Tannishblog

I offer my heartfelt sympathy for the families affected by the Virginia Tech tragedy. It isn’t much - in fact it’s nothing at all. But I give it all the same, as well as my guilt for abetting a society that produces people who do such things.

If ever there are opportunities to ponder what needs fixing in our poor excuse for a civilization, this is one. But laying blame is as easy as it is pointless. Too many factors converge to produce such heinous actions. If one was to lay blame with any attempt at accuracy, then all factors should be accounted for. If all factors are accounted for, then by the grace of all things and all people being interconnected, every American is partially guilty of this crime.

I feel guilty. For ignoring the cracks in the fragile construct of polite society, for going about my life with blinders on to better focus on my own needs and wants. I feel guilty for not taking to the streets in righteous rage at the prevalence of violence and the absence of compassion in America. My heart is sickened by my own selfish inaction. For this and much more, I am as guilty of this slaughter as anyone. Although there are no excuses for my inaction, please forgive me.

I hang my head, not in mock mourning as our president will surely do, but in sorrow at the loss of future potential these young people had, and the further loss of innocence the campus, the town of Blacksburg, the State of Virginia and the whole nation must endure. I hang my head because I did nothing to correct the broken priorities of a nation that proclaims the sanctity of life while engaging in war, prides itself in equality while not allocating enough resources to help troubled kids in need.

Cho’s classmates knew he was disturbed. They read some of his plays in class and were troubled by the graphic and obscene imagery. His teacher was worried enough to hire a security guard for a time. A local counselor had seen Cho, and knew he was troubled, but for a variety of reasons, he received no help. Last December, a magistrate ordered him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. The next day, a report concluded that he may be a danger to himself due to mental illness.

Was he treated? The hospital has yet to comment. Hospitals are businesses, and decisions are too often influenced by a patient’s ability to pay for services. Since recent societal trends don’t allow for the caring of its members through governmental assistance, the needy are often left without services, or are cut short.

For that, too, I am at fault. Guilty by living in America and not helping her to better herself, I have neglected my civic duty and my fellows. And for that neglect, 32 people died.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 19th, 2007 at 6:21 am and is filed under In the News, 21st Century Culture, Personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.