Part III: Breakthrough...

Watching the video of Cho Seung-Hui, feeling revulsion and fear become something else--

Sadness, deep sadness, not just for the victims whose smiling faces are splashed across every screen and page, but for the cruel, hardened face of the shooter sharing his dismal "letter to the world."

More and more I'm convinced he never have had a moment of peace or happiness, lived a life devoured by rage and hate and disillusionment.

Out of the fog of my tears,

I unexpectedly find

traces of compassion

for the one who made me cry.

April 19, 2007

Comments

[Mary-LUE]

I admire your compassion, V. Right now, after seeing the video, I am more in a place of horror at seeing what the victims saw, Cho's face, that look, the guns in his hands. I have intellectual compassion for him. (Does that make sense?) But I think it might take a little while for me to feel it.

[Angela]

God only knows what happened to that kid to make him what he became.I believe that people are born intrinsically good and that it takes one hell of an environmental influence to create a person filled with so much rage and hate. Like you, I feel compassion for this soul who could have turned out so very differently under better circumstances. I suspect he was a victim of abuse -- physical, sexual, emotional, -- or neglect. We will probably never know. Such a tragedy. On all levels, a tragedy.

[furiousBall]

I really can't muster up any sympathy for this kid and blame those around him. Some reported warning signs of his potential danger. Right now, I am contemplating how much pain the victim's families are feeling now.

[Inside Out]

I suspect we havent heard the end of this one. I think there will be some light shed on his home life or lack there of...I/O

[Tera]

I, too, feel sadness. Such things do not happen in our ideal world. But what brought him to this point in his life? What could we have done? Where did this rage come from?

Since my son being diagnosed with autism, I have a bit more understanding of these lost souls. Not that I have compassion, but understanding. Whatever problems you are having in your life, you do not have the right to violently hurt other people. But he must have been hurting so deeply in order to go through with his terrible crimes.

He made his statement, for sure. I just wonder if it got the results he was hoping for? He got some attention, but certainly nothing positive. And a whole lot more pain was created when it could have been just helping one individual find happiness. But how can we accomplish that?

Too many questions, too much pain. And not a coherent thought to put it into words.

[Arabella]

It's one of those incidents that really tests my capacity for forgiveness. I'm not quite there yet, but you make excellent points.

[bice]

It takes great courage and compassion to look past the actions to see the soul behind them. I dare say there are few either willing or able to do so soon. It's a good soul thing to do but I'm certain your numbers are few.

[Nance]

I'm not sure that broadcasting any of those clips or pictures was a good idea. He was not the only one to ever feel this way and act upon it; his praise for the Columbine killers proved it. Now, to give public platform to the rantings and images may serve to illuminate and glorify it for others who are similarly inclined. As a public school teacher, this is a scarier time now.

[mamatulip]

I feel sadness too. I wonder what happened in his life to have him turn out this way. I feel sadness for everyone involved in this situation. It's just so...unnecessary.

[t]

I feel as you do. Of course I am sick for the victims, families and friends. It is horrifying but as soon as things began coming out about the shooter it seemed clear to me that he was mentally ill. Then seeing the video and hearing his voice confirmed it in my mind. He was a tortured soul who was out of touch with reality. Of course what he did was pure evil but I hesitate to say that he was. The whole thing is just so sad and completely sickening.

[Amber]

Eh.
I don't really think he suffered a horrible abuse. I think he was mentally ill. And that IS sad. A horrible way to live.
I think it is imortant to remember that not every person who acts out in an evil way has been some kind of victim of other people. Some people are just sick. And some people are just evil.

But you are a loving person, and I am happy people like you are around.

:)

[Shirley]

I am like Mary-Lue. Intellectually I understand that forgiveness is warranted for someone with such issues. Emotionally, I am nowhere near forgiveness. I am incredibly sad and upset still. When I go to bed, images of the gunman pop into my head ... images I wouldn't have if I hadn't seen his pictures all over. The picture from his green card would not have stuck in my mind, but those others do. I, too, imagine what those victims might have seen. Now slowly the stories come out of students in our area who actually escaped, one who jumped out the window and another who was grabbed by the janitor and ushered into his closet with other students where they stayed for 2 hours. Today we had a brief memorial service at work. About 30 people (of over 300) showed up. It was led by a very caring Tech alumnus. It was very moving and helped as much as it hurt. I thank you for writing on this topic and letting us speak freely because one of the saddest parts of all of this tragedy to me is the lack of feeling on people's parts in my workplace, like it's just another shooting and why are people losing sleep over it. It's all very tragic. So many questions to be answered and man that won't be resolved I am afraid, but like Hokies we must push forward I guess with strength and courage.

[Richard]

IMO ... NBC erred in publshing his videos - I fear they may encourage other similarly bent individuals to seek their moment of infamy in the press. American Idol for Psychopaths!

[V-Grrrl]

Richard,

As a former journalist, I don't think the video should have been aired either. Maybe audio excerpts and written transcripts, but not video. The images are too powerful and I agree they are likely to inspire other suicidal shooters.

[Shirley in NZ]

I agree with Amber. I think Cho was severely mentally ill, and no purpose was served by publishing his videos. They are the product of a totally skewed mind.

[Ortizzle]

I agree that the images were scary and will no doubt inspire copy cat reactions. But since they already opened Pandora's Box, why don't they concentrate more on mental health issues, and... yes, gun control. For those who would say that "guns don't kill, people do" I would just like to say, "Yes, but people who can't get guns easily find it a little harder to kill."

I'm going to stop there, because I have already climbed too high on my little soap box!

Enjoyed your thoughtful posts on this subject.

[TB]

Thanks for sharing your thoughs on this tragedy. For me, here in the states immersed in the media frenzy, it's almost impossible to get perspective unless you make a conscious effort to turn off the news and the talk shows and think about things from a fresh perspective, which I make an effort to do every other day or so. Having your thoughts from a continent away is refreshing.