Article February 23, 2009 Issue

FACING DOWN INTIMIDATION

BY VERENA LINNING

SIMPLY TUNING OUT news about acts of intimidation in the world can be tempting. Sometimes these reports are frightening and feel much too far away to provoke a useful response. Resignation can even set in. But one close-to-home example gave me the chance to extend my prayers to all in the world seeking peaceful solutions to confrontation.

It all started one day when a man walked past our house with his dog. A typical scene on our street. But then I happened to see that his dog was trying to use our front garden as his toilet. Many times before, I'd had to clear my yard of dog waste, which agitated me.

When I stepped outside and spoke to the dog's owner, he burst out in an outrageous manner, shouting and telling me that his dog hadn't done anything wrong. He was extremely furious, looked uncontrolled, and came very close to me so that I thought he would hit me. I tried to stay calm, and after listening to him insist that his dog had behaved correctly, I apologized and want into the house. I thought that was the end of the story.

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