Admiration for JU, Scorn for the Media

Published on April 17, 2007 By Dr Guy In Current Events

By now, we have all heard about the senseless tragedy that occurred at Va. Tech (or VPISU if you want the official name). For most of us here on JU, it was something that the 24 hour news services had to play over and over and over again, even when there was nothing new to report. That is not new (or news) as we have come to expect it, and most at JU could escape it by simply turning off the 24 hour News Channels.

Not so in the Old Dominion, where we are subject to that coverage not only on all the regular news media outlets (CNN, Fox, MSNBC), but our local TV and Radio stations as well. Tech is the largest school in Virginia, and there is hardly anyone in the state that does not know someone, or is related to someone, who goes there, myself included.

Several articles have been posted on JU about it, and with almost no exceptions, all have been reverent and respectful of those who lost their lives, and the families that lost loved ones. There is a lot of anger in those articles, no doubt about that. But that anger is directed towards the media and the blame game that started up almost before the shooting ended. An anger that is, IMHO, justified at the vultures of the media.

It seems that the MSM has redefined its job. Not just to report the news, but to assign itself the role of Nation conscious, and watchdog. Along with Judge, Jury and Executioner. They long ago stopped reporting the tragedy, and have sunk into a morass of finger pointing, blame flaming, and cries of outrage that "Someone" or "something" was not done to prevent this from occurring. When sane, rational people can only feel sorrow and empathy for the victims of this event.

I was discussing this with a friend this morning. And in that, I remarked that I was so glad my son and daughter were not at Tech (one goes to the other University in Virginia - the other wont be there for 4 months). He stated it could have happened anywhere. Yes it could have, but that was not my point. It did happen at Tech, and I was not one of the 25,000 families that could not function yesterday worrying about if their loved one was among the victims.

It could have happened anywhere. And sadly, probably will at some time in the future happen somewhere else. And that is the real lesson that we are learning from this tragedy. It has happened elsewhere, both in the USA and in other countries. As we have seen and heard, no place is safe from demented people with a mission. And nothing can be done to stop such people in a society that is open and free.

But when it does happen, we can act like the vultures of the press - looking for a body to blame and descend upon. Or we can act like the people of JU. Mourning the loss, and offering moral support and comfort to the victims and their families.

The latter is what I am proud of at JU today (and yesterday). The former is why I have no respect for what constitutes the Mainstream Media today.

Comments (Page 2)

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Apr 19, 2007

But when they started hounding the survivors on "whose fault it was", was when I shut the off.

Well it's obvious...it was the shooter. But as soon as I heard all the news reports right from the get go I knew this was going to turn into law suit city. The media immediately went into the "who is to blame" for this murderous outrage and all fingers were pointing to the University instead of the one totally responsible.

No matter what precautions are taken, there's no getting around somebody intent on hurting others. If it isn't a dorm or a classroom, it would be a restaurant, a bus, a sporting event, etc. Putting the blame on the institution instead of the gunman only aggravates the situation and could actually open up another whole road we don't want to go down.

Dr Guy

on Apr 20, 2007

No matter what precautions are taken, there's no getting around somebody intent on hurting others.

Not in an open and free society. By its very nature, any open society is vulnerable to crazy people.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Apr 20, 2007

Not in an open and free society. By its very nature, any open society is vulnerable to crazy people.

But is it just limited to open and free? I just heard recently that in Japan some official was shot and murdered and I'm thinking they have the toughest gun laws in the world don't they?

And look at Iraq. I wouldn't call that open and free and Saddam was a mad man himself...he and his buddies were all mad. They just happened to be in power at the same time.

But he sure looked wild and insane to me.

Dr Guy

on Apr 20, 2007

But is it just limited to open and free? I just heard recently that in Japan some official was shot and murdered and I'm thinking they have the toughest gun laws in the world don't they?

You are confusing totalitarianism with laws. All societies have laws, and all are different. Japan is still an open and free society (and a much more homogenous one than the US). They have a law banning guns. That does not make them a closed dictatorship.

bakerstreet

on Apr 28, 2007

The excuse I read was that when the first two murders were discovered that they thought it was an isolated murder suicide. Then, later, they admitted that the same gun that was used in the later killings was used in the first two. Think about that for a bit.

How could it be a murder suicide if you don't have the murder weapon? Did the person who killed themselves hide the weapon afterward? While the final responsibility rests with the killer, the campus should have been locked down. People should have been warned. Period.

Maybe it would have saved lives, maybe it wouldn't have. The fact is, though, that something that could have been done wasn't. Our sensitivity to the overall abuse of the situation shouldn't give negligent people a pass.

"Japan is still an open and free society (and a much more homogenous one than the US)."

Har, har. Japan's system is "guilty until proven innocent", and I've read they have a 99% conviction rate. Basically if you are accused, you are guilty. If you want to call that a free and open society, whatever, I don't. Their gun laws are draconian, as well. IF you are fortunate enough to get through the red tape and own a gun, even your ammunition is rationed to you and registered.

Never been a problem for criminals there, though.

Dr Guy

on Apr 29, 2007

I was not commenting on their law, or how it works. only that just the day after Tech, a gun crime was committed where guns are BANNED. So gun control did not stop that murderer.

the campus should have been locked down. People should have been warned. Period.

Locking down the campus is unfeasible. Warned? Sure, in hind sight that is a no brainer. But I am not going to blame Campus security for failing to realize what was going on immediately after the first shootings.

bakerstreet

on May 02, 2007

"Locking down the campus is unfeasible."

