2009.11.06
Is there a 'curse' on Virginia Tech?
From an April 2009 memorial to the victims of the 2007 massacre at Virgina Tech
In another comments thread, Lynda K, the reigning political guru of this blog, raises a question that comes up nearly every time another nationally-newsworthy tragedy breaks that has a direct link to Virginia Tech.
Her college-bound daughter wonders whether somehow, the Blacksburg-based university is 'cursed.'
The question arises from Thursday's events at Fort Hood, where the alleged gunman was a 1995 Tech graduate. And from the October disappearance in Charlottesville of Morgan Harrington, a Tech student who attended a concert there. She hasn't been found.
And from the mysterious and still-unsolved murders in August of Tech students Heidi Childs and David Metzler at Caldwell Fields, a popular student hangout in the George Washington and Jefferson national forests, about a 20 minute drive from campus.
And, of course, there was the massacre in April 2007 that claimed the lives of 32 students and faculty, and a bizarre beheading in January at a cafe inside Virginia Tech's Graduate Life Center:
This is off topic but worthy of thought...
Matt writes: "So, of the two worst mass murders in America in many years, one occurred at Virginia Tech, and the other had roots at Virginia Tech. Does ANYONE ELSE think that is a remarkably creepy co-incidence?"
Let's not forget the off campus killing of two Virginia Tech students recently, as well as the decapitation of Xin Yang in January, at the school, and the recent disappearance of Morgan Harrington - a current student at Tech.
My daughter, who was once setting her sights on a Va Tech education no longer has any interest in attending the school. She thinks it's somehow "cursed".
I agree with Matt. There have been far too many horrific crimes involving Tech students over the past several years. I don't hear many news reports mentioning other colleges. Is it because it doesn't happen there or because we are just closer to this source? I don't mean to imply there is a common sinister thread here but one has to wonder why...
What do you think, folks? Could there be any explanation for such a series of tragedies all linked to one state university in small, off-the-beaten-path mountain town?
This morning in the newsroom, one editor put it something like this:
For Columbine, the massacre was it. They didn't have any big-news tragedies after that horrible one.
Why Virginia Tech?
(Note: The 5th paragraph in this post has been changed to more accurately describe the location of the beheading.)
Tech is a big school. Chances are anything that happens in the NRV area would "touch" a Hokie.
How many people graduate from there every year? A GOODLY portion of people I work with or come into contact with up here in NoVA are Hokies, partial Hokies, married to a Hokie, or otherwise Hokie-related. And if it's not someone I know, its someone I see on I-66 with a Hokie track, Hokie helmet, Hokie Bird, VT, or some other trinket on/in/all over their car. (The other small number of people I know are just sick of Hokies.)
Humans have a curious need to link things together when there isn't always a logical link. Part of it probably has to do with being attuned to something. Like when you lightly brush a mosquito bite by accident...and all the other mosquito bites start itching because now you're aware of the itchiness.
Comment by Ed S. — November 6, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
No Tech is not cursed. It's just having a bad run on unusual bad circumstances that's all it is. People are responsible for their own actions or inaction's.
Far as this whack out murderer at Fort Hood he committed those murders spewing Muslim rhetoric and chants on witnesses interviews.
All religions and nationalities have problems it's just in my opinion....
Muslims demand respect and if you disagree with them they become violent and angry because you speak-out about their faith.
What do Muslims do with the bible in some Mideastern countries they burn them or tear them up and use them as toilet paper.
Drop the Koran on the ground and they want to kill your entire family.
Comment by Static Lines — November 6, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
Good stuff, curses. Can we look forward to more similar topics, maybe an expose on the chupacabra? Sasquatch spotted in Area 51?
Comment by Jason — November 6, 2009 @ 7:40 pm
Muslims in the middle-east condemn the military for using the Predator Drones to attack Muslims terrorists planting roadside bombs to kill U.S. or British Military personnel...
But find it okay to strap bombs to their chests and detonate them in crowded market places killing hundreds of innocent men, women and children all in the name purification in the name of Allah.
sign me up for that asinine way of thinking.
Comment by Static Lines — November 6, 2009 @ 7:45 pm
Good stuff from Ed S in #1!
