Tragic Story in Broadlands Last Night

We used to have a politics thread. This would be better there -- maybe this thread has just gotten too insane that it needs not only to be closed down but DELETED. Admin: is that possible??? Please?

In the meantime, please think about this: The families of the kids don't need to see these attacks. I'm so used to killer's fundamentalist rants and smythla's oh-so-run-of-the-mill Republican dogma that I've been quiet for a while (and too busy with work). However, what is really scary is knowing that the pain and anguish that they are heaping on these families is just what Bible-thumpers and right-wingers believe. (Bible in one hand, shotgun in the other! Yeehaw!) That is what makes the GOP so dangerous and vicious!

(LUVMYRED: On a personal note, welcome to the forum. You will find some of the most closed-minded, hate-filled, insensitive, uncaring, and illogical idealogues here -- you know, just your general run-of-the mill GOPers. There are a few of us, though, that the Lo. Co. GOP hasn't found and exported (like so many American's jobs). I hope your house has an alarm and your front yard is not prone to cross-burnings.)

Now, with all of that said, could we please get back to the good discussions we used to have...like:

- Getting drunk at Clydes (what we all want to do just to tick off killer)
- Buying alcohol at the ABC (again to tick off killer)
- Buying a mattress at Mattress Discounters (i can't remember if this one ticks off killer or stephanie--i'm sure neither one would like anyone to have FUN on a mattress!)
- Griping about the brain-cramp inducing color of the BEAST behind Circle K
- Politing sniping at the HOA's follies

 

Nice that Mercedes Lover doesn't have a monopoly on ridiculous generalizations. Nothing like grouping half the country into one category:

 

I agree that this thread is not the proper place for a debate on the social and financial policies of the political parties. However, the ad hominin attacks on Republicans and Christians are ridiculous. If killer_bee and those who share here calloused view of the kids and their parents are members of either group (and I am not sure they are) they do not represent the principles either the GOP or Christianity stands for. I am a former chairman of the Loudoun County Young Republicans and ran in the GOP primary for the Dulles School Board seat in 1999. I am also a Christian.

So go back and read my posts in this topic. Obviously I can't be either a Christian or GOP since I don't seem to fit into your exaggerated cartoonish characterization of the right.

 

chris - WAH WAH WAH. Gore still lost! Your anti-republic drivel is getting blase. Do you HAVE to bring it up in almost every single thread you post??? Get used to the idea that Republicans will be in power every now and then just as the Democrats will be.

I for one do not whine and [Edited by Moderator] every time a Democrat is office, far from it since I DO vote for Dems from time-to-time. You seem to ONLY focus on the fact that ALL Republicans are bad people.

To me, people like you and RED who have no tolerance for a group of people (Republicans) are nothing more than just a different breed of RACISTS!

Get over it already.... BOTH parties do good things and both do bad! Exercise your constitutional right and try to affect cange. If you are not successful, then be a good American and support you president and country.

Have a Patriotic day everyone! "AMERICAN" Bob

Edite for my lack of speeelling and tipoing sckills

 

Little late in responding, but for what its worth . . .

When we first moved here I was so excited about living in a community with a message forum where I could get to know my neighbors. Now, I WANT OUT OF THIS PLACE!!!

I can not bear to live in a community where people would rather judge their neighbors than lend a helping hand or shoulder to cry on. Especially in times of crisis and tragedy. I am sure that people like this exist outside of Broadlands, but I prefer to pretend that they do not. I am ill over this.

Thank goodness I was not here on 9/11 because there was probably some good honor student who skipped school for the first time every and was on the subway when the twin towers were struck. I bet some on this board would've determined that he deserved it because he was doing something illegal, and that his parents were to blame for his death because they did not prevent him from skipping school.

How dare we judge. We speak of teaching our children right from wrong and listening to them. Well, you all heard from one of them and what did you do -- you judged her too. And then you criticized others for praising her braveness in speaking out. I don't have kids yet (I have a dog that I clean up after - does that make me a good neighbor?), but I sure hope I don't act that way when I do.

