STFU Ron Paul. STFU now!

18 Apr
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I graduated from Virginia Tech in 1996. I also lived in West Ambler Johnston dormitory, the site of the first two homicides. My connection to this tragedy gives me exactly zero insight, which is exactly how much I can add to the dialogue. A vastly unhappy and disturbed person went crazy and killed a bunch of innocent people. What could I possibly say that would help make any more sense out of it? I don’t know what this says about human nature. I have no idea what the victims’ families must be going through right now. And I have no talent for soothing words in the face of something so completely messed up.

The only thing I do know is that the absolute bare minimum of respect for people’s emotions is to not politicize the moment. If you want to have a rational debate about gun rights I’m all for it. But now is not the time. You filthy, soulless, black-hearted bastard.

UPDATE: I normally have a strict rule against ad hominem attacks on this site and I apologize for my transgression.  But Im pretty upset about this, so the link stays. 

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Camster1177 (not verified)Fri, 2007-05-04 15:50

Re: STFU Ron Paul. STFU now!

No one is making a political issue out of it. It is ALREADY a political issue. It is in OUR faces and should be discussed while it's nice and raw. The fact it is raw makes no difference to me. In my opinion at least now, Middle America is dealing with the same baggage Americans in lower socio economic demographics in major cities deal with regularly - so perhaps now, while emotions are raw, people may start to give a shit about the issue at hand. Do you know how many kids I knew through programs I have run with under-served urban youth in NYC who died before their 18th mother fucking birthdays? 6!!!!! It I always the same - Americans either don't fucking care or they are gun nuts until their kids are gunned down and it hits close to home; THEIR homes. We live with this shit in major American cities like New York and Los Angeles on a daily basis - whether through drive by shootings, gang homicides or just daily gun related violence as a result of addiction and other social issues.

Why is it that a mass shooting where 10, 20 or 30 kids or young adults take bullets at the same tragedy more news worthy then 30 kids taking bullets in the South Bronx, East LA and South central over a week, every week - at thousands per year? I don't give two shits about their feelings. I choose to bring this up on behalf of the voices ignored because middle-upper class America can't relate, therefore doesn’t give two shits.

Also, If people want to vilify anyone from benefiting from this - go after the media - who make make a national headline off of the dean taking a shit or wiping his ass - and beats these stories to the point of serious overkill. The Media is profiting from it - not a politician who wants to use this, while its fresh, as a means to get a political point across.

Fuck feelings! We let these gun nuts rein havoc while they hide behind amendments that don't actually make specific reference to guns as their "right" while kids are getting gunned down in major American cities on a daily mother fucking basis and urban communities are screaming for gun control on deaf ears because middle America is so caught up in its own superficiality that it cant be bothered to give a shit about something they only see on TV. The US is the largest gun manufacture in the world and groups like the NRA are nothing more than gloried lobby groups for these private sector gun manufactures.

I also choose to politicize this issue - as I did the day of the shooting.
cato (not verified)Fri, 2007-05-04 17:26

Re: STFU Ron Paul. STFU now!

Hi

Most people that have politicized this tragedy say we need less guns. That there is "no need" for weapons to defend yourself against the government. 

Of the people who should "STFU" it's people on the left side who immediately began clamoring for tighter (& constitutionally illegal) gun controls. 

Frankly, Ron Paul is also known as "THE MAN". It's not nice to tell people to "STFU" just because they are better than you, know what they are talking about, and have a firm grasp on the issue. As stated, all he did was give his opinion when someone asked it. And you yell "STFU!!!!" because you are a rube and don't know what you are talking about. 

If someone had a concealed weapon on them, they would have been able to defend themselves instead of being slaughtered like sheep. The innocents who would not break the law and carry means of protection were destroyed by a person who cared not for the law. By enacting ANY gun control you merely take the means of defense from the good and allow the wicked to operate in nearly complete freedom. Police? Ha! They are not our body guards. They come in after a crime has taken place and do detective work mostly. They arrest offenders. But they usually are not stopping offenders from committing offenses. You need to do that yourself. I wouldn't want to lay down and take it like those people did. Defend yourselves! You're going to die if you don't so at least try. 

I found this looking for a big picture of Ron Paul on Google Images. I found the image "STFU RON PAUL!!!!" and so I had to see what this was. Ron Paul is no traitor, unlike the people he works with everyday. He is a great man and I hope he gets the nod. He could really turn this country from the brink.

Paz (Vaya Vegan) (not verified)Thu, 2007-04-19 06:37

Re: STFU Ron Paul. STFU now!

Although I would refrain from using your rhetoric, I am in complete agreement with you. Anyone who takes situations such as this one and turns it into a political issue has not respect for or concept of human emotion. This was a tragedy that should have never been used in such a way.

This reminds me of the anti-war/pro-peace protest I went to about a month or so ago. This was an event that was meant to memorialize those who have been killed or suffered great tragedy because of the war in Iraq. It was also a call to end the war and bring the troops home. There were countless people holding signs for peace and the like. But then there were people carrying around Ron Paul signs and passing out fliers for him. I was pissed that an event that was supposed to be about ending the war and the sad realities of those who have parished was used by those people to push their political candidates. I just wonder sometimes if any of these people have a conscience or a heart.

-Christopher

~PRaY~420~PeAcE~ (not verified)Thu, 2007-04-19 04:41

Re: STFU Ron Paul. STFU now!

You absolutely amaze me! Thank you~ 4 caring and sharing~

Blessings 2 U & Urs & Theirs~

Anonymous (not verified)Wed, 2007-04-18 15:49

Come on..

It's not as if he gave a press conference! He was asked his opinion in an interview!

Proponents of gun control are not exactly keeping quiet, are they? In fact the blame game has already been played by most of the media.

Tony (not verified)Wed, 2007-04-18 14:45

Re: STFU Ron Paul. STFU now!

You had to know that eventually the politicians were going to seize the opportunity.  I was just hoping that perhaps once, our elected officials could find it within themselves to stop playing politics for one day, and to mourn the loss of these people appropriately.  I see that even that is impossible.  Not even two days out, and people are already making political statements.

Gun control laws aren't going to stop this.  Neither will Big Brother-type surveillance.  When will Americans realize that we're never going to be completely safe?   

Ken (not verified)Wed, 2007-04-18 13:23

Re: STFU Ron Paul. STFU now!

Aw come on Jay. He's not the only politician spewing their opinion right now. In general, he is correct that sane people, even if they are considering committing a crime, will think twice if they can analyze the situation and come to the conclusion that they have a greater chance of being shot themselves. Unfortunately, it would have made little difference for the VT shootings. The individual was apparently mentally "troubled". The insane don't pause to assess the situation. We have many friends who graduated from VT recently as well. Hope you didn't know anyone on campus who was injured.
Jay DaverthWed, 2007-04-18 14:06

Re: STFU Ron Paul. STFU now!

Thanks for asking, Ken.  I haven't seen the complete list yet, but as far as I know I don't personally know any of the victims.  It would have been much, much worse if he had locked himself inside the English department instead.

For the record, you're right.  I'm only picking on Paul because I happened to see his statement at a moment when I'm feeling particularly upset.  I really should have balanced the post with a few others (on all sides) who are showing remarkably poor timing by politicizing this event.  Truth is, while I think the world would be a better place if nobody had guns, I actually vacillate a bit when it comes to the specific debate over gun control in the US.   I just wish we could all talk about it in a few weeks instead of within hours of a major national tragedy.