Virgina Tech Massacre
For Canadians, we have seen before the horror of the irrational rampage at Virgina Tech. It was in 1969 at the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal. Mark Lapin walked into the college and killed 14 enginerring female students and wounded 14 other male and female students before killing himself. There is no comprehension of this kind of behaviour in a civil society. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ãcole_Polytechnique_Massacre
We all grieve for those more directly involved and we may even question our own Society and the risks involved in being an open and trusting community. There is no defense against such a rare but terrifying event. We must resist the temptation of adopting draconian measures to limit our personal freedom and turn our back on the trusting nature of community.
Besides the Montreal Massacre, I am thoughtful of the plight of students in Iraq. In that beseiged country they have the equivalent of two Virgina Tech incidents EACH DAY. There have also been hundreds of University Professors and administrators assassinated. It takes enormous courage to be a student on that country. Strangely, there is little acknowledgement of this "collateral damage " of the American War and Occupation of Iraq. I wish more people cared about the innocent Iraqis. Rocky Mountain News - Denver and Colorado's reliable source for breaking news,
In a relateded matter, I also just read that 70% of Iraqi children suffer from emotional trauma from what they are living through. Would someone explain to be how the effort to turn Iraq into a vassal state to control it oil resources is worth all the carnage!
If an insane individual goes on a killing rampage we are all horrified and aghast but if a Nation state does it in our name it is celebrated as necessary and even heroic. In almost all instances it is neither. It is just the same kind of insanity.
I found it hypocritical and distasteful to see President Bush try to identify and sympathize with the Virginia Tech tragedy. For me his sympathy is thin indeed, as one who must be held responsible for so much pain and suffering in this world. All during his remarks, I am reminded that he is a war criminal responsible for the hundred of thousands of deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. Where is the sympathy for the innocent of those two country.
For a couple of days, I have watch the American media covering of the tragedy in Virginia. It has degenerated into a ghoulish rehashing of the events and wild speculations to fill dead air time, as only the mass media can do it. I find it is time to move on and stop being a voyeur in other people's suffering. To it's credit, the CBC, decided to not broadcast the video images on TV or the audio text on radio, which were sent to NBC. The CBC feels they encourage copy cat events.
Out of respect for the grieving people I think it is a commendable decision.
In the end respectful ways will be found to remember the victums of this tragedy, which forever will be a part of Virgina Tech.
Hopefully, in the weeks and months ahead we will hear of some jesture or programs that will stand for a long time to remind us of the loss of these individuals whose lives were full of promise and hope and now are gone, leaving an emptiness in the lives of family and friends to whom they were so precious.
posted by Tossing Pebbles in the Stream @ 7:14 a.m.
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2 Comments:
I was so mad I could have spit nails! Right after the horrible shooting at VT there were over 200 killed and injured from bombs in Iraq. Where was the coverage? Where was Bush offering condolences or apologies? Why don't we understand that even though its another country they are just like us. They go to school, work, etc just like us. Only they have the stress of wondering if they will get blown up doing their daily tasks. Makes me sick the media can go on and on about this shooting and give no coverage to the students killed everyday in Iraq.
Thanks for the reminder that "Us is them."
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