No Contest in Halberstam’s Death
Posted on November 20th, 2007 in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Kevin Jones, the Berkeley graduate student who made an illegal left turn at a red light and got David Halberstam killed, has pleaded nolo contendere to a charge of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. He’ll get a sentence of 30 days, probably reduced to 5-10 and community service.
On the one hand, I think this guy should be locked up because his idiotic driving got a great writer killed.
On the other hand, this is something that he’s going to have to live with the rest of his life, and that is a pretty serious punishment. To be an aspiring journalist, and then be indirectly responsible for the death of one of the great journalists of the 20th centuryâthat will not be easy for Mr. Jones.
It reminds me of that scene in “Saving Private Ryan,” in which Tom Hanks is dying at the end after sacrificing himself to save Private Ryan, and as he’s dying, he says to Ryan, “James, earn this. Earn it.”
In other words, do something with your life that justifies this loss.
One hopes that Mr. Jones will rise to this challenge.
3 Responses
11/20/2007 7:22 pm
You were doing fine, R-Brad, right up ’til “Saving Private Ryan.” Then it’s a bit grand, a bit silly:
“Do something with your life that justifies this loss.”
What does that mean, anyway? Become a great journalist or saintly human being, such as you wouldn’t have been, or tried to become, had you not offed David Halberstam? And wouldn’t it be true-that charge to make something of your life-if your carelessness killed any person, even one rather lacking in prominence or importance?
“One hopes that Mr. Jones will rise to this challenge.”
I’ve never know this blog or its host to be pompous or patronizing before. This is a first.
11/20/2007 7:40 pm
The driver was irresponsible and killed an innocent human being - who cares if it was a famous writer - so why the slap on the wrist. Life is cheap in this country.
11/20/2007 8:21 pm
There are different levels of responsibility …