Every time a tragedy such as this happens, NPers are like the rest of the world, and the posts on the message-boards start flying. I seldom comment on them out of both ethics and the reserve to keep from making a tragic event into more of a debate than it might already be. However, this reaction from the family being posted, made me think of something.
It won't happen to near the same extent, albeit I believe it will happen to some extent. The fact that it won't be to the same extent is what is so sad about our US society (and racism against other nationalities as well). I am referring to the outpouring of faith, love, understanding toward Cho's family, and most importantly not holding the family as in any way guilty of or responsible for his actions. When I say it won't happen to the same extent, I am referring to how the Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania Amish were willing to not only not hold the family of Charles Roberts responsible for his actions when he killed 5 of their own and injured another 5 last year, but how they actually reached out to his family seeing as they had been victims in the tragedy as well (They - the Amish, separate from other trusts set up for the family - even set up a trust fund for Roberts' family). If our society (I have yet to read how Virginia Tech will officially react to his family) would reach out to the Seung-hui family the same way, it would go a long way in showing that we are all one family in this world.
Too many folks concentrate on the blame game (what the family may or may not have suspected he might one day do, what the university did wrong that day, etc.). The only one who did anything wrong that day was Cho, and other than the package he sent to NBC that day (and even in light of it to some extent), even the experts will debate his reasons for this for years to come. And, while I definitely can not argue that such a tragedy should be kept out of the forefront of media coverage (it shouldn't), that same argument is what is scary. The coverage this type event brings is often what gives the next potential attacker the idea to go ahead with plans he had thought out such as this. The attention they get in death (often something they lack in life), is what many of these seek, and in this country they see that they can get it by going out in a "blaze of glory" so-to-speak. In other countries, where such events are not given near the media coverage, they are not as common, and rarely involve so many victims when they do occur. Where do we as a society, or the media for that matter, draw the line, when we can't just ignore the senseless deaths of so many innocent victims? Where do we hold the school responsible, when we were not there and do not see things from the same scenario they did that day (hindsight is 20/20..they didn't have that that day...the "what ifs..ands..or buts" are all a mute point, AFTER you know the full story)? Who do we blame for such actions, other than the killers (ie: the old question "And, no one knew he was a ticking time bomb" - like the professor who stated after the fact that Cho's writings were disturbing); when we must realize that once again hindsight is not there beforehand, and when does "disturbing" cross over into more than just words or casual oddities of human personality? What do we do to make future potential attackers, especially since no one often knows who they will be, realize that this is not the way to "go" or to get their point across? IF you have the answers to these questions, please let me know. The world, and many experts have been seeking these answers for years; and, will continue to do so, because sadly Cho was by no means the last one out there.
