There's A Word For That

“The Indiana Rowing family is deeply saddened by the news of Karlijn’s sudden passing,” Indiana head rowing coach [name omitted] said. “She was a phenomenal student and loved IU so much that she stayed here after she earned her master’s degree. Our condolences go out to her family and friends in this very tough time,” Paterson said.

Twenty-five year old Karlijn Keijzer, a doctoral student in chemistry at Indiana University, was apparently aboard the Malaysia Airlines flight downed over Ukraine. She had been a member of her university's rowing program.

The article discussing her achievements is long and filled with accolades about her intelligence, character and athleticism. The loss to her family, her friends and her university must be immeasurable. My heart goes out to them, and to the families of the others aboard. The above message must have been a horrible one to have to write.

With humble respect: She did not "pass." She was murdered, and so was everyone else on that aircraft.

There are sensible approaches to bringing her murderers to justice. At this moment, I can't think of any. All I can think of is focusing the accumulated military power of NATO onto the heads of those miserable bastards, disarming the ones who survive and dictating the terms under which the rest of us will live fulfilling lives in peace, free from their pointless bullshit.

I don't think that's too much to ask, in memory of 298 people whose only crime was to have a reason to be in Kuala Lumpur on a Thursday in July.