A column about history, culture, policy, and things in between.
Though only seventeen days old, already the Virginia Tech. Massacre recedes in our emotional rear view mirrors. And even as it does we subconsciously brace for the next horrific act.
I began this series by outlining my views on the nature and cause of this incident, and then addressed the sad commentary it has generated from people in positions of authority and influence. But Part Three is much tougher. What are we to DO? It would be easy to yammer on about having a greater appreciation for those we love in our lives, hugging our kids more often, and realizing that every blessing we have can vanish like a wisp of smoke. This is all true of course, but we already KNEW that. Sueng-Hui Cho did not teach us the importance of these things; he only reminded us.
Cho was disturbed, an evil sociopath. In turn, I believe the foundation of OUR mental health is to confront and accept certain realities. We need to realize that we live in a dark and dangerous world and that this is not going to change. We need to understand this so as to avoid living in an emotionally fractured and will-destroying state of denial. Accepting this reality does not mean we are craven and weak. Rather, this acceptance is the means by which we can live sober, realistic, and prepared lives. It is also the means by which we can successfully talk to our kids about such things, so that rather than scare the wits out of them, we can prepare them as well.
The second step, it seems to me, is to become more aware of the people in our lives that are isolated. There are damaged people in our society with nowhere to put the sickness inside of them except on top of you and me. I believe we have a responsibility to be aware of this so that we can seek to pull them OUT OF the isolation that breeds this behavior. This is not only a responsibility we have to our fellow man, but is also a healthy and pragmatic step we can take to make our communities safer.
But what of public policy? What of tangible steps to make ourselves citizens safer?
Blood baths like the massacre warrant the consideration of measures that, like the murders themselves, have been heretofore unprecedented. I believe it is up to the management of every private concern to comprehensively evaluate this matter in terms of what steps they should take for the protection of people in their charge. And since they hold sway over private property and capital, whatever decision they reach is their right.
As to the public domain there are two fundamental realities to consider.
ONE – we have evil people in our midst who care nothing for civilized society or its members.
TWO - we live in a society where large numbers of people congregate on a predictably scheduled basis: schools, factories, stadiums, office buildings, and churches to name the most obvious. Even if unlimited funds were available we could not secure every building. The simple fact is there are no guarantees against such atrocities. But does that mean we throw up our hands and say we are powerless to do ANYTHING?
It is time to consider the placement of a presence in our public gathering places. I refer specifically to a properly equipped presence that stands for the defense of civilized and moral behavior, and which is trained in the use and delivery of deadly force.
It is not extremism to suggest we engage in serious and deliberate debate on such measures. On the contrary - it is Mr. Cho who has defined extremism.
Hope is a precious commodity in our lives. Greek mythology tells us that it was the one good thing that Pandora let out of her box, having been ordered by the gods on Olympus to do so.
My theology tells me that hope is a grace given to mankind by God.
But I do not believe that hope is a strategy.
And I certainly don’t believe it is a strategy for dealing with the Sueng-Hui Cho’s of the world.
