College Students React

Dear Editor,
    As an instructor at a community college, I presented your article (“Justice or Vengeance?,” News, Nov. 4) for discussion in my Principles of Sociology class.
    The students decided:
    1) Threet should be held accountable. But also accountable are the “friends” for what they did not do – prevent the exchange of blows, get McArdle treatment ASAP – and McArdle himself, who, as a black belt karate expert, a deadly weapon, broke his professed karate philosophy.
    2) Threet received vengeance not justice: prosecution prejudged Threet, his family, his friends, his age, and his social class; trial was political ploy for re-election; and others were not held accountable at all.
    3) Threet’s defense was negligent. McArdle’s karate training wasn’t used, his: ability to defend himself, inappropriate participation in a fight, first blow was a karate blow that could damage three-inch boards – what did it do to the recipient? Was Threet injured by the karate blow? “Third string football player labeled not aggressive by coach vs. black belt karate expert – now which one is the trained fighter” should have been presented by defense. It seems the prosecution and the defense prejudged Threet and were just negotiating a sentence.
    4) McArdle’s death was a tragic accident. Using Threet as a scapegoat will not bring McArdle back to life, nor will it absolve the mistakes of all involved in this horrible incident.
    As retired clergy, I need to add that although the Bible does say, “Vengeance is mine,” the whole statement is “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.” The first is used as an excuse to extract vengeance for our own satisfaction. The complete statement is used to rely upon God to deal with issues of vengeance, justice, grace, judgment, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Your article brought a sobering reality to my students. Hopefully your article will make a difference in the lives of other wonderful (but imperfect) young men like McArdle, Threet, and ...