hush money

The Commonwealth of Virginia along with Virginia Tech are offering the families of those killed in last year's tragedy $100,000 each. there is so much wrong with all this that i have trouble knowing where to begin.

ok, deep breath.... hows this start? someone is afraid of being sued and usually people respond to money, right? and it is true that 20 families have filed a notice that they may sue over the way the whole thing was handled. mostly that more than 2 hours elapsed between the first murder and the later classroom rampage. and that in this time the University and authorities did nothing to safeguard the campus and community.

ok, so i can see how people would be pissed. i can see that the state and university would want to avoid a long and probably costly suit. but who comes up with $100,000? how can you say to a family that your child, your brother, your sister is worth $100,000? i think that i would be insulted. do these people have no concept of the value of human life? and what do they propose to give the friends and girlfriends and boyfriends?

if i was on the receiving end of this offer i would be more inclined to sue than without the offer. i think the best thing for Gov Tim Kaine to do would be to meet personally with every family and offer his sincerest apologies. that goes for University leaders, police chiefs, sheriffs, anyone involved or in some way responsible for the decision that caused the loss of life. i would be far more like to accept a sincere apology than a cash payout that is essentially a bribe.

ultimately the responsibility for the deaths of those students doesnt fall on the state or the university or law enforcement. the responsiblity falls on Seung-Hui Cho. and if youre looking for a living culprit, look at those who allowed him to buy guns. those who released and obviously troubled person from their care. perhaps the state is responsible in that way, but thats not how this payoff looks, at least to me. it looks like hush money. it looks like a bribe. it looks dirty and cheap.

if my brother was killed in such a tragedy, and the government offered me $100,000 not to sue. i would say 'fuck off unless you can bring my brother back. your piddly cash cant make me feel right again. it cant bring back the brother i lost. and i wont let you clear your conscience by accepting a bribe. live with it. deal with it. i have to with or without your dirty money.'

and finally, arent they admitting that they were wrong by offering this money? isnt that just telling a lawyer that they did something wrong? if you wanted money to make up for your loss wouldnt you want the most you could get? and dont you think that you could get a lot more from a jury than a $100,000?

to those families who have received this offer: i hope that you take the high ground and tell them to fuck off if only to make them twist in the wind and feel like shit. and if you want the money, the fucking take some money. make it really hurt. but remember, when you sue the state, you sue your neighbors, you sue your friends, you sue yourself.