MADD- or just Mildly Annoyed?
Editor's Note: This commentary is cross posted at MyVoiceNews.com.
Back in the 1980s, I remember MADD being just about everywhere, pushing their message that drunk driving is wrong, that it kills. I totally agreed with them.
But somehow, over the years, the mad in MADD seems to have lost its temper, literally: I just don't hear anything from MADD anymore.
Case in point, the story of Paige Grable. Paige was a senior at
She ended up getting sentenced to only 15 months in jail or the offense.
Then, just a week ago, there was talk of her being released early- because in only a few months of prison, she had earned her GED and her High School diploma. Apparently, these benchmarks qualify her for her for early release.
Skipping over the wrongness of letting killers out of jail because after they get caught they want to be good, my question is, "Where was MADD?" Why no statement from MADD, voicing their opinion? I sure didn't see anything in the news about MADD's view on the case.
Similarly, there was an even more troubling story concerning the recent election for the Jeffersonville City Court Judge. The previous Judge, Vickie Carmichael-D, was elected to the Clark Superior Court #1 in 2006. A replacement was appointed, local attorney and former prosecutor Scott Lewis-R. After the primaries, Mr. Lewis faced a single opponent, Ken Pierce-D, a slightly younger attorney. While not formerly a Prosecutor, Mr. Pierce did have a familiarity with the
After Mr. Lewis's campaign sent out a very tacky postcard, pointing out Pierce's prior conviction, folks began whining about how he (Pierce) "made a mistake"; "he's learned from his mistakes"; "he's man enough to admit he made a mistake" etc. etc.
Blagh.
I know there will always be idiots who don't care that former criminals run for office. Heck, at least half the elected officials in this country undoubtedly have committed some kind of crime. But where's MADD?
If I went to a MADD drunk driving educational presentation and pointed out that the drivers who killed the MADD founders' kids just "made a mistake" and we shouldn't hold it against them, I'd probably be lynched.
Aw well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I think I'll go get me one of those cool beer can hats and hit the road with a six pack. After all, everybody makes mistakes.
I am Don Murray, MADD Florida State Executive Director; one of many MADD State Directors across the country. With some apparent indignation, Mr./Mrs. Oglodad asks “Where is MADD today?” Permit me to try to respond. Setting one’s Google Alert with keywords MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and DUI will deliver dozens of stories and references each day relating the hard work done by MADD volunteers and staff across the nation. If you are looking for us…you will find us in thousands of courtrooms every year standing beside surviving family members when DUI criminals are on trial and while being sentenced. You will find our Victim Advocate comforting a sobbing teenage girl who is trying to write a victim impact statement telling the court how her life has changed since she lost both her parents to a drunk driver one night. You will find us holding hands with grieving family members at gravesides and funerals. You will find us walking the halls of state capitols fighting for stronger, more effective laws in every state. We are in Washington D.C. fighting for highway safety funds and national laws that make sense. You will find us in high schools, junior high schools and colleges delivering DUI messages to young people across the nation. We may be found on national talk shows and on local morning shows discussing DUI issues and debating those with really bad ideas. We sit quietly in court rooms taking notes on judges performances and case outcomes. We can be found regularly testifying before congressional committees in Washington D.C. and local MADD entities regularly speak before city and county commissions. We are working into the wee hours of the morning supporting law enforcement officers at DUI checkpoints on our nations roadways. We are raising funds to provide necessary items such as dashboard cameras and alcohol breath testing devices for law enforcement agencies. We provide Victim Impact Panels in cooperation with local probation offices. We meet with the local editorial boards of newspapers soliciting their support. We sit at kitchen tables and write tens-of-thousands of letters to judges, elected officials, newspaper editors and school principals. And sometimes, we attend candlelight vigils for those whose lives were wrongfully taken or painfully altered by a drunk driver. We try to understand why friends and families lose those we love and find themselves with head injuries, missing limbs, chunks of flesh torn from their bodies, terribly burned and with injuries to the psyche that will remain forever. We hug eachother, wipe eachother’s tears and take the next step…into the ring to continue the fight.
We don’t wear capes and masks like many superheroes but I think that our volunteers would certainly qualify for membership in that category. I assure you, we are here, and we will be here until our mission is accomplished. Visiting our website http://www.madd.org you may learn of our Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. May we add your name to our chorus? If you haven’t paid the ultimate price for inclusion into our group…that’s just fine with us. We hope you never have to. That’s why we do what we do. If you have not seen us, perhaps you do not spend much time in the same places we do.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald Murray
MADD Florida State Executive Director
don.murray@madd.org
Hello, Mr. Murray! Thank you for your comments!
I wonder though if you’ve proven my point- which was that here, in Southern INDIANA, MADD seems to have lost some of their fire. You are, after all writing from FLORIDA.