Comment by Dan Casey — November 6, 2009 @ 8:08 pm
VT has 207,000 living graduates. Things happen.
Comment by gdad — November 6, 2009 @ 8:40 pm
Static
We are in their country, killing innocent civilians with our unmanned drones.
They are technologically inferior backwards mountain country with nothing but pure ferocity as a weapon. So, they respond with the most outrageous tactics at their disposal. I am in no way condoning their tactics, but I think many here would do the similar things if we got invaded.
By and large the persons carrying out the bombings are not the same ones complaining about tactics.
Do I get to judge all christians by the tactics of Phelps or Roeder? Your lumping is typical of your ilk, but not based in any fact, logic or reason.
Btw, I saw no evidence from you about the christian origins of this country.
Comment by VVarlock — November 6, 2009 @ 9:08 pm
Static
In case you needed directing. The comment awaiting your response is in "The deer I shot Saturday" post.
Comment by VVarlock — November 6, 2009 @ 9:13 pm
I have a theory that seems to fit, though it's pretty far out there for most folks to grasp. The timeline fits too, and based on things several friends have told me, it makes sense to me how it has happened. I would not so much consider it a curse, as to say that something wicked this way comes. VT and the community were very quiet in terms of violent crime when I moved here, and a friend told me of something that would begin happening after a building in the town was demolished. Sure enough, as it began to be torn apart, within weeks the first of these events began, and when the full scale demolition started, the April 16 shootings happened within days. It's entirely possible it's pure coincidence, but I find the thought intriguing nonetheless.
Comment by Other John — November 6, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
"sign me up for that asinine way of thinking" I think you are "safely" included, no worries!
Christians have no problem labeling the Fort Hood tragedy as a "Muslim shooter" but balk and cry foul when Dr. Tiller's murderer was called a "Christian shooter". Now THAT is asinine!
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 6, 2009 @ 9:25 pm
OH NO Other John, now we will have the "Techers" to add to the fringes!
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 6, 2009 @ 9:29 pm
My curiosity has been piqued by John's comment.
Would this "wicked", to which he refers, be the "other-worldly, demonistic evil" type... or just your run of the mill "now homeless spirits who roam the earth" variety?
I jest, but I do believe in evil and in things that cannot be explained.
Would love more details on the place, the history, the rumors...
Comment by Lynda K — November 6, 2009 @ 9:40 pm
lol @ Sandi...I've always been on the fringe in my own little world!
For Lynda, what was mentioned to me would be more considered the other-worldly stuff. I know the only time I set foot in that building (Red Lion Inn), I had a very bad feeling the entire time I was there, like being watched but worse. I was glad to get out and I never wanted to be there afterward, the place just felt creepy and I had no real idea why. Other people I know have said the same things. I have seen things I cannot explain using the physical laws I know and love, yet I know I saw them. It was actually in a NR Current article years ago, and that one experience opened up a whole bunch of stuff I never thought remotely feasible. All I know is that when they began picking the building apart and then when they started the full scale demolition coincided very closely to the Morva incident and then April 16. And ever since then all sorts of weird/crazy/violent/totally random and unexplainable stuff has happened associated with VT.
Comment by Other John — November 6, 2009 @ 10:55 pm
Lynda piqued a question: Hey Warlock, do Atheists believe in "evil spirits" or karma?
Comment by Sandi Saunders — November 6, 2009 @ 10:59 pm
"We are in their country, killing innocent civilians with our unmanned drones"
It didn't take you long to show your true colors, warlock. You are accusing our soldiers of murder.
Comment by Henry — November 6, 2009 @ 11:39 pm
Other John-
"And ever since then all sorts of weird/crazy/violent/totally random and unexplainable stuff has happened associated with VT."
But the biggest of them, the massacre, wasn't unexplained or random. It was a severely mentally ill kid whose mental illness manifested itself well before your haunted building was destroyed.
Comment by Jason — November 7, 2009 @ 12:54 am
Jason #16:
Indeed. But that sure didn't stop him from (legally) acquiring guns.
Comment by Dan Casey — November 7, 2009 @ 12:58 am
I don't believe in curses, but it's pretty weird how Tech is so often connected, either directly or tangentially, to so many awful events in the past couple of years.
