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When will the madness end?
I'm mad that everything I just typed was deleted because I was knocked offline but I will attempt to to reproduce what I said and perhaps shorten it. As you may or may not know, hours ago new informationm regarding the gunman responsible for the Virginia Tech massacre on Monday was released after NBC10 headquarters in New York recieved a package from Cho Seung-Hui. The package contained over twenty three pages worth of solid text and photos of Cho, him holding the weapons used to carry out the shooting (two guns and a knife-he undoubtedly had the knife on him as well) and a somewhat artistic photo of many hollow-point bullets. The video clips also sent in the package show Cho discussing the event seemingly as though he had already carried it out. Authorities are attempting to uncover whether or not he had actually filmed this material in the two hours time between the time he had killed the first two victims and when he began his rampage on campus during which it was previously unknown exactly what he was doing. It is known however, that Cho mailed the material during this time. It is unknown why he chose to send it to NBC10 and at this time it seems irrelevant. In the clips, Cho referred to himself as a Jesus figure, that he was paving the way for future generations and assisting those that are in the same position as himself. He also went so far as to commend those responsible for the Columbine incident eight years ago, referring to them as "martyrs." Last night on Larry King Live, Dr. Phil made the excellent point that we should not continue asking the question why...that we can not make sense out of nonsense and that we should move ahead and look moreso at the what than the why. What we can do to prevent something like this from happening again. Although complete closure on the matter and an explanation are welcomed and anticipated in the near future, we do need to continue the healing process as well as beginning the process of learning from mistakes, correcting them and preventing more. The number of deaths recorded as the result of the mass shooting is historical. Even the Columbine incident's death toll can not compare. However, records can be broken and that is what needs to be haulted. The answer is not "beefing up" security, it's not implementing more gun laws, it's not programs like "safe streets" and others that merely target the problems after they have become apparent, it starts with the parents and guardians of the youth that evolve into the problem. My fingers would grown numb if I sat here and typed all that I'm thinking about this and the thoughts flow and attack me too quickly to mention them all. However, one thing that definitely needs to be said is that the parents of every single child in America needs to care. Parents that have children with mental illnesses need to stop denying it. Even if they don't deny it but they accept it for what it is, give the child medication and don't follow it up with counciling and the appropriate at-home attention they need, it's pointless. I don't mean to say that Cho's parents were necessarily neglectful, but they obviously didn't do enough to get him some constructive professional help. I don't want to point fingers, nor do I want to linger on the subject as long as I could, but more could have been done on the part of his parents and the law. There should be an appeal to have the law changed such that one can be forced to see a councilor if their behaviors are deemed destructive and a possible threat to their well being as well as those of the people around them. I commend the students and staff of VA Tech for trying to get him the help he needed. This incident could have been avoided if the law allowed but the hands of those that cared enough to try to get him help resulted in this. Thirty-three people dead and so many grieving the losses. There is so much more that can be said but I would rather save that for the ears of someone that will listen intently and I would like to save the emotion that goes into these entries for the letter I intend to write and decide whom I willl send it to. There will still be more to come as the story unfolds and I look forward to seeing what exactly is going to be done to correct the many flaws of our country.
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