Thomas’ Son
January 22, 2006
Over the past few weeks, I have, more than once, heard or read myself referred to as “Thomas’ son.” It’s an odd thing, as my father never sought nor enjoyed attention—growing up, my name was in the paper from time to time for this school function or that, but I can’t say I ever made the front page. To go from a small mention of my making the Dean’s List to being exposed as the adult son of a man made locally famous by allegations of unspeakable wrongdoing is a change that I never could have expected.
One article in the Mobile Register, later syndicated by the AP, noted that “Several witnesses, including defendant Steve Dennis Thomas’ own son, came prepared to testify against him.” This was stated in a way that suggested my willingness to testify against my father was in some way surprising—as though a man whose entire family was put in jeopardy by his father’s wrongdoings might be anything less than eager to see his dad be sent to prison.
The amount of things written about my father, my family, and myself over the past few weeks have been overwhelming. I read most articles with a sense of detachment, unable to comprehend that the man described in the articles is really the man I’ve loved for the past twenty-six years. The one time it actually seemed real was when I watched video of my father, haggard, sad, and defeated, pulled from a police car and escorted into the federal courthouse where I had briefly made eye contact with him just hours before.
I’ve read things and seen pictures that exposed an entirely different man—a man not only with a different personality but with a different name, an alias that he has kept for the better part of my life. It’s difficult to figure out how these two men could have co-existed in one body—not just logistically (how on earth did he have the time?) but spiritually. My father was such a good, generous, and kind-hearted man. After reading the things my father wrote, and seeing the photos that my father sent, I’m left with more questions than answers regarding the man my father really was.
I sincerely hope that the past two weeks have been the worst of my life. I’m sure I’ll write more later, but for now, thanks to all of those who have offered your support, and all of those who have simply felt sympathy for our plight. It’s good to know you have friends in times like these.
Also, I lost my iPod. Again. Geez.
Wow, yours is definitely a situation that sucks. I read the Alabama article and am starting to think that things can turn into a witch hunt rather quickly these days with our overactive and completely restraint-free “Homeland Security” services. That computer was used by a variety of people.
Take a hypothetical situation, let’s say one is at work and is surfing the net and some site uses a pop-up resluting in one staring at picture of an orgy comprised of toddlers having sex with animals for 4 milliseconds before the brain sends the message to the fingers to close the window. Is this enough of a misdeed for one to lose their job, go to prison and be humiliated by society at large?
I’m not so quick to think someone is guilty these days as opposed to be a victim of imaginative government agencies.
You’re right, Cham. The furor over the images supposedly found on the computer at work has been intense. I absolutely agree that many are far too quick to judge over mere accusations, especially ones in which the evidence is tenuous at best.
Unfortunately, the crux of the matter in my dad’s case revolves around more recent things — things that I can see for myself that he did, providing a mental image I don’t think I’ll ever be able to erase.