Eric Robert Rudolph was a "Christian killer" too, Static, to add to Sandi's totally correct point. That's not a road anyone should want to go down.
OtherJohn...what sort of building was it...what was its purpose?
Comment by Kristen — November 7, 2009 @ 7:27 am
Henry 15
You got me wrong, again.
Drone killings of civilians are accidental or the fault of bad orders and/or intelligence (similarly those killed by air strikes).
The troops are not to blame. It is war, crap happens. The sheer power of the weapons we have/use pretty much ensures some collateral damage. The tactics are not the best, but given the terrain and the enemy they may be all we have.
What I can do and was doing is imagining it from the point of view of the average Afghani citizen. Can you imagine what crap their version of FauxNews has been saying for 8 years?
It is perfectly reasonable for the citizens there not to be very helpful to or happy with us. That is all I was saying. Of course you try to twist my words to make it look as if I am not supportive of the troops. The next time I open my email to find a Patriot Guard Ride notification I will keep your slur in mind.
Comment by VVarlock — November 7, 2009 @ 8:04 am
Would kinda make you hesitate to send your kid there..Im sure the administrators there are beyond worried by violence committed on,by or against students
Comment by Tony — November 7, 2009 @ 8:08 am
Sandi
When Dr Tiller was murdered I felt it was someone of the Christian faith twisting the ideals and belief to justifies their own goals I did not scream foul or in justice or anything of the sort.
If I want to create thought to evoke change I make a comment post a thought on a blog or talk to people..
I don't plant bombs at schools, market places nor indulge in the criminal acts of violence because things aren't going my way, not when I still have the power to vote.
Just like Florida carried out the execution of Paul Hill, a former minister who murdered an abortion: Dr. John Bayard Britton and his bodyguard, retired Air Force Lt. Col. James Herman Barrett, and the wounding of Barrett's wife outside the Ladies Center in Pensacola.
Nidal Malik Hasan is a murderer and murderers should be executed. Dr. Tiller and Dr. John Britton performed a service and were murdered plan and simple. I'm not against abortion it's a woman's choice and not mine to decide.
Now that's another topic for another day....But you are right "completely asinine"!
Comment by Static Lines — November 7, 2009 @ 8:44 am
Cursed? No. Statistically unfortunate would be the way I would put it. You'd have to think that if one looked at five year averages for homicides in a cities the size of Blacksburg, Tech would have the unfortunate number one ranking during such a period. I bet people in Austin Texas were asking themselves the same kinds of things back in 1966 when Charles Whitman climbed onto the observation deck at the University of Texas and killed 14 people. After something like that, the normal routine of bad things happening seems like piling on.
This curse question can get legs in a hurry. I just read that Hassan purchased his "cop killer" pistol in Killen, Texas. Astute readers will quickly associate Killeen with another massacre at Luby's cafeteria where 23 people were murdered. It was the largest such rampage prior to Va Tech. The shooter in that mass murder killed himself.
If you want to find a commonality between Va. Tech and the University of Texas and Luby's it's that mentally unstable and demonstrably disturbed people easily obtained access to guns that could kill lots of people quickly. If you look at the incidence of that phenomena over the last ten years, you'd see that Blacksburg is only unique in the number of people killed. Crazy people with guns kill other people frequently in this country. We all know it's easy to get guns even if your mind is not working very well.
Inevitably, there will be some assertion made about why VA Tech has been associated with this kind misfortune. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that a pastor who works near Va Tech will attempt to associate particular teachings in biology department with this tragedy. He's done it before, so it will suit his purposes to make this association again.
Comment by Mike Scott — November 7, 2009 @ 8:47 am
#9 Other John
When I first move to the New River valley 2005 it was like stepping out of time into a fictional land of Make Believe...
College students stop playing football to help me move in, they didn't ask for nothing in return. I bought pizza for their help. I left my wallet outside on-top of the U- Haul Truck it was still their the next day and it's $600.00 contents and credit cards.
Coming from Florida THAT'S SAYING A LOT!!
Then a friend from Florida that came up here for a visit their remark on the serenity just give it time...
What a difference in 4 years.
Comment by Static Lines — November 7, 2009 @ 9:44 am
"The tactics are not the best, but given the terrain and the enemy they may be all we have."
