Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given - Duane Dog Chapman [47]
What Tucker had done was tragic. He didn’t understand that the hopes and dreams of so many, from little children to grandmothers, all over the country had been shattered. He had taken Dog off the air. But I was the one who had uttered the very words that brought me down. No one held a gun to my head. I said what I said without any thought it would hurt so many people.
I’ve read that e-mail several times since receiving it that day. I was hopeful the woman’s words and sentiment would be representative of how most people felt, but I didn’t count on it. Her understanding of my situation reminded me that there are lots of people in the world who get the meaning of compassion. Although I never met this woman or her grandmother, I feel like I will always be connected to them in spirit for the strength, kindness, and mercy they showed me in one of my darkest moments.
One of the most meaningful letters I received during this time came from my son Wesley, whom I hadn’t spoken to in some time. I’d tried to reconnect with him over the years, but he always kept me at arm’s length. I was surprised when Beth told me about the e-mail that came in shortly after the news of the “N” word incident. After years of limited correspondence, Wesley wrote to say he thought I could use a friend at my lowest moment. And boy, was he right. When I later asked why he chose to reach out to me at that time, he said, “So you could be absolutely certain I don’t want anything from you.” I was deeply moved by his love and support. His fortuitous e-mail opened the lines of communication between us in a way they had never been before. I would never have guessed it would take something like my public lambasting to bring my son back to me. I suppose the sad irony is I temporarily lost one son but permanently gained another from that experience.
For the most part, the letters I received were very kind. They assured me that I hadn’t lost my fans so much as I had disappointed them. There was lots of love and support in the countless pages I read those first few days. Their kindness overwhelmed me, especially in the midst of the unbelievably untrue things that were being said about me by people who clearly didn’t know me. However, I also received many letters that were angry that I was capable of saying something so cruel. Judgment calls were being made based on assumptions in the press and short clips from a twenty-five-minute conversation that were being used out of context. That was a tough pill to swallow, but I managed to let it go until my upcoming interviews with Sean and Larry, where I planned to explain everything the best I could.
The day before my scheduled appearance on Hannity and Colmes, I was finally given the good news that I no longer faced extradition to Mexico. Judge Barry Kurren had finally dismissed the extradition complaints and canceled the arrest warrants against Leland, Tim, and me, essentially making us free men. While the news was gratifying, I was very much focused on the events of the past week and my upcoming interviews. My troubles with Mexico seemed distant compared to the difficult and daunting task that was ahead of me.
Beth and I flew to Los Angeles to do the scheduled interviews with Sean and Larry. We had no idea what awaited us as we touched down on the mainland. I had been secluded and protected in my island sanctuary, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Our anxiety grew as we crossed the Pacific. We knew the press would be there, but we had no idea how many or how bad it would be. When we deplaned, Beth and I made the long walk down