I refuse to place the blame entirely on Cho Seung-Hui for what he did on Monday.
No, I'm not calling him innocent.
I'm not saying what he did was good.
I'm not saying what he did was right.
I'm not saying what he did was justifiable in any way at all.
But I'm not saying it was totally unprovoked, either.
America, I'm sad to say, has problems. Big ones.
Cho Seung-Hui's family moved to America in search of a better life, as do most immigrants.
What Cho Seung-Hui found, however, was the cruel reality of what American life is really like.
He was, to be quite frank, an outcast. He was quiet, reserved, introverted, a minority, an immigrant, and, when he did speak, was made fun of for his voice and accent.
Classmates can recall him being bullied throughout elementary, middle, and high school.
The American life he found was not the over-glorified 'American Dream' that is so appealing.
He found the harsh life of someone growing up in America.
The childish callousness that is all too common among children today.
The already trying emotional ups and downs of middle school.
The ludicrous politics of high school.
The ridicule, disdain, taunting, jeering, and mockery of his peers.
What if someone, just one person, had really made an effort to reach out to him?
Simply smiling at him in the hall.
A real, genuine smile.
Not a smirk.
Or saying a quick 'hey'.
An actual greeting.
Not a jeer.
Or laughing.
With him.
Not at him.
I just don't understand. I truly, honestly don't.
People confuse me. A lot.
If he had just had someone. Anyone. Someone who would be willing to lend a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on.
If he hadn't had to bottle up all of his anger, his fury, his frustration.
His pain.
Could all of this have been avoided?
And once again, I'm not saying he's innocent.
But I know what it's like to bottle something things for so long that you just can't handle it anymore and you just... break.
And, while the result of my breaking point was different than his, there is always a breaking point.
Always.
And you don't know, until you've been there, the difference one person can make.
Maybe one person could have changed everthing. Maybe none of it would have happened.
Maybe.
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11 comments:
You're probably right-but from what I read on other blogs and websites some people did try to reach out to him and he brushed them off. Nevertheless, lots of kids get bullied and you don't see them all going off and killing people (and making videos of themselves before they kill). For most people, bullying comes with the territory while growing up. I'm not saying it's right, but bullying in school has been going on since time immemorial and you don't see every bullied kid killing innocent people. Cho obviously had very serious mental problems and someone should have realized this and gotten him some serious help a long time ago. But Cho has to be held responsible for his actions. No one forced him to kill people, and as for the reality of life in America, the reality is that yes, people can be cruel sometimes and life is not fair. But people have choices and he could have reached out and gotten himself some help. Instead he chose to kill and to blame his actions on society instead of taking responsibility for his own life. You can only blame mommy, daddy, siblings, society, etc. for your problems for so long. Part of being an adult is being responsible for your actions.
I'm totally not trying to say that what he did wasn't something he should be held responsible for. It is.
But after being hurt by so many people, why would you want to be with anyone? The people who did try and reach out to him were right in their thinking, but I know that if people repeatedly did all sorts of terrible things to me, I wouldn't want to take my chances with anyone.
And, while I understand that what he did is something he needs to be held responsible for, I'm going to have to be slightly angry at society, just because of how society is.
People shouldn't shoot and kill 32 of their classmates.
But they shouldn't push a kid down and laugh at him becuase he's different, either.
But both happen.
Because that's just how society is.
Sorry I'm with Lizfan, there's no way someone with a normal mind would do something like this.
Course then you could also look at the spiritual side of things as well.
im sorry but i completely disagree. no one forcd him to go buy those guns and no one forced him to shoot those people. he stalked women and people did try. but he pushed them away. it was no one elses fault but his. he made the choice to walk into that school not once, but twice, and kill all of those innocent people. it isn't just here that people would treat him different. it is people everywhere. and almost everyone has been ridiculed, laughed at, or talked about behind their back. but they don't go buy a gun and kill everyone.
Subject was one seriously deranged
mind. Subject over time became increasingly worse, and created a
monumental tragedy.
Fuzzy thinker jumps on this as an
opportunity to blame "Society".
Point, and what's your point? reb
www.lazyonebenn.blogspot.com
Be Spontaneous!
O.K. Try this Post. The title:
"Back From The Sand-Box"
Comment?
www.lazyonebenn.blogspot.com
chelserz!
Thanks for your long, long, insightful
comment on Snake Hunters Blog. Too long, but eloquent!
Like totally. reb
www.lazyonebenn.blogspot.com
Global Studies?
Wow! That could turn you from a
Peace Advocate, into a Realistic War Hawk! Hmmm.
>>June 14, 2007
IRAN'S PROXY HAMAS, guns blazing, has just seized control of the Gaza
Strip; Fatah getting a bloody nose;
Civilians running for cover.
Hezbollah (Party of God) poised on Isreali Northern Border waiting for
Iran's signal to begin attack?
Is this the beginning of Iran's promise to 'Wipe The Israeli Off The Map'? Stay tuned. reb
www.lazyonebenn.blogspot.com
your crazy.
not you mrs. spontaneous - the snake guy...
striaght nutso
James,
Another Lost Soul; his high-school teacher probably preferred Kum-ba-yaa to WWII History; and Jimmy Carter's timidity in dealing with The Grand Ayatollah Khomeini on
Nov 4, 1979. We lost an Embassy (An Act of War!).
Now in the 21 Century, these kids
groove to "United For Peace & Justice"
and George Soros MoveOnDotTrash, Media(mud)Matters & Daily(Crash)Kos.
Easy to criticize, hard to rationalize; easy glib answers to
complex questions. Go back to your Bong, Rap-Crap, and Over-amped six-string, young man...or
Go To Your Search Engine, check out the dates & events; gain some credibility!
(Missed Spelling Class Too? It's
STRAIGHT). reb
__________________________________
www.lazyonebenn.blogspot.com
i am seriously laughing...
thanks yuo so much fer helpin larn to speil betir.
There is no chance this is becoming a conversation.
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