If the tactics in use are all that the terrain and enemy allow, aren't they the best tactics possible? Following that line of reasoning wouldn't they be the only tactics possible?
No sane person hopes to indiscriminately kill innocents, but in war there are choices to be made. One of the most crucial is "do we want to win?" We as a nation didn't start losing wars until our society began to equivocate on that question. When large segments of the populace don't want to win, politicians equivocate and in turn, tie the military's hands. That's a bad situation to be in when you are facing a committed enemy that IS willing to do anything necessary to win, including the indiscriminate slaughter of innocents.
I guess, at least in my mind, therein lies the difference. Even though at times our military tactics do result in the death or injury of innocents, we take extraordinary measures to try to avoid this. The suicide bombers don't take the same precautions. On the contrary, they go out of their way to target innocents.
Make no mistake about it though, our military doesn't lose wars. Our society, with its equivocation, with it's hollow cries of "I support the troops but not the war", and with its sheer lack of will, our society loses wars. Thank God our enemies don't have the capability to reach out and attack with more than limited terror attacks, for if we faced another superpower with a madman at the helm, like Hitler's Germany in the 30's, I fear we wouldn't have the resolve to do what would be necessary to win.
Comment by Another Chris — November 7, 2009 @ 10:07 am
Mike Scott
People would say the same thing about me if you knew the facts some would say jinx as well.
July 18, 1984 While stationed in San Diego me and some shipmates stopped in McDonald's in San Yidro to get something to eat, but I couldn't eat because while stationed in Guam Guamanians always started fights so I had a bad vibe especially with the guy staring at people as they came in so I urged my shipmates to leave.
Later that night leaving Tijuana Mexico we heard about the shooting (the guy) James Huberty committed resulted in 22 deaths. We left 15 minutes before the shooting.
27 June 1985 That next year I bought a car and drove from California to Memphis to show my family because I wanted to be there for my birthday 4th of July. July 2 1985 a girl ask for a ride, I refused 30 minutes later her boyfriend shot me in the back. He served 6 months for attempted murder he would go on to eventually kill 4 other people including his own brother before being killed by police.
October 16, 1991
I had just got off the phone with an ex-girlfriend that was stopping to have a bite to eat with her father and talk about her recent engagement... That was our last conversation. They stopped at Luby's in Killeen Texas.
September 2006
Whlie at the gun range in Jefferson National Forest me and a Asian male get into a near altercation because of hot brass ejecting from his gun lands on me and burns my neck all he do is smile while other people look at me as if I were the bad guy. April 16th Cho murders 32 people.
Sometimes I wonder if I'm blessed or curse....
Still their is no greater pleasure than smiling.
Comment by Static Lines — November 7, 2009 @ 10:27 am
Still their is no greater pleasure than smiling.
I've done everything and do everything that I ever wanted to do in life. I never wish I had when I can.
As a combat veteran trying to save and give back what you take is the hardest thing any person could ever do in life.
Then that is never enough so live. So others can learn to live, love laugh, and go on with life...
And so will Virgina Tech.
Comment by Static Lines — November 7, 2009 @ 10:33 am
AC, you wrote: "We as a nation didn't start losing wars until our society began to equivocate on that question."
I think a better way to put it is, we didn't begin losing wars until we started getting involved with the unpopular side in civil wars far from our borders, and in which our national interest was unclear.
That's one of the lessons from Vietnam.
When the side we're on has a clear objective -- stopping Hitler's conquer of Europe, getting Saddam out of Kuwait (although there is very strong evidence that we lured him there in the first place) the nation is behind the effort and we do very well.
When we get involved in what is essentially a civil war, pretty much the best we can do is halt it, for awhile, unless we are willing to maintain a huge military presence in the country of our ally.
Thus, sometimes the question is far different than "Do we want to win?" It is more like, "Can we win?" and "Why should we care?"
It's pretty clear from history that we cannot win Afghanistan, and we should not even afford to try.
Comment by Dan Casey — November 7, 2009 @ 10:43 am
Folks, Other John sent this to me via email. It vastly expands on his early posts on the curse, and I thought it was worth sharing:
"After posting the sort of teaser version on the blog, I figured I'd give you a few more details about what I was alluding to.
