tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post4735193180758553322..comments2023-08-18T10:14:37.977-05:00Comments on WhenEvilProspers: John Washburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182558340478176184noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-34946451714462082322007-05-01T05:56:00.000-05:002007-05-01T05:56:00.000-05:00Yes, the problem is that bad people do bad things....Yes, the problem is that bad people do bad things. And those bad people are armed, and the good ones are not. And it's because those good people follow the law. And the law says no guns. So the good people die. Is that justice?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-63600638671468458322007-04-29T22:26:00.000-05:002007-04-29T22:26:00.000-05:00Well Robert, not everyone thinks that way. I am go...Well Robert, not everyone thinks that way. I am going to be a teacher, I have always wanted to be a teacher, and I will not ever be armed in my classroom. The problem is not that teachers are not armed, the problem is that bad people do bad things, such as what happened at V.T. So many people say, well if this were the case, or if that were the case...the fact is that everyone was doing just what they were supposed to be doing and a tragedy occurred. Unfortunately, that's the world we live in.Allisoni Ballonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08608708376641239168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-78164924581689822002007-04-29T20:48:00.000-05:002007-04-29T20:48:00.000-05:00Allisoni, a while back you said we shouldn't be ar...Allisoni, a while back you said we shouldn't be armed 'cause it isn't "legal." I've said this before when arguing about guns. I don't CARE what's legal. I'd rather be alive and have broken a law by shooting a psychopath in self-defense than be dead because I followed a stupid law.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-23482843093692024872007-04-28T10:22:00.000-05:002007-04-28T10:22:00.000-05:00Okay, John, I understand now. How about this...le...Okay, John, I understand now. How about this...let's incorporate all college campuses into the city they inhabit. Then, the local police department (and state officers if needed)can patrol and enforce the law on campus rather than some two-bit campus cops who lack the experience, training, and resources when compared to the police department. <BR/><BR/>Thay way, the officers employed would be certified with law enforcement academy standards specifically designed for these types of situations rather than some criminal justice student getting a few work study hours as a campus cop. I believe the response time would have been much more efficient under that plan instead of informing everyone AFTER the shootings occurred that there was a gunman on the loose.<BR/><BR/>That may require some political wrangling but it's been my opinion for many years. How's that? <BR/>--DeanoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-31158132976639147702007-04-27T19:09:00.000-05:002007-04-27T19:09:00.000-05:00Who was supposed to stop him? The students did not...Who was supposed to stop him? The students did not know what was going on until people were already dead. It is also not the job of the students to take down security threats. Certainly if someone steps up, amazing, good for them. But the mentality in this type of situation is to save yourself and survive--it's natural instinct. For those who are brave ans selfless enough to make a difference, great. But in a life or death situation I don't know how you can put any blame on the students.<BR/><BR/>Do you have children? Would you advise them to confront an armed murderer if the same thing were to happen on their campus?Allisoni Ballonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08608708376641239168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-72046462023207958652007-04-27T18:38:00.000-05:002007-04-27T18:38:00.000-05:00Again, no one seems to have an answer for the ques...Again, no one seems to have an answer for the question I posed. I'm asking the same thing the families are asking, if not to the media then certainly to themselves. Why didn't someone try to stop him?<BR/><BR/>The only thing I hear from you is that the kids were scared. Fair enough. My answer is that today's college generation lacks the fortitude to confront evil. This has nothing to do with Virginia Tech, nor its students. I feel the same thing would have happened at Georgia Tech, Cal Tech or even Texas Tech. You take issue with my conclusion. Fine. But I have brought up a profound issue that I feel deserves discussion, not criticism for the fact that I brought it up.<BR/><BR/>And Dean, if it's not OK to allow evil people to do evil things then why attack me for taking issue with it in this scenario. Are you not taking the same position I am? How about if your child were there? Would you not be asking the very same questions I'm asking?John Washburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04182558340478176184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-59965767047235189782007-04-27T12:50:00.000-05:002007-04-27T12:50:00.000-05:00The answer to your question is no. It is not okay ...The answer to your question is no. It is not okay to allow evil acts to be done by evil people. If the gunman hadn't offed himself, he would've been held accountable for his actions. And a message of "mission accomplished" would not have been exclaimed until THOSE WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE for the evil acts had been arrested.--DeanoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-45301635980493724312007-04-27T06:01:00.000-05:002007-04-27T06:01:00.000-05:00"Dean, tell me, is it OK to allow evil people to d..."Dean, tell me, is it OK to allow evil people to do evil things because you are scared and too afraid to confront them? Or because you may be overmatched?"<BR/><BR/>No one - no one - has suggested that. In fact, quite the opposite. We must always always always stand opposed to evil.<BR/><BR/>What I and I think the others are saying is that, to criticize the dead and the survivors for a lack of heroism in a case like this is gauche - in poor taste. No one knows for sure what they'd do in a situation like this. <BR/><BR/>If you were there, maybe you'd have only wet your pants and cried like a baby, you don't really know 'til you get in a given situation. But it would be rude and awful of me to tease you for having wet your pants (if that's what you did) after the fact.