The following just came to my in box. I know some of you have connections to Tech, and/or to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Here is a way to show support, if you like. I have some Hokie Fabric ... I may just run up a scarf. Of course any Orange and Maroon fabric would do nicely too. Hugs, PAT
Re: "Hokie Hope Friday" This Friday is "Orange and Maroon Effect" Day. Wear your Hokie colors in support of and to honor all the victims, survivors, families and friends from Monday's tragedy at Virginia Tech. For more information the Memorial Website and a Memorial Fund, go to
It won't matter what colors we wear here Friday, Pat. That's the day we stay home and clear the dirt and clutter. Know, however, that we are and will be holding close all who are affected by the pain of this tragedy. We hurt for all of us, especially those parents and loved ones who won't see their children again. There is no pain like that. Polly
i'm sure to get some flack for my thots.... i was thinking how double edged sad and horrible if must be now for the parents of the young man who caused all this. i heard they've had to move out of their home, being sheltered by the wider south korean community who live in the area. bad enough to lose a child but for your child to be the one who also was so mentallly ill and somehow his problems were not followed thru by the system, both the health and judicial systems, from what i've heard so far. had they been, perhaps, just perhaps, none of this tragedy would have happened. i know how it feels to lose a child but i cant imagine how they must be feeling now. sorry if that offends anyone but they too lost their child. jeanne
jeanne, I too am feeling for the parents of this young man. They must be wondering all sorts of things. I know too that the media often "sensationalise" things - and we have probably only seen the 'juicy' bits of the tape he sent to NBC. However, from watching what I did, I somehow wonder whether anything could have been done for this man. I really do hate to bring it up, or compare it, but his voice, his thoughts and ramblings, his eyes, looked like those of the terrorists you see tapes of. I don't honestly think anything could have stopped him.
However, having said that I feel for everyone who has lost a loved one in this tragedy. No-one deserves to bury their child, no-one.
i was thinking if someone had taken notice of the warnings they had. what the judge said in 2005, words to the effect he was a danger to himself and others. he had a history such that someone must of thot, we ought to commit him for psychiatric care now. by not doing it hes been left to run his fantasys to this sad conclusion. if only..... i'd rather by paranoid and wrong than not paranoid and wrong. its what i tell my kids every time they get fed up listening to my worrys. from what i've heard so far there were way too many things going on with him to do nothing. someone messed up big time by doing nothing. jeanne
Penn State has their spring football scrimmage this Saturday. The students and school are promoting wearing VT's colors to the game. The university is paying for T-shirts to be worn in the stands by students to form a huge VT. It's just a small way to let everyone affected know that the students' thoughts and prayers are with them. You can read more about it here:
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My sons' both were able to contact all their Virginia Tech friends and know that they are safe.
I do not know what the procedures are in VA for the mental health court. I can only write about California, my county. If someone is in a facility, they may be there on a 72 hour hold, or they may be there to get their medications straightened around, or they may be there for evaluation. Typically they cannot be held more than 17 days total without their consent, in any one calendar year. I have personally witnessed people who are truly mentally/emotionally fragile who will take their medications, do the group homes, do the counseling, but still have the mental capacity to thwart all the guidelines and cause tragedy to themselves or others. I won't go into details. Certain things have to fall into place to "commit for psychaitric care" for any length of time. But in the end, it is still that individual's decision whether they choose help or unfortunaely slip off the edge of sanity. I have seen with my own eyes, many times, those who present a facade to others - perhaps not a stellar personality but passable in society - but go "off the deep end" and commit a horrific act.
What I am trying to say, is that it very well may be that the past actions of this young man were concerning but in single format did not constitute a threat level that together those actions would sound the alarm.
G> i was thinking if someone had taken notice of the warnings they had.
from what i've read and heard on tv so far, this was more than a single issue. he had a history with police on stalking, for one. that judge must of had enough information about his mental state to make such a statement as he did. i guess we'll see as more and more details come to light about this young man.
i still feel for all the victims familys, friends, university students, staff and those touched by this tragedy. none of them asked for this, none of them will ever forget it, some will never get past it. j.
One last comment. the judge can only based his decisions on evidence presented, not hearsay, even in Mental Health cases. For example, we often have court hearing for indivduals who have a history in another county. We do not have access to that information. So the psychiatric dr and judge can only go on what is presented to them at that time. I have seen instances where we know there is a history in another county, but are not able to get information from a case worker or reliable family member in time for the release-or-not hearing.
G> from what i've read and heard on tv so far, this was more than a single > issue.
one more thing its time to change then. the govt at all levels has/have? a lot of work to do. about ten yrs ago australia made changes. it worked for them. the time to change is now. the things to change are many. no longer can they wait or those 33 deaths and countless thousands of lives forever changed were for nothing. feeling ever so sad for my home country now, jeanne
one more thing its time to change then. the govt at all levels has/have? a lot of work to do. about ten yrs ago australia made changes. it worked for them. the time to change is now. the things to change are many. no longer can they wait or those 33 deaths and countless thousands of lives forever changed were for nothing. feeling ever so sad for my home country now, jeanne
My latest read from the Washington Post: Apparently the young women decided not to file charges against him for stalking. If they had, he would have been arrested and put into the legal system. So there is no "official" history of stalking.
Amazing what hindsight will do for us. The if-only's in this case are long. One entire Washington Post article was devoted to the if-only's.
It was so sad reading the obits of four of the victims in the Washington Post today.
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