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A different take (Peggy - I DON'T CARE if a murderer's expression changed) Flannery O'Connor Country
The Wall St. Journal ^ | 3/17/04 | Peggy Noonan

Posted on 03/17/2005 6:32:05 PM PST by paulat

Flannery O'Connor Country The amazing story of how Ashley Smith stopped Brian Nichols's killing spree. Thursday, March 17, 2005 12:01 a.m. EST

Go to the link to see the pics Noonan found so inspiring.

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: akillersavedisa; ashleysmith; bigmistake; briannichols; cantadmire; donttrusther; noonan
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To: Captain Peter Blood

This brave woman created a sense of trust, in the face of the reality that she had admonished him for his actions, by showing that if she trusted his word ("Stay calm and I won't hurt you") then he could trust her word that she would follow him as he changed his parking spot to a less-conspicious location. At the end, they both told a conscious lie that they both knew - that she would return after she had retrieved her daughter and that he believed her. That "lie" and that then he let her go showed that he was strongly considering her earlier suggestion - give yourself up peacefully. He subsequently did.

She is a HERO! And don't you ever forget that!


21 posted on 03/17/2005 6:52:55 PM PST by torchthemummy ("Terrorism has less to do with economic poverty than with political poverty." - Jane Novak)
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To: OkieDoke
In this case, a bad man was good to find.

You know your Flannery.

He would have been a good man, if it had been somebody there to shoot him every minute of his life.

22 posted on 03/17/2005 6:56:51 PM PST by don-o (Stop Freeploading. Do the right thing and become a Monthly Donor.)
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To: Captain Peter Blood

Obviously Smith reads people better than you do.


23 posted on 03/17/2005 6:57:02 PM PST by RobbyS (,)
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To: HairOfTheDog
So I wouldn't build her up to a high esteem that will only cause the naysayers to insult her in defense of a word. She's a fascinating woman, who took part in a remarkable event.

Since WHEN should we cower under what NAYSAYERS say??

he·ro (hîr) KEY NOUN:

pl. he·roes

A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.

I think she qualifies.

24 posted on 03/17/2005 6:58:46 PM PST by paulat
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To: Rastus

I like Peggy quite a lot; she does tend to be a bit treacly, however. V's wife.


25 posted on 03/17/2005 6:58:56 PM PST by ventana
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To: paulat

Sure she stopped him. She was out in the open, could have called the police and gotten away to be with her daughter and he could have been taken out in the open away from her apartment complex where there were lots of potential hostages and targets.
By the way I worked in store that was robbed and I have had shotgun to my head. I can tell you I was scared and I could not do anything about it. What about you????????


26 posted on 03/17/2005 6:59:18 PM PST by Captain Peter Blood
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To: paulat

Obviously the guy went off the deep end. She was able to pull him back to shore. I am reminded of Jean Val Jean and the good bishop.


27 posted on 03/17/2005 7:00:30 PM PST by RobbyS (,)
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To: Captain Peter Blood
Well would you stay if you had a good chance to escape or take your chances with a known killer of 4 people????

If you read any of the interviews she gave, she had begun to believe that he would not hurt HER, but she WAS concerned that if she took off, that he would leave and maybe kill someone else when he was trying to escape. Her decisions made sense to me, and it looks like her intuitions were correct. By the time she left to get her daughter, and called the police in the process, the guy had been 'talked down' to the point where he didn't try to fight his capture. I'd say she did a fine job of negotiating.

28 posted on 03/17/2005 7:01:20 PM PST by SuziQ
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To: OkieDoke

"In this case, a bad man was good to find."


;-)
I'm sure Flannery would appreciate the pun.

(BTW are you really an Okie?)


29 posted on 03/17/2005 7:01:27 PM PST by newheart (The Truth? You can't handle the Truth. But He can handle you.)
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To: texasflower

And you are engaging in psycho babble.


30 posted on 03/17/2005 7:02:14 PM PST by RobbyS (,)
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To: Captain Peter Blood

You either didn't pay attention during her press conference, or you don't agree with her assessment that to 'call it in' with a betrayal act would be to risk others being killed by him. Sheesh, this woman is a true heroine and did what she did because she loved others and thought she could save lives.


31 posted on 03/17/2005 7:03:18 PM PST by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: Captain Peter Blood
By the way I worked in store that was robbed and I have had shotgun to my head. I can tell you I was scared and I could not do anything about it. What about you????????

YOU are the one claiming you could have done better...I am not. I wouldn't for the life of me claim to have done better than Ashley.

32 posted on 03/17/2005 7:04:11 PM PST by paulat
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To: Captain Peter Blood

The Gwinnett police said she did everything right. Gwinnett County was where the hostage situation took place and they were the ones who captured Nichols. Having followed this story locally I believe the Gwinnett police.


33 posted on 03/17/2005 7:05:33 PM PST by AUsome Joy ("In Essentials, Unity; in Non-essentials, Liberty; in All Things, Charity," Augustine)
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To: don-o

I read that story in high school. As soon as I could, I got a carry permit. I'm convinced that the fundamental flaw with our friends on the left is that they refuse to recognize the existence of evil in the world. Good v. evil.
Notice that now there's an effort going on by family, friends, etc. to 'rehabilitate' this monster?
Read Ann Coulter's latest article? Grandma deputy vs. a 200 lb. former linebacker.


34 posted on 03/17/2005 7:06:39 PM PST by OkieDoke
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To: ohioWfan; Bahbah; Howlin; MinuteGal

Peggy piece is very powerful. You may wish to read/share it.


35 posted on 03/17/2005 7:06:57 PM PST by hoosiermama (Party affiliation merits stating only if unique not common place.... R = unique. D=common place)
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To: paulat

Fine.... I wore myself out on the naysayers in the first two days of this. Her story was not marred by them.


36 posted on 03/17/2005 7:07:41 PM PST by HairOfTheDog (Just when I think you can't get any shallower, you manage to drain a little more out of the pool...)
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To: paulat
*****The transcript was valuable...the gooey-eyed Noonan rapture is not. Ashley Smith is a hero.****

Watch out! Some freepers here are comparing her to Susan Smith. I think Ashley did a remarkable thing and quite frankly at $60,000 (the reward money) that is a real bargain because who knows how long it would have taken to find this guy were it not for her. (i.e. eric rudolph)

37 posted on 03/17/2005 7:08:57 PM PST by buckeyesrule (chieftain is a moore-on)
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To: paulat

...This is Nichols's mug shot. This is Nichols's face after
he gave himself up to police Saturday...

...Something changed...

...Something happened...

Judging by the pictures, I'd say he turned to the left.

Burn him.


38 posted on 03/17/2005 7:09:28 PM PST by the gillman@blacklagoon.com
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To: Captain Peter Blood

I think you should change your screen name to Brave Sir Robin.


39 posted on 03/17/2005 7:14:11 PM PST by rabidralph
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To: HairOfTheDog
Fine.... I wore myself out on the naysayers in the first two days of this. Her story was not marred by them.

Sympathetic LOLS...to you, Hair. I just read Peggy's piece tonight and went ballistic...she likes the look in his eyes...give me a freakin' break!!!

And again, Ashley IS A HERO!!!!

40 posted on 03/17/2005 7:14:36 PM PST by paulat
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