Just a short post to give folks a chance to talk about the aftermath of the Virginia Tech tragedy. It seems that the media focus is on "who did this wrong" or "what different could have been done." All legitimate questions, but does anyone share with me the belief that one important thing to do at times like this is to really grieve, really mourn, really realize that we live in a broken world where evil exists. One reflection I had after the last class was how we all seem to react when the idea of evil, or the Devil, is introduced into discussions like this. As if we are all above that kind of silly talk. But maybe its not so silly: after all, does it really seem we are in charge in this world? Is it not a plausible philosophical conclusion that we are caught up in a cosmic battle between good and evil, a battle that includes us but also transcends us. Is that a plausible, coherent "narrative" to help explain our world? I think so. Share your thoughts on this or any aspect of the tragedy.
16 comments:
I dont really think we are stuck in a cosmic battle of good and evil. There are just some really disturbed people in this world. This kid was really messed up, a year earlier he was stalking two girls on his campus and the police were brought in, but nothing was done. He has been apparently troubled for years, there should have been some point where someone really should have stepped in and done something. People were aware of his tendencies and did'nt act appropriatly, and that is why these people died becuase of the ignorance of the staff not doing what they should, as human beings should have done. There was excellent ground reasons they could been able to have kicked him out of school.
I think when people say "oh, it's just this kid's fault" that it is a cop-out statement. We have to look at the story of this guy's life- the environment, community, and ideals around which he was raised. How was he as a child, an immigrant? People are profoundly more influenced by their surroundings as they grow than simply their genetic makeup. For ex. I am an American because I was born in America, not because it is in my inherent nature to be American. We, as self-proclaimed people who desire peace, must create and environment and community with members that foster the most fundamental values and virtues we wish to promote. As in every ethical system, it all comes down to choice. i think there is an ongoing battle between good and evil, between higher beings than ourselves, between eachother, and within ourselves. We have to choose to belong to a virtuous community, we have to choose good. Clearly, the shooter did not, and we cannot change that. But, we can show that a good community promotes greater and more fulfilling actions through the people, and good things it produces.
Why wasn't this taken care of a long time ago when the killer showed signs? Why do we have to suffer to understand that everyone is not safe? Why do people have to suffer first and then the country go in a state of alarm? Every school should take precaution before this happens again. We can ask a million "why" questions and never get them answered but will it help...i don’t think so. Do humans have to suffer to achieve happiness will this tragedy and suffering stop another school shooting?
Building on Tom's post, one interesting thing is how the killer has been described as "Korean." True, but he lived here since 8 years old, was part of our public schools, our medical system, our culture. No doubt also not part of normal, sane culture. But I wonder if the description you see everywhere, everywhere: "South Korean Gunman," I wonder if that is one more subtle way to place evil outside "us," as in "this guy does not belong to us."
Then there is the larger question in my post: do not tragedies like this also reveal that evil is indeed beyond us, a cosmic reality. In this sense, evil and good are both inside us and beyond us. The "inside us" part is what we Americans don't like to admit; the "beyond us" part is what those who discount religion do not like to admit, because if there is a cosmic battle between good and evil, then we cannot explain it all, and God knows our rationalist, secular, scientific minds want to explain it all.
Angela says:After late class tonight I was profoundly saddened and moved to tears, yet once again, at the waste of the lives of these young people. Looking at the front page of the paper of the killer's face it is so amazing that he was smiling. It truly reminded me of the book by Malachi Martin,"Hostage to the Devil," which is in the HCC library written by a profound Jesuit scholar who was very close to many of the Popes. As many fellow Americans I am distressed over this event,but, as we are reminded in the words of the Bible, "..our battle is with principalities and powers..." which are two of the 9 choirs of angels that fell from Heaven. They may have fallen, but, they still retain their immense intelligence. Evil comes to us in the world, the flesh, and the devil. All three of these we must battle everyday, as us older Catholics were taught that upon awakening to pray and offer ourselves up to God, because everyday we are thrown into the battle between good and evil. Also, the thing that is scary is that it is not always easy to pinpoint the evil, because it is usually enwrapped with good around it so as even to fool the elect. Ah, if only it was easy to tell. Interestingly enough in Dr. Watson's class over the summer we discussed the many contributing factors that contribute to violence, which are manifold. In conclusion of my very brief statement on this very sad time in U.S. History all of my heartfelt prayers go to all the people suffering due to this tragedy...and may the souls of the faithful rest in peace, amen, amen...
For me the devil and evil are the same thing. I think every discussion in this class is not conseravatively slant not because of it in a class of "whites middle class college student" but because we all appeal to a greater purpose in our lives, and if someone drives a mercades, BMW or even a Ferrari doesnot matter to us. What most have in common is ND. THis hopefully will not cause us to gun down our classmates becuase we understand their is more in our lives. The student who committed these crimes against his classmate odviously had a mental short. Most of us have a back up plan involving another college or remaining at HC not a gun. And the fact that someone drives a benz may make some jealous, it does not create hate. We have all worked equally hard.
