that opportunity is available for a lifetime. This is all about the Royals now. I can’t imagine what will change or affect the girl.

By: Dat Thomas

Dat Thomas — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 17:46:06 +0000

So sorry that the poor abuser Luke couldn’t remain anonymous! That’s not fair!

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 14:06:31 +0000

If only Luke could do the same.

By: Craig Brown

Craig Brown — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 14:02:08 +0000

We know the writer. He wished to remain anonymous. We respect his wishes.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 13:32:13 +0000

Sooooo, this story was written anonymously?

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 13:20:22 +0000

Well said. Let all of us not forget, the girl is the one that matters here. Luke will likely be just fine whether he plays pro ball or not.