I have long admired MADD and their efforts nationally, but the two cases I cited show a real lack of effort. If the goal of MADD is to reach youngsters to teach them drinking and driving are wrong, MADD sure missed out in both these instances.
Oh, and it’s TrogloDAD, by the way. I’m a dude. Part caveman, actually.
Please, please keep up the good work. I’d just like to see more of it.
Dear Dude TrogloDAD…
Thank you for your reply to my previous posting. Ready for more? I don’t believe that I have proven your point at all. To the contrary, if I have proven anything, it is that despite MADD’s best efforts across the nation, these tragic crashes still occur because individuals continue to make poor choices. Twenty five years ago, one could say, “I didn’t know”. Now, however, after 25 years of Public Service Announcements, marches on state capitols, talking to school children, holding rallies, applying bumper stickers, etc. the public clearly knows that drinking and driving is a bad idea. Well there may be a couple of cave dwellers somewhere….. But many, of all ages….youth and fully grown adults…. continue to drink and drive anyway. That certainly doesn’t indicate that they haven’t heard MADD’s message or believe that drinking and driving is a harmless act without potential tragic consequences. It means that they made the choice to drink and drive DESPITE knowing the potential consequences. (I’m guessing you haven’t actually raised any children) Do you think that people who start smoking and continue to smoke today do so because they are unaware of the life-threatening health hazards?
Drivers continue to drink and drive because they can, despite being fully aware of the potential consequences. Blaming MADD for this simply isn’t fair or accurate. We have done, and are continuing to do our job. Granted, we could certainly be in more places, more frequently, spend more money, make more speeches, write more letters…etc. However, the message has been delivered and received. The public knows! In fact, MADD is given credit for reducing the DUI fatality rate in our country by about 50% since we began. While you provide all indications of being a likeable, educated and agreeable cave-dweller, I think in this case, you’ve jumped on the wrong band wagon headed in the wrong direction. While public education and awareness must certainly continue, along with all else that MADD does, what we really need is an inoculation that protects all from the choices these individuals are making. Not an inoculation given to each driver but rather a passive, future technological inoculation installed on each car. Today’s technology can protect us from the repeat offender through the installation of Ignition Interlock devices that, when installed on the vehicles of first-time DUI offenders, prevent them from starting if the driver is intoxicated. With these devices in place, vehicles simply won’t start if the driver’s Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) is above a preset limit. (Incidentally, studies have shown that 1st time DUI offenders will have actually driven over 75 times while under the influence before their first DUI arrest.) Please, support this life-saving Ignition Interlock legislation in Indiana!! In 10-15 years, we expect to see technological advances that will utilize laser beams, sensors in steering wheels, and other James Bondish devices that will insure that intoxicated drivers will be passively checked and prevented from driving their own vehicles…by their own vehicles. Vehicles will not start and run and the driver doesn’t have to blow into anything. They simply have to sit in the driver’s seat and attempt to start the car as normal. Within microseconds, sensors and computers in the car will ensure the driver’s safety and the safety of others on the roads. Incidentally, I truly do want to thank you for your concern. I’m a former Hoosier myself, having been raised as a child in and around the Indianapolis area. I’m going to forward the link to this Blog to the Indiana State Director for follow up with you. OH…one final thought. How ’bout volunteering to assist us? There is plenty to do and we can’t be everywhere, as you point out. I’m sure your efforts would be greatly appreciated. How ’bout helping us pass legislation to get Ignition Interlock devices installed in the vehicles of first-time DUI offenders in Indiana.
Again…thanks!!
Don Murray
Instead of running your yap, why don’t you get off your lazy ass, and do something about this problem?
I imagine you have a ton of experience being drunk. You could be the “Before” segment of the presentation.
Fairlane! Hey, I thought you were passed out in an alley somewhere! Long time, no hear! Welcome back.
Actually, I don’t drink anymore (I’d rather spend the money on my kids), nor have I ever driven drunk.
And I am getting off my lazy ass- I’m pointing out MADD’s apathy on the two cases I mentioned.
Mr. Murray,
You proved my point by the fact that you commented on Florida’s MADD’s behalf. The Indiana contingent is just too apathetic to have responded or cared. See, my point was that in the 1980s, MADD was full of righteous indignation, piss and vinegar. They were everywhere you looked. Now they’ve traded their anger for parking spaces at Capitol Hill.
Passing new laws- great. But there’s not a whole lot of Mad left in MADD anymore. I just am not feeling your rage about drunk driving.
PErhaps we should rename the group FADD- folks against Drunk Driving?
Or maybe SADD- Somewhat Against Drunk Driving?
I believe that T.R. is not completely resting on his @$$ if for no other rea-son than posting this commentary. As an outsider, I didn’t feel that T.R. was making a personal attack on anyone, but merely sharing an honest observation about something that affected his emotions (maybe because he does have kids).
