Virginia Tech

Flags are beginning to be flown at half staff for the students and teachers killed in Virginia. It is very sad and very hard to think about. All of the potential of those kids now lost. Just as the potential of the over 3,000 men and women killed in Iraq has been lost.

After we reached 2500 dead in Iraq I wrote a poem entitled "Potential" It seems that part of it is appropriate at this time.

What would they have been?

What would they have done?
Think about it!
2500 women and men.

Wives, husbands, mothers, fathers,
Teachers, lawyers, doctors,
Builders, inventors, bankers.
Scientists, activists, counselors

Sons and daughters, Brothers and Sisters
Think of the void they leave.
Think of the changes in our world
Because they are no longer with us.

The killings in Virginia are tragic but no more tragic than the killings around the world.

The only connection I have to Blacksburg is that one of our Eastern Star Members lives there. Marion Bemis lives there. She moved there many years ago. She and my mother were good friends and had lunch together at least once a week. I am thinking of her now and sending good thoughts her way.

Here in Ames we are in the beginnings of the annual Veishea celebration. This is a really neat event held at Iowa State University. It is student run and is a showcase for the University. There is a parade and a lot of fun. We also had riots and at least one death at Veishea time. I remember that after the first riot the next year the media was playing up the idea that we might have another one. I think that they were responsible for some of the subsequent problems. A couple of weeks ago there were letters to the editor complaining that we were going to have riots at Veishea.

We did not have them last year and there is no reason to expect that we will have them again. The University and the Police too a lot of time and effort to study the problem and come up with solutions. It is unfortunate that so often the expectations become the reality. Most of the students in Virginia Tech and Iowa State University are "good people" and they just want to lead a quiet existence and prepare to live quality, productive lives. Lets help them to do that. Stay warm and Be Happy!