Basically, a good friend of mine who used to work at the old Red Lion Inn in Blacksburg (now site of Bruce Smith's development, Smith Landing) told me that when they began demolishing the closed hotel (before they started), a whole bunch of bad things would begin happening in the area related to the Town and VT (something about an evil spirit buried/trapped at the site that would wind up being released).
The hotel closed in 2004 and plans to demolish the hotel were announced in early (Feb) 2006. They began work over the summer of 2006 to pick apart the hotel, which started just before the Morva shootings. Full-scale demolition began in early April 2007, and then there was the Cho shootings. Since that time, all of the other strange things associated with VT have gone on (the be-heading, the Caldwell
Fields double shooting, the Harrington disappearance, and now the Ft. Hood Shootings...not to mention the outside-the-bar stabbing death, gunfights over bar confrontations, and all the Carbon monoxide poisonings for even more weirdness), and they are so completely 'out there' that it's hard to understand what in the world is going on.
It could all just be pure coincidence, but the timing of the demolition along with the timing of all the shootings, killings, and other events has been something that I keep looking at, because nothing like it happened before that hotel began to be torn down.
I have a hard time believing in that sort of stuff sometimes, but regardless 'there's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear.' Another friend who visited the hotel a few times said she picked up on something spiritually evil there (she's a psychic, and a darned good one at that), and she hated going there because she would pick up on its presence.
Like I said, I've got no real idea if any of this is true, let alone plausible, but it at least makes for good story telling, if it weren't for all the dead folks that keep piling up associated with the university. It's certainly unnerving to say the least to have my alma matter be so much of a bloodbath in recent years."
Comment by Dan Casey — November 7, 2009 @ 10:50 am
Some apparently feel we can - and should - dump countless lives and treasure into semi-pointless military adventures, yet can't afford to insure actual Americans in their own country, with their own money.
AnotherChris, the military is here to serve us. We don't serve it, and outside of the policy goals agreed on by our elected offials, it has no other purpose. I always find it interesting when people talk about 'our military' as thought it's some extra-governmental body being foiled by the very taxpayers who are funding it. Civilian control of the military is actually one of the things that makes this country great and keeps us from being a banana republic,
Comment by Kristen — November 7, 2009 @ 10:51 am
Actually we havent won a war since WW2..
Comment by Tony — November 7, 2009 @ 10:54 am
Kristen,
We are getting OT here and that is partly my fault, but: War transfers great wealth from the taxpayers into the pockets of some of the people who put politicians in office. In that sense, it serves the interests of the moneyed elite.
It's harder to see how a fair and reasonable health care system could accomplish something like that. If it did, the moneyed would be all for it -- just like Big Pharma was all for the ridiculous Medicare Part D the Republicans enacted. That was a huge payday for pill husksters.
Comment by Dan Casey — November 7, 2009 @ 11:11 am
Dan-
"Indeed. But that sure didn't stop him from (legally) acquiring guns."
Which has nothing to do with what I posted. Also, I don't think you want a system that put in place that would have caught Cho. In the long run, the body count would be much higher (from the mentally ill not seeking help).
Also, I can't believe the garbage I'm reading. It's 2009. We've split the atom and gone further into sub-atomic particles, peered billions of years into the past with Hubble, and mapped our DNA. And people here, presumably adults, are talking about psychics and demons and curses. If a child talks about this kind of crap, you chuckle and think of the innocence of youth. So depressing.
Comment by Jason — November 7, 2009 @ 11:52 am
At first Dan, I thought..."What the heck does the Old Testament have to do with this".
Comment by Kristen — November 7, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
Other John's story is indeed interesting. I've done some internet searching but can only determine that the Red Lion in was located at 900 Plantation Road in Blacksburg Virginia. It opened in 1973. I'm sure the land on which it was built holds more history but unless someone is interested enough to do the leg work, we may never know. Great story, though!
Comment by Lynda K — November 7, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
Kristen
Being African American could we say the same thing about the Civil War. Africans was freed due to the consciousness of some men changing daily. Someone must take those first steps without those step were would be today?
Second thought have any Veteran ever tell you about the atrocities commented by Saddam's Army...
