If you could choose to feel the same amount of grief at every violent or tragic death, would you? Would you choose to feel a constant drip of sorrow that never increased even at the untimely loss of a loved one?

No, I don’t think so. Clearly every death, and every tragic event is different. And there are many reasons why certain people feel more for the loss at VA Tech than in Iraq — cultural dissimilarities, inability to identify, geographic separation, lack of kinship and friendship ties, shock and surprise… I’m sure you could list a bunch more, just as I’m sure that most Iraqis feel less grief over this tragedy than the tragedies in their country every day.

I suggest, if you don’t want to elicit the “F U” response from those not predisposed to your position, that you stop denying the differences that are so obvious, and start explaining why they should not mean a difference in our sense of purpose to prevent future loss. An uncharitable reader would see your words as an attempt to co-opt our grief as anger towards George Bush’s foreign policy. And even a charitable auditor could read Jonation’s words as an indictment of anyone who feels particularly sympathetic towards the VA Tech tragedy.

No TV for me, either. It makes me angry. I’m dropping radio today, too. That’s after I listened to Laura Ingram explain yesterday that both Charlottesville and Blacksburg are part of the Bible belt, both conservative Christian towns, and thus it was inappropriate and quasi-terroristic to have an Islamic prayer at the convocation.

regarding the ensuing press coverage: much like the world trade center bombing in 2001, i’m really glad i don’t own a TV right now. just reading about what happened in an AP report is hard enough; i really don’t think I could handle TV news falling over themselves in a competition to see who can produce the most obscene coverage of this tragedy over and over again.

We finally agree! I’m real sorry about your alma mater’s tragedy. Best Wishes.

I think you missed the Hokie experience. While I was there we had a longing to be more like Texas A&M and develop some traditions. Well, those have developed. Tech has a collective conscience and I find it almost impossible to believe if a student wanted to feel like he belonging he could not find it. There are more than 300 student groups, 90 majors. Tech is huge but can also feel warm and friendly like old friends sharing stories because people at Tech care about everyone meshing together to be part of the greater collective whole.

Where is your burnt orange and harvard maroon son! You look like an outsider.

That photo isn’t of me, though I can see that, given the text that follows, that’s not obvious. I photographed him because he looked like an outsider, but also because he looked like he was bearing a burden that was written on the faces of few others in the crowd.

I’m a Hokie, and a longtime Blacksburg townie. Let me take a stab at the Hokie Nation thing. Tech is unique amongst Virginia universities and most other universities.

1)Setting: VT is located in a small town in the most remote corner of the state on a 2000 ft. mountain plateau, surrounded on three sides by national forest with a natural beauty little changed in the last 100 years. An American Heritage River, the New River tumbles down from North Carolina Blue Ridge and flows west of the campus. If you want cosmopolitan stay in town, if you want nature, walk out Toms Creek Road. There are a handful of university settings like it, none in Virginia.

2)Value: Tech offers a high quality education at a good price. The university is gaining widespread recognition for the quality of that education, but thrifty education shoppers have known this since before the days of the GI bill, when veterans lived in shanties where Cassell Coliseum now stands. The appreciation grows with time and experience.

3)Community: Tech is a blue-collar university. Our motto; “Ut Prosim” (That I May Serve) depicts our education, our discipline, and our heritage. Sure we have rich kids, and trustfunders, but we don’t know why they came here. For the most part, our families share a common experience, work ethic, and financial means. Capability is valued above social position.

4)Small Town: Blacksburg is Virginia’s largest town. But it is still a town. The motto “Citizens First” is real. Townies have a sense of control and involvement in the affairs of Blacksburg. The mayor, council members, and town staff are accessible on a first name basis, and most have direct connections to Virginia Tech. We love the youthful exuberance that springs eternal from the students. The town attracts faculty, and retains capable graduates.

5)Experience: VT is at least half day drive from the front door of most student’s home. Which means you can’t commute, you have to find your own way – beyond your parent’s hover. You will bond with other students and share the same experience. You will live in a safe community (Blacksburg)that revolves around the education experience. You will come of age.

6)The campus: Compact, with inspiring Gothic-style dolomite stone buildings – Virginia Tech is an expensive gift from a hopeful Commonwealth to affirm a commitment to the aspirations of founder Thomas Jefferson when he endorsed “general education, to enable every man to judge for himself what will secure or endanger his freedom”. We are real damn thankful. And we are real sad.

– ex-republican

– ex-republican

I can’t understand why CNN shows those same dumb clips; that heavy set police officer running down the street with an automatic weapon again, or cadets walking along the sidewalk, or a police woman jumping out of a police car, over and over and over. The mindless commentary makes a mockery of this tragedy.

I wonder, is this the kind of coverage that Americans really want to see?

This post (not mine) from TheSabre.com – a UVA sports website – describes what I mean.

http://www.thesabre.com/message_board/general/2007/April/18/512765.php