Posted: Monday, 07 December 2009 11:15AM
Bin Laden Surfaces In Scranton
Steve Corbett Reporting
Monday, December 07, 2009
As soon as I read the story in the newspaper, I knew that Adam Swieciaszek was in for big, big trouble.
Getting into a fight in Scranton is one thing. Even battling the cops when they try to arrest you at the scene is easily explained away in some neighborhoods. But making the crack that Adam made is never a good idea in hard coal country.
“This is why America sucks and it should be bombed,” police report Adam as saying as they took him into custody.
Then, when police asked his name, he identified himself as Adam Bin Laden.
The 28-year-old Green Ridge man is lucky that officers didn’t Taze him or just shoot him outright. Scranton cops do not respond well to taunts to their nation. But give the officers credit here. Nobody delivered Adam to an emergency room or a hospital morgue.
Still, Adam dug himself into a very big hole in America.
If his story made national news, as weird stories like this often do, he could become one of America’s most despised loudmouth drunks. Adam could become more hated than some of the nation’s more despicable desperadoes. I could see busloads of combat veterans making pilgrimages to his house, outlaw motorcycle gangs trailing his every move and maybe even Al Qaeda or the Taliban using him as a poster boy in recruiting videos.
That one for the road could easily put Adam on the path of destruction.
As I mulled Adam’s fate in my mind Thursday afternoon and readied myself to talk about his situation on “Corbett,” I received a surprise e-mail message from Adam.
“I would like to apologize for comments that were made by me, what I said about America. I am not anti-American or a terrorist in any way shape or form. Many people know me and know that I am not like that. I just wanna apologize to American families that have service men or women in their families. I can go on air and make my apology live on air.”
Adam ended his message with his phone number.
I called during the break and reached a contrite young man with a permanent hangover who said he wanted to talk with me on the air even though he worried that I might go too hard on him.
But I already knew that he didn’t have to worry.
Of all the criminals caught up in the ongoing federal public corruption probe in Northeastern Pennsylvania, not one defendant has publicly apologized. Not one of these gangster judges, school board members or anybody else among the thus far dirty 21 has come on the air and said that he or she is sorry.
But a young guy with some obvious anger and alcohol issues has the decency to call the show and take his lumps? Sometimes people deserve the benefit of the doubt just for trying.
When he came on the air he said he had been drinking that night. And, yes, he probably said what cops say he said although he doesn’t remember everything all that clearly. No, he can’t get into all the details because he’s trying to decide how to handle the charges that include simple assault, public drunkenness and other offenses.
Throwing himself on the mercy of the court of public opinion, Adam apologized for his hurtful words and said he truly appreciates living in Scranton, where he has resided for the past 17 years. Adam said that he lived in Poland before moving to Scranton and said that he took very seriously the oath he swore when he became an American citizen.
Listening to Adam, despite his wild statements on the street that drunken night, I felt a little sorry for the guy. I’ve had my share of irrational drunken early morning rows. I understand violence and booze as well as anybody. I also understand that repentance is part of the challenge of conquering anger and alcohol.
When Adam hung up, I emailed him that he did fine. I also said he might want to speak to somebody about his drinking and his propensity for violence. I shared something about my own wild background and told him to keep me posted. I’ll help Adam if I can. His conscience has already stepped in on his behalf. But at 28, he’s at a crossroads. Adam can turn the corner to maturity or he could fall deeper into brutal drunken despair.
This incident could help save him.
Or we might yet lose him to the frenzied netherworld of violent alcoholism.
Adam emailed me again before the show ended.
“Thanks for taking it light on me, Mr. Corbett,” he wrote. “Can you give me the number of a VFW that I can volunteer my time? If you know one that will let me volunteer, can you call me back or email me back with the info? Again, sorry for the anger I have caused anyone with my ridiculous and coward comments.”
I’ll see what I can do to help.
Isn’t changing hearts and minds what the war on terror is all about?
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