No one, well almost no one, could genuinely discount the enormous impact that MADD has made in our culture. However, we all get caught up in our work and personal lives, and sometimes a little constructive criticism can help to make us more effective. I grew up in the ’80s, and I still remember being inundated with statistics and sad stories on a daily basis from all me-dia regarding the consequences of drunk-driving. There was MADD, then SADD, and about any other acronym ending with DD.
Sure, as a decent citizen I should keep myself abreast of the works that MADD is involved with, but the fact is that politics, work, family, church and yes entertainment are already competing for my attention. Often, that which is most prevalent is today’s winner. Unfortunately, these young drivers and victims will probably spend their time on You-Tube or Guitar Hero and opt against Friday night googling parties to see the latest impact of legislation and political marches by MADD. The sad fact is, “out of sight, out of mind.”
I’m sure that T.R. happened to come across an article or evening news clip, and like you Mr. Murray was simultaneously enraged and stricken with em-pathetic sorrow. Kids in today’s world sometimes need to be slapped up-side the face with something that takes their breath away. What an opportunity to grab their attention.
Don’t take these comments personally, because we all fight our battles in different arenas. It only shows how much many of us are aware and burdened with these senseless tragedies.
P.S. I’m sure T.R. does appreciate what you do.
Mr. Trog…Your presumption that the MADD folks in Indiana didn’t respond to your post because they were too “apathetic” isn’t likely. A number of things may be true about your blog but non-response due to MADD apathy isn’t on the list. Mostly, we choose to only respond to those blogs with significant impact. There are dozens upon dozens of bloggers who dislike our mission and effectiveness. As unlikely as it may be…the MADD Indiana folks may have determined that your small voice crying out from the web did not warrant a response. Nah…that couldn’t be it. They probably just didn’t see it…really. As to our rightous indignation…we’re still as committed as ever. The early MADD days to which you refer, were quite effective as delivering a change message…that drinking while drunk was a bad idea. It required a cultural shift and a change in many laws across the nation. That phase has now passed. The message was delivered and received and the laws were changed. Our effectiveness continues, however, in courtrooms and state capitols. We call it strategy. If you’re not feeling our rage, it’s likely that you spend very little time where we are; gravesides, courtrooms, funerals, DUI Checkpoints, hospitals, high school autitoriums,or the hallways of congress. We’ll continue to do the best that we can.
Don Murray
MADD Florida
Wow, Mr. Murray, your tap-dancing around the issue here is truly inspiring- if I was a politician.
I don’t care if GLADD (Grandparents Legislating Against Drunk Driving) reads any blog. What I find incredibly disheartening is the lack of speaking out on two very public issues:
1. That a drunk driver ran for the Judgeship in the court he was convicted in
2. That a teen drinker KILLED someone and then will end up serving a whopping 9 months in jail. (Ironically, the same time it would take her to create a life)
I don’t think that “MADD” has the right to use the entendre of it’s acronym any longer, because there just is NO anger being expressed. Your organization has depersonalized the tragedy of drunk driving, equating it with numbers and legislation. By dehumanizing the tragedy, you do nothing more than cite statistics.
Which do you think honestly dissuades folks from drunk driving: A mangled car placed on the lawn of a school prior to homecoming, or a smart suit and briefcase full of facts as you lobby for new laws?
Laws don’t mean squat when people don’t want to obey them. Your message in the 1980s was very effective, but your silence of late is akin to accepting drunk driving- how long before you begin to stamp it as “okay”?
Thanks for the support, Mr. McClure. Up until this year I was quite happy with MADDs efforts to fight drunk driving. But their apathy in the two subject areas I mentioned really got my attention. And to be fair, I can’t condemn the whole organization for the inaction of their volunteers in Southern Indiana.
I am troubled by your personal attacks Mr. Murray. I was under the impression that we were all on the same side. T.R.’s comments may have been frank, but isn’t his motivation the same as yours. I hope that you and Indiana’s MADD “chapter” are more concerned with kids’ lives than public approval. If I may infer, I believe that T.R. was addressing an unknown target, and you as a passionate soldier took his comments personally. Take a deep breath and believe in what you do, heed the words of those who advise you, and blow off the undeserved criticism. “United we stand, divided we fall.”
Ron
Mr. McClure,
Thank you for your insightful comments. Happy Thanksgiving!
Don Murray
MADD Florida
I attend Church with the family of the young man killed by Paige Grable. In fact, I remember receiving the news the night of the killing and rushing over to church for an impromptu prayer service. I’ve followed this case very closely and can tell you that MADD took no initiative in this matter.
Additionally, I am a former deputy prosecuting attorney in a county adjacent to the county in which the young man was killed. My #1 responsibility was prosecuting drunk driving offenses. Not once, in my three years in that position, did MADD ever take the time to contact me.
I think the author of this article is right as applied to Southern Indiana. MADD really isn’t all that mad any more. Instead, they’re efforts in these instances have just been kind of sad.