Men hung by eye sockets from street lights, Women impaled on posts and no we didn't go far enough then nor did Clinton enforce the No-Fly-Zone when The Iraqi people tried to over throw the government.
Had Bill Clinton enforced the No-Fly-Zone then I honestly believe our Military would not be over there now in the capacity it's been there since George Bush took Office.
We all have varying ideals of how to win a war, but tell isn't it sweet to be free....
Freedom comes at a high price, but continued Freedom comes at a higher price.
Maybe you should have been with me 2 hours ago when I went to ask Christiansburg land owner could I gain access to Jefferson National Forest by crossing his property.
His response "Get off my property N----! So I as myself how free are we. We will just have to keep on trying.
Comment by Static Lines — November 7, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
I believe that the evil forces that drove Cho to theh mass murder suicide are still prevelent. A murder succide spirit is in the air. Somethign has been loosed in the unseen realm and those who are vulnerable are being targeted. the same way the very young and very old are succeptable to te h flu virus. There is a copy cat attitude in the atmosphere. The news media hound everythign into teh ground. it's talked about over and over and week susceptable minds are easy prey. Is tech under a curse, possibly. And it will get worse as time goes on. But people do nto want to hear that ther eis a God and we need to repent adn turn back to him so this post will probaly be laughed at but it does not stop the truth.
Comment by Cheryl — November 7, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
Greetings from historic Winchester. The Red Lion Inn was a hotel, part of the Best Western Chain before it closed. They hosted all sorts of events there, they had fairly large conference facilities. It was one of the most popular area hotels for decades, and then a whole lot of new hotels opened up at VT gained in popularity, resulting in their closure in 2004. Ironically, Bruce Smith built both apartments, and a Hilton Garden Inn on the site after bulldozing the buildings.
Now, as to what happened, my general understanding is that whatever entity may have been 'released' they tend to go after the mentally and emotionally unstable who already are problematic. People who are often on solid footing don't seem to be too impacted by things like this, which could explain part of why so many of the killings happened at the hands of mentally and emotionally unstable folks. Of course, those base instabilities could be the sole cause anyway, so I guess it comes down to what you believe.
Nonetheless, I have experienced some situations where it led me to question my earlier understanding that anything considered 'supernatural' was simply non-existent. I now believe that there are a whole other realm of possibilites out there, and some of the people I know who are more open to those possibilites tend to experience far more than I ever have. Like I said, regardless of if this has any legs or is just purely fictional, it would make for great storytelling if it weren't for the fact that so many people have died in the events connected to VT. So, if you think these things may be plausible, it's some food for thought. If you think it's a bunch of rubbish, you can keep beleiving that. In any case, ya'll have a good weekend...I've got to get back to work.
Comment by Other John — November 7, 2009 @ 6:08 pm
Cheryl
What in your post was "the truth"? Seriously. More mystical crap about things unseen? I mean you are credulous enough to believe in a god so believing in demons or evil spirits is not too far a stretch, but why not try asking for proof for something before just accepting the woo explanation.
And as an aside, Spell Check, you are doing it wrong.
Comment by VVarlock — November 7, 2009 @ 8:30 pm
@28
"It could all just be pure coincidence, but the timing of the demolition along with the timing of all the shootings, killings, and other events has been something that I keep looking at, because nothing like it happened before that hotel began to be torn down."
I remember the Red Lion Inn. It wasn't that bad a hotel. Not poltergeist bad anyway. This is bound to be a great ghost story, but you've offered little in the way of any connection to the unfortunate events and the hotel. A "darned good psychic" feeling bad juju doesn't provide much in the way of an explanation.
Comment by Mike Scott — November 7, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
Hey Static,,,,how about the 1,000,000 Iraqis killed by George Bush in a war based on lies!Elderly ,women and children blown to bits makes Saddam look like little leaguer
Comment by tony — November 7, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
Guess what Static.your not immune from insults..like anyone else..should the guy call you names.no..but no ones free from adversity..people hate people for many reasons..its not all racial...but if people think laws or political correctness is going to stop it.forget about it
Comment by tony — November 7, 2009 @ 9:25 pm
Other John@37
Ok, so you've put forth a supernatural explanation for these unfortunate events connected to the Blacksburg area. Like any supernatural explanation, the assertion isn't falsifiable. That makes for an entertaining scenario, but it doesn't do much to advance a real reason, if indeed there is a reason, for this phenomena. Surely your realize that anyone can advance a supernatural hypothesis as an explanation and it would have exactly the same standing in fact as yours.
