Arby’s opening could help Moscow move on from tragedy
Stop by the Moscow Arby’s if you’re looking for a place to eat this weekend.
Small gestures can go a long way, and even stopping in for a sandwich and curly fries at the Moscow Arby’s can show support for the restaurant — the site of a tragedy.
Arby’s, located on the Moscow-Pullman highway, reopened Monday with little fanfare after being closed for more than two weeks due to a tragic shooting that left three dead and one injured.
The Arby’s staff lost one of their own, beloved Manager Belinda Niebuhr in the shooting. Belinda’s picture now hangs in the restaurant and her apron is framed.
This restaurant has been through a lot in the past two weeks, and it deserves the community’s support in moving on from this tragedy.
Although memories of the victims are still present, moving on from these horrible tragedies is a major part of the grieving process. The return to a sense of normalcy is how communities heal and how those who were directly affected by the tragedy find peace.
This is also how communities show the perpetrators of these horrible crimes that their actions cannot diminish the spirit of Moscow, and the residents of the city seem determined to exemplify this. This is an opportunity to move forward and to continue to make Moscow a better place to live.
Far too often scenes of tragedy are demolished as communities attempt to move on. The physical structure acts as a constant reminder of a horrible memory. Sandy Hook Elementary and the library at Columbine High School are both examples of structures demolished in the wake of a mass shooting.
Instead of viewing the restaurant as a scene of a tragic shooting, Moscow should view it as a symbol of unity and resilience within our community. This is an opportunity to show the strength of Moscow residents and their ability to move forward.
There seems to be an Arby’s in every town, but this one is ours. And now, the restaurant has become associated with the tragic history of mass shootings in Moscow. However, the restaurant’s memory can mean much more.
It can represent Moscow’s ability move forward to a better future.
–RT