If you knew about the issue at hand you'd know that isn't true. They had a system in place, as do most schools, and it has been used only a short time before when there was an escaped convict on campus there. They opted not to use it this time, some say because they felt it was overblown the time before.

"Sure, in hind sight that is a no brainer. But I am not going to blame Campus security for failing to realize what was going on immediately after the first shootings."

Not hindsight. Policy. What is a no brainer is when you have two dead people found shot, and no murder weapon, it probably isn't a murder suicide. If Barney hadn't been working that day, people might have been more alert and ready for the second attacks.

You aren't willing to blame because you are being dragged along with this 'don't dare criticize anyone but the shooter' mentality that is prevelent now. In the end, sure, he's to blame, but when people who are tasked with security don't do their job, they should be held accountable for it.

It doesn't mean he wouldn't have done it anyway, only that they should have done their job. I worked campus security at a private school in TN for 4 years. People just need to have the balls to ask questions when everyone else is swaying and holding candles.

shadesofgrey

on May 02, 2007

What is a no brainer is when you have two dead people found shot, and no murder weapon, it probably isn't a murder suicide.

I find it weird that they are saying that they thought it was a murder-suicide when they were questing the girl's boyfriend who attended nearby Radford. I don't know the accuracy, but what I have heard is that they thought it was an isolated incident of domestic violence. That seems feasible to me--but I do agree Baker, that if they thought it was a murder-suicide they have some explaining to do.

Dr Guy

on May 02, 2007

If you knew about the issue at hand you'd know that isn't true.

If you had read the facts, you would know it was true. The perp did his own lock down. Locking doors were no hindrance for him since he chained them shut. Given the student body and the fact that more than 40% live off campus, even if they had locked all the doors (again, nice try but a pipe dream), and the perp had decided that a locked door was going to stop him, that would still leave about 11,000 targets coming on or going off campus. He "only" killed 30 after the first 2. He had plenty of victims to choose from.

Dr Guy

on May 02, 2007

that if they thought it was a murder-suicide they have some explaining to do.

Explaining? Sure. There are too many inconsistencies with that diagnosis. But again after the fact. The sad fact is that campus Police are not Columbos. In many cases they are not much better than keystone cops (as anyone who has been on a college campus will attest). So in the initial perusal, they blew the call. And many would like to know why and how. But again, I am not going to crucify them because they failed to recognize something they had no experience with. Indeed, no one had the experience to recognize what was to come.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on May 03, 2007

But again, I am not going to crucify them because they failed to recognize something they had no experience with. Indeed, no one had the experience to recognize what was to come.

ya, it's really easy to play Monday morning quarterbacks here but in all reality this is NOT a common occurrance and one they had never encountered before. I'm sure they are all saying they would have done things differently no matter what they did.

I just got back from Liberty University in VA. My son is a journalist major. He was supposed to go to a mandatory mock Press Conference that was scheduled for May 3. This Press Conference was to be attended not only by the journalist majors but also the Professionals were coming in as well. During this time some sort of tragedy was supposed to happen. My son just found out that the tragedy was going to be a school shooting. This had been planned months in advanced with everyone involved having a bit part to play to make this as realistic as possible.

They canceled this event in lieu of what happened to their sister college. The students had no idea themselves what tragedy was going to take place. It was supposed to be a surprise to see how they handled the pressure and put into action the skills they had been taught over the last couple of years.

While I was down there, I noticed many articles from the V-Tech students themselves. They had faith in their administrators and stood behind them. I did not see the finger pointing that I see from those of us on the outside.

Dr Guy

on May 03, 2007

While I was down there, I noticed many articles from the V-Tech students themselves. They had faith in their administrators and stood behind them. I did not see the finger pointing that I see from those of us on the outside.

It is sad about the exercise that your son was to participate in, but understandable. I think most would not want to - at this point at least - be a second guesser to something so fresh and close.

As for the students, yes they are. But in the end, a hand full (out of the 25,000) will start the lawsuit dance. In these situations, it is never the majority, but a very public and loud minority, that gets played up big time by a muck raking press. I expect those lawsuits to start by mid-summer, with the belly achers complaining not about actual injuries, but of PST and other intangible maladies.

shadesofgrey

on May 03, 2007

Apparently, I wasn't very clear, or else you missed the big IF in my statement.

I find the idea that they even thought it was a murder suicide to be suspect. It doesn't seem to be consistent with the other actions that they were taking that day (ie, interviewing the boyfriend) nor with any of the immediate reports that I heard that morning.

However, IF they did say this, then then should explain. But, I don't think that they did. Furthermore, for what they thought happened (an isolated domestic violence situation), I think they took an acceptable course of action.

bakerstreet

on May 03, 2007

I don't believe they thought that at all. It was an oversight not to inform the campus and have the buildings secured and people out looking for trouble. To cover it, they came up with some bull about domestic violence. Now, people are too PC to even question the bull.

Dr Guy

on May 04, 2007

To cover it, they came up with some bull about domestic violence. Now, people are too PC to even question the bull.

I dont see a coverup, and indeed, it is the antipathy of PC to NOT question the bull. The PC of the modern press is not to understand that events beyond our experiences are often met with indecision and wrong moves, but to immediately start in on the monday morning QBing and call for the cruxifiction of anyone who was not blessed with omniscience and therefore must be to blame for the events that happened. Absolving of course the animal(s) that actually did the deed.

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