I definitely agree that we need to mourn for the victims first before everything else. There will always be time to investigate and point fingers at who we all think was at fault. That is not important now. What is important is having respect for the students that were killed and supporting those who loved them. Eventually, we can look into ways that we can try and prevent this next time. Less than a week after this type of incident just does not seem appropriate to be blaming people for mistakes no one can go back and fix.
I believe we are caught up in a battle of good and evil. We are responsible for helping good win. As for the Virginia Tech thing, I also think we should be mourning. Everyone just wants to play the blame game. We need to step back for at least a day or maybe a week or month and just grieve with the families of the victims.
Moral Dualism does seem very quaint to me. I do not believe in it at all. By the way when we discussing abortion in class, Post-traumatic Abortion Syndrome is not an accepted as an actual syndrome. I know people probably think it is and most doctors won't accept it because abortion is legal, but it certainly sounded like Mr. Griffin thought it was an actual syndrome, which according to most doctors it isn't. People nowadays are trying to blame everything on some syndrome or the like, without taking responsibility for the own actions. It seems to me like it is just someone guilty because they believed they have killed a baby.
Their were oviously many thing, many diffrent people could have done to stop this. but now the story is commin togher that he had been planning this for mouths befor he actully did it, when i look back on it i relize that their was not much people could have done to ultimally stop him unless he was physically removed from capus (i.e put in jail, or a mental institution). i tihnk it ultimally comes done to the large campus atmosphere, where "loner" kids like this get lost in the mix.
I thought this
Cartoon illustrated the attempt to blame the shooting on everything but the actual cause.
Neumann Jones,
Someone once said that the battleground, the place where good and evil ensue in a deadly dance, is the human heart. Another soul also said that within a man there are two wolves fighting to the death--one is hate, the other love; and a man asked this person, "But my liege, who wins in this fight?" The soul replied, "Friend, the one who wins is the one you feed the most." So if these words of wisdom are true, that the battleground is the O so precious human heart, and that whichever wolf you feed the most wins, then we have lain before us the general and foundational groundwork for venturing out into this oftentimes harsh and brutal world. But we must remember that it is a world fashioned by the hand of God, so there is always hope; and were not Christ's words to us when we were given the 'Our Father' prayer, "On earth as it is in heaven"? I believe He meant this literally, at least as much as is humanly possible. My sympathies and prayers go out to all who were wounded by the tragedy that occurred at Virginia Tech, especially the man who did the killing.
there is evil everywhere in our world. the VT massacre was one of the most trageic occurrences in our history. people mourn because of the evil in this world. but what about all of the other places where this kind of thing happens all the time. and what about the hungry people of the world! more people die of starvation, malnutrition, and dissease than any act of violence. that is the tragedy in this world!
I believe that practicality plays a large role in the labeling of Cho as South Korean. I personally have no problem with labeling him South Korean, because he was not affected by the American Culture when he chose not to immerse himself in it despite his many opportunities. Americans accept and embrace each other in a society that entraps many different nationalities- including South Koreans. However, Cho decided to segregate himself and continuously judge others. This can be seen in his mental struggle exposed in his manifesto that stated he had been hurt by the advantages of the wealthy white kids who didn’t notice him. If he had opened up to the wealthy white kids by exuberating his feelings that are aching, he would have reached the acceptance he strived for. He never opened up or gave anyone a chance. He was a “question mark” and instead or becoming American, he remained South Korean, his home nation and culture. He did not enrich his life with the great things that come with being American.
in relation to harrison's post..grieving for to long of time would be a bad thing...because that is what the student wanted when he pulled the trigger...he wanted the attention and all this aftermath...he wanted us all to see who he was and what his story is....that could get more students around the country to strive for attention and commit the same tragiac act
Thirty three innocent people lost their lives in the most violent school shooting in U.S. history. Now what? It seems that citizens everywhere are left wondering how to cope with the results of this situation. It seems that the media focus is on “who did this wrong” or “what different could have been done.” These are all legitimate questions. Many people are looking for someone to blame. Should the school have been closed after the morning shooting? Shouldn’t people have realized that this kid needed help? Pointing fingers and putting responsibility for these actions on any one individual is not the way to help us get over the events of that tragic morning, we should see his as a change to grow together and grieve.
On September 11th 2001, our country was attacked, and hundreds of innocent people lost their lives. The reason Americans recovered so well from 9/11 is not due to the fact that we could put the responsibility on the terrorists, we didn’t blame the president or our government for leaving us vulnerable, we recovered by coming together in one of the most moving displays of patriotism I have ever seen. American flags were hung proudly by people everywhere, there was a true feeling of loyalty to our country for the first time in years. We can recover from the Virginia Tech shooting in the same way. People are already beginning to support this cause and mourn for those lives that were lost that day. The Major League Baseball team the Washington Nationals wore Virginia Tech baseball hats instead of their regular hats, people have come together in prayer services around the country, and thousands upon thousands of students have changed their “profile picture” on Facebook from pictures of themselves to images with the VT logo and the hope ribbon.
By being there for each other is the only way to recover from an event this tragic, because really, none of us are strong enough to conquer this by ourselves, specifically those of us who know the victims of that day.
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