18 April 2007 Wednesday

It's not okay.

I don’t know where to begin.

Washington Post: Student Wrote About Death and Spoke in Whispers, But No One Imagined What Cho Seung Hui Would Do

Flags are at half-mast today.

“He used his driver’s license as identification and had no problem buying the guns because he was complying with Virginia law, which permits the purchase of one gun a month, investigators said. ... Both guns are semiautomatic, which means that one round is fired for every finger pull.”

What kind of state/country/government allows an average citizen to purchase a semi-automatic weapon each month. What purpose does an average citizen have for possessing a semi-automatic weapon.
That policy is disgusting.
And no, banning all weapons would not solve this problem.
It’s an overhaul in mentality, and structure and havens to care for the hurt/alienated/damaged/dangerous that’s necessary for everyone’s safety AND well-being and happiness.

“Roy said she warned school officials. “I was determined that people were going to take notice,” Roy said. “I felt I’d said to so many people, ‘Please, will you look at this young man?’ “
Roy, now the alumni distinguished professor of English and co-director of the creative writing program, said university officials were responsive and sympathetic to her warnings but indicated that because Cho had made no direct threats, there was little they could do.”

People DID notice this boy’s unhealthy/questionable behavior, and it was even reported to officials. But there is no system that allows for taking care of troubled students/citizens.
This is a very serious issue I have in general with the way our society/government works. As long as we do not commit “actual crimes”, no one holds us responsible for our behavior, our actions, our treatment of others. We can betray our friends, abuse strangers and family members emotionally, engage in highly self-destructive behavior.. and for the most part, society and government will consider it “okay.”
IT IS NOT OKAY.

I’m angry and hurt…
...

I really want to talk about this, but.. I don’t..
I’m not feeling articulate at the moment.. I’m just upset.
I usually pay very little attention to news stories like this, especially.. but, for a few reasons, this one has been present for me since the story broke.
I’m just upset by the recent event at Virginia Tech, angry about the gun policy in Virginia, and most of all really pissed off by the general everyday and mostpeople sense of apathy and lack of responsibility for ourselves and our friends, neighbors, family members, coworkers, strangers, classmates, acquaintances.

Quote from The West Wing (speech by President Bartlett) [via]:

“...restoring abundance amid an economic shortfall, securing peace in a time of global conflict, sustaining hope in this winter of anxiety and fear. More than any time in recent history, America’s destiny is not of our own choosing. We did not seek nor did we provoke an assault on our freedom and our way of life. We did not expect nor did we invite a confrontation with evil. Yet the true measure of a people’s strength is how they rise to master that moment when it does arive. 44 people were killed a couple of hours ago at Kennison State University. Three swimmers from the men’s team were killed and two others are in critical condition. When, after having heard the explosion from their practice facility, they ran into the fire to help get people out. Ran into the fire. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels tonight. They’re our students and our teachers and our parents and our friends. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels, but every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we’re reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. this is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes and we reach for the stars. God bless their memory, God bless you and God bless the United State of America. Thank you.”