April 22, 2007 7:18 AM

Finding a way to profit off tragedy...how American of you....

I’ve been impressed with the manner in which so many Americans have found ways to reach out to or at least grieve with the Virginia Tech community. I know a couple of Hokies myself, and I know this is not an easy time for them. I feel for them (even though one of them is a bit of a dick), and I can’t imagine what they must be feeling for a place they no doubt love as I do my alma mater.

I understand that there are also those looking to capitalize off this tragedy, and to observe this sick reality, one needs look no farther than eBay. No surprise there, I suppose. Ebay is, after all the home of folks who’ve sold, at various times, their virginity, an ass-kicking, and nothing at all…all of which received bids. It’s a corner of the Internet where just about anything goes, though even eBay occasionally proves that even it has standards…though they seem arbitrary, capricious, and made up as they go.

This t-shirt seems a harmless enough way to memorialize those innocent victims of the Virginia Tech massacre…until you happen to notice that it will cost you $19.00 plus $3.75 shipping. OK, I thought, perhaps this is a fund-raiser of some sort. Perhaps I could stifle my disgust and revulsion if part or all of the profits are going to a Virginia Tech-related charity.

I emailed the seller (who I’m not about to gratify with a link) and asked him. “Please tell me,” I asked him, “that you’re not trying to profit off this tragedy.” His response was a terse “I can do that.” Now, I don’t know if that means he’s going to donate part or all of his profits, or if he simply sees this as another way to make a few quick bucks. I’m leaning toward option #2, frankly. While I’m disgusted and revulsed that someone would try to profit off this tragedy, I’m hardly surprised. After all, how many morons did the same thing after 9.11?

It would be nice to think that this sort of thing would be done as a fundraiser. It would be nice to think that this is being done because a person wants to make a difference. Ah, Hell, who am I kidding? This is America, remember, where anyone and anything can and will be used without shame if there’s the potential for profit involved?

Don’tcha just LOVE capitalism??

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on April 22, 2007 7:18 AM.

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