Like everyone else honest enough with themselves to see our country — and our world with it — being torn apart by George W. Bush, Andrew Veal, a 25 year-old employee at the University of Georgia recognized the disaster afoot in Iraq (where as of last night, they’ve officially declared Martial Law in the country — more evidence of “catastrophic success”, I guess).
Veal was an ardent John Kerry supporter and became despondent after Tuesday’s results were announced.
He travelled to New York City on Friday — home of the world’s worst-ever terrorist attack and a city that voted overwhelmingly in favor of John Kerry to keep them safer in the future — went downtown to the site of 9/11’s “Ground Zero” and shot himself in the head with a .12-gauge shotgun.
Newsday reported yesterday that “Ground Zero remains a top tourist attraction” and that opinions of sight-seers later in the day varied about the latest tragedy to occur there.
One visitor was quoted as saying “Maybe he felt ineffective…You feel ineffective if you tried and it all failed” speaking of “many New Yorkers who are depressed over this.”
An East Village artist and registered Democrat suggested the suicide was symbolic, “Obviously, this person was devastated. I can see why he would come here”.
And from the Right, Bobbie Jensen, a 54 year-old “Republican from Pheonix” was compassionate enough to understand that Bush’s victory must have been troubling to those who dislike him.
But, Ms. Jensen explained, “You can be upset about the war, about Bush, but this is a sacred place.”
Apparently, for the compassionately conservative Ms. Jensen, Ground Zero is just an inappropriate place to blow ones brains out.
To bad Bush doesn’t read papers these story would make a good reason to bring people back together. 🙁
The report on this from the AP shows there was no suicide note. His mother claimed he was upset about Bush winning, but said she didn’t know why he would kill himself.
Apparantely the AP likes to speculate.
Wow, Troll, for a guy who still supports a war based on far more speculative evidence, your skepticism on this item rings a bit … hollow.
Yes, his mother claimed he was upset about Bush winning, his friend claimed the same, he travelled *all the way* to New York City from Georgia, went to Ground Zero and shot himself.
But anything to do with the election? That would be just "speculation".
We’re waiting to welcome you any day into the Reality-Based Community, Troll.
To kill oneself because of an election just shows how unstable a person is.
i was looking through your web–site and wanted to drop you a compliment, excellent blogs!
i grew up with andrew veal–we had classes together for at least seven years in a row. i’m terribly sad to learn that he is gone–but this seems just the sort of statement that he would have appreciated from anyone. and yes, he would probably have laughed a little. there is not a doubt in my mind that this was a political protest and i am angered that it was mostly ignored or made into a joke