[honeychile]

First of all, I agree with y'all - the GLO system as a whole has got to become more responsible about alcohol abuse. I do think that the NPC is doing a good job, and I hear that some of the NFC fraternities are going dry. This should be applauded, and better publicized.

Call it playing devil's advocate or whatever, but here's where I get angry:

What if the two young men who were killed had been at a party thrown by some friends who were over 21? Would the employers of those friends have been sued? Would the owner of the house or the campground or picnic area or wherever have been sued? Would the alcoholl manufacturerer have been sued?

Does anyone else think that the families think they're seeing a cash cow? Are they honestly naive enough to believe that closing the one fraternity house - and possibly its national - will teach a lesson?

Or should the lesson have been taught to the underage drinkers themselves?

No one wants to take responsibility for his or her own actions any longer. If you're under 21 and drink, you're breaking the law. Period. If you get drunk, your decision making process is compromised, at best. Period. If you get in a car with a drunk driver, you risk your life. Period. If you still manage to become drunk, even though you are underage and therefore breaking the law, you stand a better chance calling your parents for a ride home rather than with a drunk driver. Period.

Let's look at this another way. The underage drinkers went to a fraternity party to drink (decision #1). They got drunk (decision #2). They got into a car with a drunk driver (decision #3) and were killed. Should the fraternity sue their families for allowing them to attend their party? Not teaching them that drinking is for those who are over 21? Not teaching them to avoid getting into a car with a drunk driver? Not having them call their parents rather than get into a car with a drunk driver?

I really do feel horrible that these young men were killed, and that the drunk driver seems to be getting a slap on the wrist, please don't get me wrong. I just think that people are finding it much too easy to sue somebody else because they or their loved ones made bad choices.

Don't y'all think that it would be more constructive for those grieving if they tackled the legal system to keep drunk drivers off the road? Do y'all think that the dollar signs compromise their stance even a little bit?

Just curious...