Think back to the days just after 9/11 when Virginia's own Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell were offering supernatural explanations for the carnage.
Remember? It was gay people. Gay people doing gay things caused God to exact revenge on the United States. Did you buy that supernatural explanation? From your sensibilities frequently displayed on this board, I suspect you found it rather offensive and I hope absolutely absurd as well.
When I was inclined to believe supernatural explanations for things in my life, it was because I considered them the only possibility. Which really makes more sense here:
1) Demons unleashed from hotel demolition seek out people with mental problems in the Blacksburg area to do their violent bidding.
2) People who have mental problems act out violently.
Comment by Mike Scott — November 8, 2009 @ 8:35 am
#41
So I should expect being called this when I'm greeted by seemingly educated Caucasian Males in the New River Valley Males?
Thank's for the warning, I guess I should have expected it..? From your thought of politically correctness maybe I should get use to it.
Insult's like that are just as barbaric as some of the so-called popular rappers lyrics...NO Thanks!
Far as you rant about our military killing 1,000,000 is Iraqi's is CRAP!
Saddam tested chemical and biologic agents on his own people mass graves all have been recorded hell you can go to youtube for those videos.
I was a part of the military and we never...NEVER KILLED CHILDREN KNOWINGLY OR INTENTLY!
The Taliban has always placed children in harms way and we avoided those areas. Even now they fire upon our military using children as shields.
A childhood friend son was killed in Afghanistan last month and I won't even listen to you ignorant bull-!
His last call to his father was about some fighters shooting at them from a mosque were they held 10 to 20 children as human shields they had orders not to return fire because of the children.
He was wounded and refused to be evacuated opting to stay with his unit.
That following week he was killed.
AGAIN if Bill Clinton worried more about national security than his libido the World Trade Center would still be standing unless you buy into that nonsense of Government conspiracy crap!
On Tape, Clinton Admits Passing Up bin Laden Capture to maintain date with Monica Lewinsky Played Role
Listen: http://archive.newsmax.com/audio/BILLVH.mp3
During a February 2002 speech, Clinton explained that he turned down an offer from Sudan for bin Laden's extradition to the U.S., saying, "At the time, 1996, he had committed no crime against America, so I did not bring him here because we had no basis on which to hold him."
But that wasn't true. By 1996, the 9/11 mastermind had already been named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing by prosecutors in New York.
Still after rereading you posted comment you may have grown accustom to using that language but I don't care to it have no place in today's society.
Comment by Static Lines — November 8, 2009 @ 11:11 am
Like I said, that's a part of why I don't know if there is any connection or not. And like I said, it would make a great story if it weren't for the fact that so many people have died in the events related to VT. I honestly have a hard time believing in anything other than what can be scientifically proven, verifiable, and repeatable through experiment and observation. And because of that, I lean more toward just the fact that a bunch of mentally unstable folks committed seemingly random acts of violence who all happen to be connected to VT in some fashion or another. Regardless of any underlying reason for so many incidents, it's highly unfortunate that VT's main publicity of late has come through violence and not academics, or even athletics. I think most of us would long for a time when VT is headline news for winning a big game, or for its students developing some new technology, and not that a current or former student killed several innocent people.
Comment by Other John — November 8, 2009 @ 6:01 pm
It annoys me when people automatically discard anything that can't be scientifically proven. There is soooo much in science that hasn't been discovered! Just because something can't be proven, doesn't mean it can't be true. Maybe we just don't know of a way to prove it yet. Of course I am referring to VA Tech being curse. I absolutely believe VA Tech is cursed. My life was going just fine until I decided to attend this school. I'm almost finished with my first semester of my sophomore year and I wish sooooo badly that I never would have come to Tech. The girl in this article is smart. Stay faaarrr away from this school... There is a good chance that it will ruin your entire life... or get you killed.
Comment by Sarah — November 10, 2009 @ 1:54 am