Comments on: Virginia Tech tragedy http://rabbibarry.wordpress.com/2007/04/19/virginia-tech-tragedy/ A perspective about the events that shape our community and our world viewed through a Jewish lens Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:11:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Hoyt Hallford http://rabbibarry.wordpress.com/2007/04/19/virginia-tech-tragedy/#comment-71 Hoyt Hallford Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:23:16 +0000 http://rabbibarry.wordpress.com/2007/04/19/virginia-tech-tragedy/#comment-71 On the afternoon this occurred, my wife made the observation that "people should have been nice to him". Not that her statement absolves him in any way. As the investigation moved forward it was evidenced that this man had deep socialization problems, exacerbated by the actions of his peers. The same was true of the Columbine killers. As our world's pace quickens it becomes more and more apparent that there are people who are greatly affected by the actions of their peers. I am certain that every person has at least one memory of a situation involving taunting or abuse as an adolescent. Either as the victim, the perpetrator, or a witness. It is a well known fact that young people are often the most cruel element of society. As they succumb to the ever-growing pressure to "fit in", they marginalize and disenfranchise anyone who does not. I have always felt that kindness pays the greatest dividends. Compassion for one another has the power to avert monumental tragedies. My heart goes out to all the victims of the VT shootings. And please understand that I am in no way attempting to absolve the shooter for his actions. However, if everyone teaches our children compassion, and models this behavior every moment of every day, such tragedies can be averted in the future... On the afternoon this occurred, my wife made the observation that “people should have been nice to him”. Not that her statement absolves him in any way.

As the investigation moved forward it was evidenced that this man had deep socialization problems, exacerbated by the actions of his peers. The same was true of the Columbine killers.

As our world’s pace quickens it becomes more and more apparent that there are people who are greatly affected by the actions of their peers. I am certain that every person has at least one memory of a situation involving taunting or abuse as an adolescent. Either as the victim, the perpetrator, or a witness. It is a well known fact that young people are often the most cruel element of society. As they succumb to the ever-growing pressure to “fit in”, they marginalize and disenfranchise anyone who does not.

I have always felt that kindness pays the greatest dividends. Compassion for one another has the power to avert monumental tragedies.

My heart goes out to all the victims of the VT shootings. And please understand that I am in no way attempting to absolve the shooter for his actions.

However, if everyone teaches our children compassion, and models this behavior every moment of every day, such tragedies can be averted in the future…

]]> By: Stan, the Hun http://rabbibarry.wordpress.com/2007/04/19/virginia-tech-tragedy/#comment-67 Stan, the Hun Fri, 20 Apr 2007 20:17:03 +0000 http://rabbibarry.wordpress.com/2007/04/19/virginia-tech-tragedy/#comment-67 Why there are not more of them is only by the Grace of G-D! Biggest root cause is the ready availability of guns. Though I used to be a hand gun collector and was rated expert in military weapons reanging from pistols to aerial machine guns, I think our gun slingers culture is deplorable. The NRA (National Rifle ASSociation [typo deloiberate] is a strong force against rigid control of gun ownership. Their slogan that "guns don't kill people, people do" would be a joke if it wasn't so serious. I would make all pidtols illegal except for certfied legitimate collectors and allow one rifle per person--to be used for hunting or defending the home against intruders. The VT authorities must share the blame for their failure to take immediate and strong action after the first wave of killings. Allowing classes to continue was deplorable. Also, they were delinquent to expell the shooter when his aberrant behavior became apparent. I shudder to think about any young member of my family forced to share a room with him! Why there are not more of them is only by the Grace of G-D!

Biggest root cause is the ready availability of guns. Though I used to be a hand gun collector and was rated expert in military weapons reanging from pistols to aerial machine guns, I think our gun slingers culture is deplorable. The NRA (National Rifle ASSociation [typo deloiberate] is a strong force against rigid control of gun ownership. Their slogan that “guns don’t kill people, people do” would be a joke if it wasn’t so serious.

I would make all pidtols illegal except for certfied legitimate collectors and allow one rifle per person–to be used for hunting or defending the home against intruders.

The VT authorities must share the blame for their failure to take immediate and strong action after the first wave of killings. Allowing classes to continue was deplorable. Also, they were delinquent to expell the shooter when his aberrant behavior became apparent. I shudder to think about any young member of my family forced to share a room with him!

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