Replies to '03/16 Cheerleader Scandal'

I personally believe that there is a lot of truth to both sides of the story. I am not much older than the 2 main participants of this event. (I recently turned 20).  

Both Daniel and Brandi were in the wrong. I do believe that it is very probable that Daniel was abusing Brandi. Abuse is very common in high school and many high school girls don't know how to handle it properly and the police generally don't want to get involved with high school boys abusing girls. (One friend of mine was simply told to just leave her boyfriend by the police when she told them about her abuse.) It isn't an issue that most parents or school counselers bring up with girls and most don't know how to deal with the situation effectively. A grown woman has a lot more wisdom and resources to deal with the situation. (For one most women don't work with their boyfriends and can always move to a different house. Teens are stuck at highschool and are forced to see their abuser every day.) 

At the same time, it was completely inappropriate for Brandi to steal her parents car, and then make up a story about wrecking it. Even if it was a complete accident that she hit Daniel and that he did step in front of the car (I could see him having such a tough guy attitude and thought that he was so macho that he would step in front of a car and that she would stop simply because it was him, or it could have even been suicide.) Even if she supposedly didnt know what she ran over (which I don't believe) she should have at least checked, instead she drove home and lied to her parents after she stole their car! Maybe this isn't first degree murder, but I do feel like voluntary manslaughter is a decent charge and she deserves the time in jail. She also sounds like she is a rather spoiled, smug and irresponsible girl if she feels like she can steal her parents car and then make up a story about it. Even if she didnt "mean" to kill him. 

Both of the kids involved sound rather arrogant and spoiled. Most high school kids don't know anything about the world but because they are on the cheerleading squad or the football team think that they have made it to the top of the world and know everything. (Yes, I know this sounds harsh but I was in High School not that long ago.) Even so called "good kids" do a lot of shady things behind their parents back that their parents don't know about because they know that they can get away with it. (Like steal their parents car for instance.) I feel very sorry for both of the families and their losses, and I hope that they can find healing and forgiveness and the strength to move on, (yes, the loss of a child is the most terrible pain anyone could suffer and I don't wish that upon anyone.) But I can't really say that I feel that sorry for either of the kids involved.