World Gone Mad(der)
I think the Virginia Tech shooting really highlights what the American government should be focusing on. Rather than expending effort, manpower and billions of dollars on liberating the Iraqi people (from their oil) they should be focusing on issues closer to home.
Why is it that the country with the highest rate of gun crime in the world continues to fail to do anything about it? George W. Bush continues to deny that there is a gun control problem and does not want to touch the issue. Although we have all come to expect utter idiocy from Bush, this certainly takes the cake. Certainly 33 people killed and many others injured in one firearm incident could be considered to be an isolated example of madness. But this sort of thing happens in the USA far too often for it to be dismissed as a mere tragedy. How many more innocent people must die before the government finally gets the message?
What is the world coming to when a 23 year old university student can get his hands on firearms and then proceeds to use them to vent out his frustrations? Who is to blame for this? As always, family groups and conservatives will blame the media for this. They will say that he was brainwashed by violent films. That his notion of reality was skewed by graphic videogames. That goth rock and Marilyn Manson promote aggression (okay, maybe Marilyn Manson does incite a bit of murderous rage but more because his music is extremely irritating than influential). Remember that these are the same people who want to enforce their Christian beliefs upon others (not that they'd ever admit to it). Should we trust the opinion of people who want abortion and gay marriages banned on the basis that it defies God's will?
Certainly, the shooter must take a large share of the blame as the person undertaking the wrong action. I am in no way denying this. But it is not his fault alone. Blame must also be placed upon the firearm dealer. Despite his claims that the shooter seemed normal and that he would not have sold guns to someone if he knew they were going to do something of this nature, we have to question what it is a 23 year old could possibly need a gun for in the first place. That the guns used were registered and legally obtained should be of particular concern. A large portion must be placed on the government. Not because they did not ban firearms but because they have still not banned firearms after countless similar tragedies.
But the greatest tragedy of all is the Bush administration's apparent apathy towards its own people possessing weapons while breathing fire when it comes to the people of other nations possessing the same firearms on the basis that these people are 'radicalists' and 'terrorists'. Yet it would seem that they are allowing a different form of terror to spread in their own backyard and are behaving more like terrorists than the ones they are allegedly trying to stop. The phrase 'collateral damage' has been used so often by the US military it has become something of a cliche.
From their violent beginning to the assassination of political figures to the countless wars they have instigated to the Virginia Tech shooting, the USA just seems to have a history of violence. I dare go so far as to call it a culture of violence.
Everybody is incensed.
The world is mad but not mad enough.
Nobody wants to do anything about it.
Why is it that the country with the highest rate of gun crime in the world continues to fail to do anything about it? George W. Bush continues to deny that there is a gun control problem and does not want to touch the issue. Although we have all come to expect utter idiocy from Bush, this certainly takes the cake. Certainly 33 people killed and many others injured in one firearm incident could be considered to be an isolated example of madness. But this sort of thing happens in the USA far too often for it to be dismissed as a mere tragedy. How many more innocent people must die before the government finally gets the message?
What is the world coming to when a 23 year old university student can get his hands on firearms and then proceeds to use them to vent out his frustrations? Who is to blame for this? As always, family groups and conservatives will blame the media for this. They will say that he was brainwashed by violent films. That his notion of reality was skewed by graphic videogames. That goth rock and Marilyn Manson promote aggression (okay, maybe Marilyn Manson does incite a bit of murderous rage but more because his music is extremely irritating than influential). Remember that these are the same people who want to enforce their Christian beliefs upon others (not that they'd ever admit to it). Should we trust the opinion of people who want abortion and gay marriages banned on the basis that it defies God's will?
Certainly, the shooter must take a large share of the blame as the person undertaking the wrong action. I am in no way denying this. But it is not his fault alone. Blame must also be placed upon the firearm dealer. Despite his claims that the shooter seemed normal and that he would not have sold guns to someone if he knew they were going to do something of this nature, we have to question what it is a 23 year old could possibly need a gun for in the first place. That the guns used were registered and legally obtained should be of particular concern. A large portion must be placed on the government. Not because they did not ban firearms but because they have still not banned firearms after countless similar tragedies.
But the greatest tragedy of all is the Bush administration's apparent apathy towards its own people possessing weapons while breathing fire when it comes to the people of other nations possessing the same firearms on the basis that these people are 'radicalists' and 'terrorists'. Yet it would seem that they are allowing a different form of terror to spread in their own backyard and are behaving more like terrorists than the ones they are allegedly trying to stop. The phrase 'collateral damage' has been used so often by the US military it has become something of a cliche.
From their violent beginning to the assassination of political figures to the countless wars they have instigated to the Virginia Tech shooting, the USA just seems to have a history of violence. I dare go so far as to call it a culture of violence.
Everybody is incensed.
The world is mad but not mad enough.
Nobody wants to do anything about it.
posted by Yuki at
10:59 PM
4 Comments:
Okay I just loved your window where you said that surely the media would pinpoint a violent movie that influenced him. The movie taking the fall for this massacre is 2003 South Koren film "Oldboy".
And did you know that gun enthusiasts are claiming that had the school not been turned into a gun free zone a few years ago more of the students would have been carrying guns and therefore able to contain the situation. Sadly its laughable when you think that you should be packing a gun to school each day despite the weight because pissed off peers are likely to kill you. Wouldnt it just be easier for everyone to be tolerant of one another and not bully? Perhaps have a mandatory class where everyone is taught to respect or at least accept each other?
Oh and Alan I cant believe you used the name Bush and the word apathy in the same sentence. Did anyone catch the press conference? The guy is pathetic - you think that with 33 people killed and 15 injured he could show some emotion. Has he recently been injected with botox because seriously he used the same facial expresions you would announcing you just saw a movie you didnt like. The only time that I ever see him showing any emotion is when there is an apparent victory in Iraq.
Anyway thats enough from me.
By
Anonymous, at April 20, 2007 6:34 PM
I think Bush and apathy go very well together. Bush and empathy, on the other hand, go together like an open flame and several tonnes of TNT.
I read that same article in the newspaper about the gun carrying theory and it had me in stitches. Even if they did not make the school a gun-free zone, I'd like to think that most of the students would have the common sense not to carry guns around anyway. It's not as if everyone brings weapons on the odd chance that some psycho is going to go on a shooting rampage.
By
Yuki, at April 20, 2007 9:42 PM
Where did you go? I miss you.
By
Anonymous, at May 07, 2007 11:39 AM
I've been preoccupied with a whole stack of uni work and assignments which I am leaving to the last minute. I have much to rant about and will do so very shortly (most likley Wednesday or Thursday) so keep an eye out!
By
Yuki, at May 07, 2007 9:41 PM
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