<BR/><BR/>Can we not praise the teacher for his heroism without damning the dead and survivors?Dan Trabuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00019224997786558005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-62902289204749941432007-04-26T23:58:00.000-05:002007-04-26T23:58:00.000-05:00My comment was completely about the shootings at V...My comment was completely about the shootings at Virginia Tech. My point was that until you are in that situation and are the miraculous heroic one standing up to the killer, you do not have any place criticizing those who did not. I completely honor those who have died fighting in this war. More importantly, I support bringing them home so that no more of them have to die. You will argue that that is not supporting them, but do you know any military families that value the outcome of the war more than they value the life of their loved one? I know several families and I can guarantee that not losing life is more important to them.<BR/><BR/>I do not support disarming all people, but I definitely do not support arming teachers as you suggest.Allisoni Ballonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08608708376641239168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-66847315042230586412007-04-26T21:28:00.000-05:002007-04-26T21:28:00.000-05:00For the record, I am currently active duty US Air ...For the record, I am currently active duty US Air Force and have been for the past 6 years. It's not much, especially compared to what others do, but it is (in my opinion) service. I may not get my hands dirty much, but I do serve.<BR/><BR/>At least I respect those who do "get their hands dirty". At least I respect the effort they're trying to put forth without doing what I can to undermine it.<BR/><BR/>Let's see you stand a post in Baghdad while US Senators strengthen your enemy by calling your cause "lost". Let's see you mingle with the Iraqis while protestors back home validate the enemy's claim that you represent an oil-hungry imperialist crusade.<BR/><BR/>It's easy to sit behind a computer and be anti-war and anti-gun. It's easy to call the war illegal without regard for those who died fighting it. <BR/><BR/>What's this have to do with the Virginia shooting? Evil is evil. You criticize for confronting it abroad, and give a pass for not confronting it at home. Do you people have any interest in protecting what's precious to you? That's the whole point of this post. Evil people are going to do evil things. Either we hide under our desks and wait for our turn or we fight back - is there any other choice when the moment comes? By the comments here, I'm finding which way you all would go. <BR/><BR/>And I suppose, by your statement, you would support disarming all Americans. Then who would protect people like you and your "right" to criticize people like me when the bad guys show up fully armed and you're hiding under your desk?<BR/><BR/>When evil knocks on your door, Allison, who do want standing beside you? Me or Dean?John Washburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04182558340478176184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-85428182381962720412007-04-26T19:56:00.000-05:002007-04-26T19:56:00.000-05:00The only solution that I saw you propose is to be ...The only solution that I saw you propose is to be armed. That isn't legal. Let's watch YOU be caught in the middle of a shooting rampage with no real way to defend yourself or anyone else. It's easy to sit behind a computer and criticize people you don't even know. It's easy to sit behind a computer be pro-war and pro-guns, and never have to actually get your hands dirty and make a difference yourself.Allisoni Ballonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08608708376641239168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-80476308850723523542007-04-26T17:54:00.000-05:002007-04-26T17:54:00.000-05:00"Those were scared, unarmed, college kids going up..."Those were scared, unarmed, college kids going up against an armed psychopathe"<BR/><BR/>Dean, tell me, is it OK to allow evil people to do evil things because you are scared and too afraid to confront them? Or because you may be overmatched? Is it OK to allow that?<BR/><BR/>The answer to this may give me a lot of insight about how the Left views the war on terror.John Washburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04182558340478176184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-55814569306219235012007-04-26T17:39:00.000-05:002007-04-26T17:39:00.000-05:00I mention a point worthy of discussion and bring a...I mention a point worthy of discussion and bring attention to a simple fact - that is, that no one other than a 76 year old man tried to stop this gunman - and I ask why? Neither one of you choose to engage the debate but rather criticize me for pointing out the facts. Is that all you have to bring to the table? I know it's typical for progressives to criticize the messenger when they have no response to the message. Is that what's going on here?<BR/><BR/>Dean, many scared kids this age have died in our history fighting for and defending either their families, their lives, their homes or their country. There isn't a single one who wasn't scared in the process.<BR/><BR/>And it's interesting how you take such offense at my criticism of this, yet are perfectly OK with calling Iraq a lost cause or an illegal war - never mind those who died for that cause. I guess some things are sacred to you guys as long as it doesn't involve the US military.John Washburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04182558340478176184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-85680234573583144502007-04-26T07:14:00.000-05:002007-04-26T07:14:00.000-05:00I'm leaning towards Dan on this one, John. You me...I'm leaning towards Dan on this one, John. You mention two different times that you're not here to bash the victims but if not, why mention it twice? Those were scared, unarmed, college kids going up against an armed psychopathe. <BR/><BR/>If they had any forewarning that a gunman was on the loose from the two hours between shootings, maybe others would've responded differently. --DeanoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-38783702426137852772007-04-26T06:10:00.000-05:002007-04-26T06:10:00.000-05:00I agree with you that reasonable gun controls ough...I agree with you that reasonable gun controls ought to be in place and don't have much of a problem in theory with others having the option of packing heat.<BR/><BR/>I disagree with you where you say, "I'm not here to bash the victims" and then proceed to do so. Shame on you.Dan Trabuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00019224997786558005noreply@blogger.com