Who's at fault?
Who's at fault?
The massacre at Virginia Tech University alarmed the entire globe. The aftermath of it perhaps include the pain of loss of loved ones, recovering of emotions for those who went through the trauma, finger-pointing of US being too liberal in allowing citizens to possess guns, shame on the part of South Korea for what a fellow countryman has done, and maybe questions about "Who's at fault?"
Well personally, I think it's difficult to pin-point the fault onto a particular person, say in this case, the killer Cho Seung Hui. On the surface, it seems that he needed to shoulder a great deal of responsibility for what has happened, and everything seemed to be planned and carried out methodically. But take a little step back and raise a few questions, I believe many people are directly or indirectly responsible for the unfortunate incident ...
From Cho's writings, it seemed that he has endured very painful experiences and rejection, been shamed and embarassed - maybe not in the aspects of relationship per se, but in general maybe the treatment he received from the community ever since he moved to US as a child. Isn't it true that sometimes in our treatment of people, we just brush them aside if we can't click with them, and sometimes we even sneered them - forgetting that if we are the victim, how hurt and shameful that could have been.
There's also mention about his lecturers raising the concern to relevant personnels concerning Cho's morbid writings and expressions. What has been done? Simply brush things aside? Did the Court did the right thing in declaring that he need not be detained in the mental hospital anymore? How about the liberal rights that US always sanction - has it made people more inward looking, selfish, inconsiderate, insenitive, etc because "everyone has their own rights - who are we to infringe on another person's rights?"
It's always easy to point fingers at others and not ourselves. And it's always easy to blame someone else. While South Koreans felt the sense of shame, does the world really take it on them for what has happened? Is it fair? Or perhaps Cho's family themselves - with the unfortunate incident that has happened, his poor family would have to live with all the pain and hurt the Cho left behind already, would the society and the world carry on to blame them for what Cho has done? Is it fair?
In every incident, there are always learning points - and my personal feel is that, "This is really unfortunate, but let's learn what we can from this incident and move on from here. There's really no need for finger-pointing or agonizing in shame - does it help matters, or does it help to pacify some bad feelings within our hearts?"
It's time to live responsible lives as individuals so that we don't inflict hurts on others - and to me, that's the starting point for the world to be a better place - or maybe I'm just too naive and impractical? Anyway, xiao-mei sent this email which I thought it's worth sharing here ...
The massacre at Virginia Tech University alarmed the entire globe. The aftermath of it perhaps include the pain of loss of loved ones, recovering of emotions for those who went through the trauma, finger-pointing of US being too liberal in allowing citizens to possess guns, shame on the part of South Korea for what a fellow countryman has done, and maybe questions about "Who's at fault?"
Well personally, I think it's difficult to pin-point the fault onto a particular person, say in this case, the killer Cho Seung Hui. On the surface, it seems that he needed to shoulder a great deal of responsibility for what has happened, and everything seemed to be planned and carried out methodically. But take a little step back and raise a few questions, I believe many people are directly or indirectly responsible for the unfortunate incident ...
From Cho's writings, it seemed that he has endured very painful experiences and rejection, been shamed and embarassed - maybe not in the aspects of relationship per se, but in general maybe the treatment he received from the community ever since he moved to US as a child. Isn't it true that sometimes in our treatment of people, we just brush them aside if we can't click with them, and sometimes we even sneered them - forgetting that if we are the victim, how hurt and shameful that could have been.
There's also mention about his lecturers raising the concern to relevant personnels concerning Cho's morbid writings and expressions. What has been done? Simply brush things aside? Did the Court did the right thing in declaring that he need not be detained in the mental hospital anymore? How about the liberal rights that US always sanction - has it made people more inward looking, selfish, inconsiderate, insenitive, etc because "everyone has their own rights - who are we to infringe on another person's rights?"
It's always easy to point fingers at others and not ourselves. And it's always easy to blame someone else. While South Koreans felt the sense of shame, does the world really take it on them for what has happened? Is it fair? Or perhaps Cho's family themselves - with the unfortunate incident that has happened, his poor family would have to live with all the pain and hurt the Cho left behind already, would the society and the world carry on to blame them for what Cho has done? Is it fair?
In every incident, there are always learning points - and my personal feel is that, "This is really unfortunate, but let's learn what we can from this incident and move on from here. There's really no need for finger-pointing or agonizing in shame - does it help matters, or does it help to pacify some bad feelings within our hearts?"
It's time to live responsible lives as individuals so that we don't inflict hurts on others - and to me, that's the starting point for the world to be a better place - or maybe I'm just too naive and impractical? Anyway, xiao-mei sent this email which I thought it's worth sharing here ...
"This is a prayer given in Kansas at the opening session of their Senate. It seems that this prayer still upsets some people. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:
"Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh, God, and know! Our hearts today; cleanse us from Every sin and set us free. AMEN!"
The response was immediate.
A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest.
In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively.
The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea. Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, "The Rest of the Story," and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and whole heartedly become our desire so that we again can be called "one nation Under God."
If possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends. "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for everything." Think about this: If you forward this prayer to everyone on your e-mail list, in less than 30 days it would be heard by the world. How many people in your address book will not receive this prayer…do you have the Guts to pass it on? Love and prayers"
May God speak to our conscience that the way we live our lives are based solely on His Word alone.
Comments