Kent State Shooting

[Archivist]

We just passed the 50th anniversary of the shooting at Kent State where members of the Ohio National Guard gunned down four college students. The guardsmen were order to pay a small amount of damages, but none of them did any jail time and a formal apology was never issued. One of the students who was killed was not even part of the protest, she was just changing classes. Should action against the men who did this be pursued? To me it seems that at the very least a formal apology should be issued.

 

[archer75]

Criminal charges should be filed.

 

[Lord Vega]

We just passed the 50th anniversary of the shooting at Kent State where members of the Ohio National Guard gunned down four college students. The guardsmen were order to pay a small amount of damages, but none of them did any jail time and a formal apology was never issued. One of the students who was killed was not even part of the protest, she was just changing classes. Should action against the men who did this be pursued? To me it seems that at the very least a formal apology should be issued.

Let's forgive and forget. Ephesians 4:32, "Forgive one another, as Christ forgave you."

 

[Archivist]

Let's forgive and forget. Ephesians 4:32, "Forgive one another, as Christ forgave you."

So should we forgive murderers, robbers, rapists? Why not at least a formal apology (which was never issued) and payment of damages?

 

[Lord Vega]

So should we forgive murderers, robbers, rapists? Why not at least a formal apology (which was never issued) and payment of damages?

It's best not to dwell on injustices from the past and instead seek a better present and future.

 

[Archivist]

It's best not to dwell on injustices from the past and instead seek a better present and future.

We paid reparations to Japanese American who were interned. It was deserved. You’re saying that was wrong?

 

[Lord Vega]

We paid reparations to Japanese American who were interned. It was deserved. You’re saying that was wrong?

Well, how far back to you want to go with addressing past injustices? Should the Egyptians of today pay Israelis reparations because the Hebrews were once slaves in Egypt where they toiled endlessly? If there are any injustices that need to be addressed and made amends for, they are injustices in the present or near-past that affect the present.

 

[Archivist]

Well, how far back to you want to go with addressing past injustices? Should the Egyptians of today pay Israelis reparations because the Hebrews were once slaves in Egypt where they toiled endlessly? If there are any injustices that need to be addressed and made amends for, they are injustices in the present or near-past that affect the present.

But I’m not talking about going back thousands of years, am I? I’m talking about 50 years.

You didn’t answer my question. Was it wrong to pay recompense to Japanese-Americans?

 

[Lord Vega]

But I’m not talking about going back thousands of years, an I? I’m talking about 50 years.

You didn’t answer my question. Was it wrong to pay recompense to Japanese-Americans?

In a word, yes. More than that, it isn't necessary to compensate them. The interned Japanese were free to go back to living their lives after the conclusion of WWII. No harm, no foul.

 

[Archivist]

In a word, yes. More than that, it isn't necessary to compensate them. The interned Japanese were free to go back to living their lives after the conclusion of WWII. No harm, no foul.

You need to learn your history. Many of them were forced to sell homes and businesses at far below market value. Yes they were harmed. Those who were killed at Kent State were even closer in time. Why should the shooters not be tried for their murder, at least for the shooting of the girl who was just changing classes? Why should a formal apology not be issued?

 

[Lord Vega]

You need to learn your history. Many of them were forced to sell homes and businesses at far below market value. Yes they were harmed. Those who were killed at Kent State were even closer in time. Why should the shooters not be tried for their murder, at least for the shooting of the girl who was just changing classes? Why should a formal apology not be issued?

Explain what an apology would accomplish.

 

[Archivist]

Explain what an apology would accomplish.

An overdue admission by the Ohio National Guard that it’s troops were wrong. Not as good as a murder trial and sending some of these former guardsmen off to jail for the rest of their lives, not as good as paying significant damages, but at least it would be a start.

 

[Lord Vega]

An overdue admission by the Ohio National Guard that it’s troops were wrong. Not as good as a murder trial and sending some of these former guardsmen off to jail for the rest of their lives, not as good as paying significant damages, but at least it would be a start.

Seems redundant. Best not to hold grudges and let the past be the past.

 

[Archivist]

Seems redundant. Best not to hold grudges and let the past be the past.

So there should be a statute of limitations for murder? How long? I recall that it in the late 70s they finally got the scum who bombed a black church in the early 60s and killed several little girls. They got life in prison. It seems that you are saying that we shouldn’t have prosecuted them, after all it was 15 years after the bombing.

 

[Lord Vega]

So there should be a statute of limitations for murder? How long? I recall that it in the late 70s they finally got the scum who bombed a black church in the early 60s and killed several little girls. They got life in prison. It seems that you are saying that we shouldn’t have prosecuted them, after all it was 15 years after the bombing.

I didn't say that. All I said is that we must forgive and forget, a teaching taught to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[Archivist]

I didn't say that. All I said is that we must forgive and forget, a teaching taught to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.

So why prosecute the church bombers while the Ohio National Guard solders get no punishment. I just don’t understand where the line gets drawn.

 

[Lord Vega]

So why prosecute the church bombers while the Ohio National Guard solders get no punishment. I just don’t understand where the line gets drawn.

I didn't say church-bombing terrorists shouldn't be prosecuted. I was talking about forgiveness.

You sound like you have a heavy heart. I'll keep you in my prayers.

 

[Archivist]

I didn't say church-bombing terrorists shouldn't be prosecuted. I was talking about forgiveness.

You sound like you have a heavy heart. I'll keep you in my prayers.

No, I don’t have a “heavy heart” I just think that Justice needs to be done. I would never think to tell a Japanese American who was forced into one of the camps “no harm no foul” as you would .

 

[Lord Vega]

No, I don’t have a “heavy heart” I just think that Justice needs to be done. I would never think to tell a Japanese American who was forced into one of the camps “no harm no foul” as you would .

Don't hold grudges, or else you're going against what scripture teaches. Ephesians 4:31-32, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

 

[Archivist]

Don't hold grudges, or else you're going against what scripture teaches. Ephesians 4:31-32, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

I never said we shouldn’t forgive, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t punish wrongs.

You talk about forgiveness but you also said that the Ohio National Guard should not issue a formal apology for what was done to the students.