 

Skipping school doesn't kill other people.

A parent who hands over the keys to an underage driver who doesn't even have a learner's permit is certainly not teaching right from wrong.

A grandparent who gives a grandchild a private basement apartment and doesn't have a clue that there are drugs and guns down there isn't teaching right from wrong either.

 

SMYTHLA. I have tried long and hard to be polite and civil towards you and others in this discussion. However, your complete lack of class and inability to utter anything other than commentary that borderlines on the bizzare is making that really difficult.

1. Last time I checked no one has stated publicly or privately that the parents of the 15 year old gave him the keys. You are making an assumption based on your self-righteous bias towards the parents. Amazingly you can't seem to follow the logic that maybe the parents loaned the truck to one of the other two kids who had license.

2. The comparison between the shooting and the accident is asinine. I won't even begin to address the monumental differences between the two situations.

I think we all get it by now. You are perfect. Your kids are perfect. The rest of us are horrible people who deserve to die as a result of our actions. Thank you for clearing that up.

 

OPEN LETTER TO ALL OF YOU "PERFECT/GODLY PEOPLE" WHO HAVE GRACED BROADLANDS WITH YOUR PRESENCE....

Since the folks who live here are obviously not nearly as rightious and perfect as you ... I have a solution...

MOVE...
I hear there are some very nice compounds out in Montana that have some vacancies.

The lack of compassion towards the families of these children is sickening. What kind of people ARE you.

And as for your faith giving you the right to look down your nose and judge others, I believe Ghandi said it best ....

"Christianity is a wonderful concept ... too bad no one has gotten it right yet"

 

Wow...

 

I'm sorry to burst open like that ... but I have been following this silently, and just couldn't take it any more

 

Young driver could teach a hard lesson
By John Neumann, Ashburn
Loudoun Times Mirror
04/06/2004


I am writing today as a concerned citizen and parent of Ashburn teenagers. My daughter, now 19 and attending Clarion University in Pennsylvania, graduated from Stone Bridge High School last year.


My son was in the 10th grade at Stone Bridge until mid-February when he decided to relocate to Ashland and live with his mother. Both were active students at Stone Bridge, and particularly so in the mini-family known as the Drama Club. Both were members of the Thespian Society. Both were good friends of Nick Pendola and Tony Cibelli-Mason, and my son was a friend of the young driver until he moved.


As a parent I attended the funeral service Thursday night for Nick and Tony, as much to support my children (both had returned home to attend the funeral and grieve with their friends over the loss of these two fine young men), as well as to express in some small way my sympathy to the families.

During the service, my kids naturally gravitated toward their friends. I sat away from the family and friend seating area. Little did I know that this would place me in a unique position – across aisle from the young driver and his parents.

I am almost a senior citizen, and in my entire life I have never witnessed such sorrow and grief as I did last night as the young driver sat in his wheelchair, surrounded by his mother and father. He could not contain his sorrow and remorse for the bad decisions that caused us all to gather at that church in Ashburn.

While his tears did not stop flowing during the entire ceremony, he became emotionally overwrought when, at the end of the ceremony, the Pendola and Mason families began to exit the church and stopped to comfort this young boy, who will forever carry the burden that these deaths have brought him and the families of his two best friends. He could only sob and accept the hugs from the families, and gasp under his breath, “I am sorry, I am so sorry.” This scene will stay with me the rest of my life.

I know that there are legal consequences for the bad decisions that surround the events of last Saturday, and I know that the legal process has to play out. This is part of the burden that the young driver must also bear for the rest of his life.

But my question is what greater penalty can he possibly pay?

I think this young man would be a perfect candidate to talk with other youngsters at the ceremony when each receives a driver's license.

I believe with my heart that these kids need to hear this young driver’s story. They need to hear from him about what led to that fatal decision, that fatal drive, that unforgettable hole in his heart. They need to feel his grief and pain as I did.

Let the punishment that the state and county decide be appropriate and lead to positive results for him. As a community service, let him speak to his peers.