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.

Ron

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”?

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.

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?

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.