This website is
dedicated to a man--loving, compassionate, passionate, intelligent, creative, devoted, and sensitive--who is an adored husband, father, grandpa, great
grandpa, retired high school teacher, entrepreneur, neighbor, dreamer, and human being who has lived most of his 80 years in
his beloved state of
Anthony Bruce "Tony" Cardiel's chosen symbol, the heart, is
representative of all that he has sought to give to others throughout his long,
productive life.
Tony has always enjoyed a quiet existence lived mostly out of the limelight. When that privacy was unexpectedly and unnecessarily shattered by events beyond his control, exacerbated by irresponsible press coverage, Tony’s family and friends created this website to provide balance and truth. It celebrates his lovely existence.
See if you don’t agree that this picture of Tony is one of beautiful imperfection, rich in character, and rendered over a lifetime of triumphs and tragedies, dreams and reality, merriment and sacrifice, trial and error, but always with the essence of the heart.
The frightening part of this is how that effect perpetuates a process that could otherwise be quickly revealed, and curtailed, for its insubstantial and mistaken basis. Public resources are wasted and the innocent are prosecuted--sometimes even convicted--when there are so few advocates willing to set aside fear to publicly express faith in a person whose goodness they know, while so many strangers stand eager to condemn. We would remind those latter individuals that authority does not equate to infallibility, and that "innocence until proven guilty" is a precious Democratic concept that they can only hope never becomes the last bastion preventing their own false imprisonment.
The changing and expanding content of this site will reflect our attempts at improvement over time, as well as the progress of Tony’s fight. This is not a general forum—we do not feel a need to air or respond to presumptuous and uninformed condemnation. This website, however home-grown, is our sincere effort to provide an accurate view of the quintessentially true Anthony B. Cardiel.
For those sympathetic to this cause we have provided a means
of contributing to Tony’s Legal Defense Fund. Tony has been wrongly targeted due to the inappropriate actions of others and we believe there can be no
just conclusion to the false accusations besides complete exoneration. In Tony's case this will require resources not currently
available to him or his family. Donations in any amount will be used to
build a support network and to provide the defense Tony's detractors may have hoped would not materialize. Identities will be kept confidential unless a
contributor wishes to go on the record as being a "Tony Supporter."
Moral support is also solicited during this emotionally trying time.
Comments, anecdotes, and/or photographs submitted in support of Tony will be considered for
posting on this website as requested.
What we lack in experience and voice we will strive to make up in love, determination, and righteousness, as well as with the contributions of all who find it in their hearts to help.
