AFTERMATH OF A RAMPAGE

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2006
AFTERMATH OF A RAMPAGE
13
Wed, 04-18-2007 - 9:55pm

Monday, right before lunch: Breaking News Alert on the TV. Similar to a moment I endured on September 11th not so many years ago, I literally froze and held my breath. What is happening in our society? Already, those with selfish agendas are lining up for the finger pointing parades. Who do we blame?

Gun control
VA Tech University Security
Police Emergency Response
Mental Health Professionals
Media & Popular Culture
Immigration Burdens
The Gunman’s Family, Friends, Roommates

My opinion, society is our major contributor to these tragedies. Commonplace in our reality today are many expressions of violence; rage, desperation, insanity, desire for personal gain, discrimination or more simply, ignorance. Prejudice for those who are different, contempt for unexplainable reasons and a blind eye to those who are suffering are pervasive in our mainstream culture.

Violence permeates our minds and hearts. Following the incident at VA Tech, our moral outrage peaks until time and other facets of life distract our thoughts. The effects of violence are constructive only in that the consequences determine our agenda, retroactively.

Violence is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding: it seeks to annihilate rather than convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends up defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.
Martin Luther King, 1964

Expressions of sympathy pour out to the survivors of violent attacks, while words of gratitude are silently murmured that it was not our loved one. As the parent of one graduate student and one college bound teen, it was by the grace of God it was not UNC-Chapel Hill. We all pray ”someone” will address these atrocities. Who will be that “someone?” Our collective lack of humanity is creating an environment where these incidents occur faster than we can lock away, rehabilitate or execute the violent offenders.

Do I believe that our society prompted Cho Seung-Hui to inflict this devastation? Probably not. Cho Seung-Hui alone committed these horrific crimes. There will be much speculation on what prompted this attack; mental illness, evil, environment, personal choice, abuse, genetics or character flaws. Let us all take pause and make a positive impact on our individual communities, accepting responsibility for our actions, embrace our differences, discover our compassion, humanity and respect for others may assist us in becoming that “someone.” Just my two cents.

At the end of the day, Where is The Love? (The words to this song by the rap group Blacked Eyed Peas)

Hug your children today.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2007
Sat, 04-21-2007 - 2:34pm
I'm sure they tried to help him over the years. I just don't think they or anyone else realized quite how disturbed he was, judging by the statement released yesterday. I think it would only be human nature to wonder if you should have known or if you could have done more. I can't imagine what they must be going through, knowing their son/brother/etc. caused this horrible tragedy.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2004
Sat, 04-21-2007 - 11:14pm

Hi,

There are so many thoughts and questions swirling around after this tragedy. There are, of course, no easy answers. It's such a difficult thing to wrap our heads around. I did want to share my perspective of this week while living in Virginia. The one good thing that I have seen is an incredible pulling together of people from all walks of life. The other colleges and universities in Virginia were the first to rally to the aid of Tech. Their arch rival....University of Virginia....formed a club within 24 hours called 'Hoos for Hokies". They set aside their rivalry and became friends helping friends. When Tech held their candlelight vigil Tuesday night, the candles came from UVA, gathered by UVA's student govt and brought to Blacksburg. Friday, everywhere I went, people wore Tech colors. Universities around the country have held vigils, and are sending cards, banners, letters, etc. to Tech to help support the community. It is extremely heartwarming to see this support during such a devastating time. None of these acts of kindness and concern can change the grisly facts. Perhaps they can start the healing process of so many broken hearts.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2006
Sun, 04-22-2007 - 1:16am
It's good to know there's one other human being on this earth who thinks like me. Maybe I belong in Canada.....NEXT move! (I've been an advocate for single-payer health care since the early 90s.) Although I recognize over-empathizing as one of my weaknesses, I will never be able to blame the mentally ill for their illnesses, any more than I can blame a Type 1 diabetic for his/hers.

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http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/october/meet_the_new_health_.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTBYQlQ7yM

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