The Virginia Tech Killings, What Did We Learn?

The story may be old now, but the circumstances that lead to the event continues around the world. What circumstances? One might ask. How about asking the question, why did that young Korean boy kill all of those students? There are many people suffering from depression and or psychological disorders, but few of them go out and kill multiple people, right?

So, what caused that Korean boy to kill thirty students? Was it anger? Was it a rage of anger resulting from being teased? Teased, that's right, I said it, teased because he was a antisocial Korean boy that remained mostly alone? Yes, it was a tragedy that so many people, young people to be precise were killed as a result of a troubled young boy. But the question remains, why did the boy do it? It is deeper than just "psychological disorders" or a label.

The tragedy started in the mind of that Korean boy, low self esteem as a result of past negative actions against him perhaps. Anyway, what if the VT students were patient enough to mentor the Korean boy and help him to become more social. What if they put aside his existing mindset and viewed him as the man he could one day become?

If a group of students extended nothing but pure love towards him, sound advice and encouragement, do you think that boy would have killed any of the VT students? That kind of love towards another human being, a person of our society and culture, I believe would have rapidly served better than any psychological medicines and therapy sessions could ever produce.

What is the lesson? What can we learn from this situation? It's not just about this kid having psychological problems and the need for Universities or Colleges to exclude or screen out or profile like minded individuals from people does not offer solutions alone. Now obviously, there are some people that truly need to be excluded or segregated from others while getting the medicinal help and therapy before re-entry, however, was that the case with the Korean boy?

Perhaps in retrospect we will never know, but the "teasing" and even "hazing" across the nation and world must stop. People must be just as sensitive to political correctness or racial overtones as with other people's feelings. I can see it if everyone or the masses of people at VT made sincere attempts to encourage, edify, socialize, and many strategies, and if the Korean boy was apprehensive over long periods of attempts, then I can understand leaving the boy alone but teasing, I am against. That boy was a human being that obviously wanted to be accepted on campus by other students but was rejected with humility that lead to violence.

He was a time bomb waiting to explode. In conclusion, he did not know how to deal with the situation peacefully, ultimately tragically killing others and destroying his own life without the chance of redemption. Universities and colleges should educate students against teasing and create social programs to help the low self esteem or socially challenged young people to cope with others. Build them up, not allow the character assassinations that is so adolescent or shameful, yet continues in the actions of young adults. When will we wake up?

People have more sympathy for a poor stray dog or a sickly puppy roaming the streets than a troubled young boy that lacks social skills and self esteem, roaming the college or university campus in search of love, compassion, and affection as a human being. What does this say about us overall? Teasing might be funny to the crowd of people, but at the expense of other people's feelings, how can one find pleasure in that type of laughter? --- Pall Stanley