I agree. The NRA totally sponsored this. There is nothing intrinsic, of course, to Blacksburg that makes it a magnet for violent rampages. The sad thing is, the vulnerability is everywhere. I recommend reading a book called "Violence" by James Gilligan to better understand the reasons we live in a society awash in testosterone-fueled mayhem.
Makes me wish so much more for the days of my childhood, simple, less violent. Bicycles, rollerskates, Moms in aprons, children out playing, Leave it to Beaver, I Love Lucy, Tom and Jerry, Pepe Lepew, Sunday masses, Family reunions (big ones), hopscotch, 4 square, standing up for the Pledge of Allegience WITH our hands over our hearts, darning with Grandma, trips the the cemetery to visit our deceased relatives, Sunday picnics, yoyos, jumpropes, paperdolls, hulahoops, days when the only violence I remember was JFK being shot, and mama crying. Back then I felt safe, not so much anymore.
Did you hear that a paper in Italy called this "as American as Apple Pie" blaming our Gun laws. Sad days.
There was a bomb threat at my niece's college this morning (see CNN Texas University headline). Copycat to be sure but you have to take it seriously. Frightening stuff for these kids.
i don't agree about gun control you can only stop the law abiding citizen from owning a gun, thoes who are up to no good will get one any way. we live in a sick socitity and some how we need to fix that.
Velvet, although I am not in accord with you on "brought to us courtesy of the NRA", my heart aches today. And my prayers are with the families and friends that mourn.
Interesting view points. I know in my generation, and the one that has followed, some are descensitized to violence. Why, I ask. Is it television? Lord knows we see enough on T.V. Has it become common place? For the children that grow up in neighborhoods where there is drug abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, this sometimes becomes the norm...and sometimes not. I have no answers. What I will say is, I hope the next generation finds events like this as appalling as I do. By speaking out to our children and grandchildren our views on how this is so wrong, will pass our principles down to further generations. The only way we can change the world as a whole, is to change it one person at a time.
Janet, I don't think we can totally protect ourselves from people like that--but I think there are things we can do to make it more difficult for them to destroy so many lives.
Rhea, welcome, and thanks for the tip about the book. I'll add it to my reading list.
Maxngabbie, you've described beautifully a time I remember well. I wonder if we'll ever feel that safe again. Your observation about changing the world one person at a time is right on target, too.
Duly Inspired, I hadn't heard about the Italian newspaper comment, but I guess I'm not surprised. It makes me terribly sad that people in other countries have come to have such negative opinions of America. And how scary for your niece! I'm glad it was a false alarm.
Patsy, I know where you're coming from, but I think we have to try to do something different. What we're doing now certainly isn't working.
Jackie, regardless of differing opinions on gun-control and the NRA, I'm sure all of us feel deeply saddened--and angered--that something like this has happened again. When will it stop, and what can we do to to change this shoot-to-get-even mentality?
I don't know as it will ever stop, Velvet, as long as there are unbalanced people on the streets. Yes, I feel deeply angered - but not at the NRA. At our system that does not take care of our mentally impaired persons. This is a very sick young man that should not have been on the streets.
With my own two precious babies in college, I cried for these poor souls and their families. I can only imagine their pain. My son's school had a gunman in the residential area near the dorms, last December - thankfully, the campus was put on immediate lockdown and there were no tragedies.
Your comments might be the very best thing about blogging. I love it when you care enough to share your thoughts here, so go ahead and say what's on your mind.
Peace be with them all. The survivors are going to need a lot of love and support.
ReplyDeleteThat is incomprehensible. How do we protect ourselves from people like that?
ReplyDeleteI agree. The NRA totally sponsored this. There is nothing intrinsic, of course, to Blacksburg that makes it a magnet for violent rampages. The sad thing is, the vulnerability is everywhere. I recommend reading a book called "Violence" by James Gilligan to better understand the reasons we live in a society awash in testosterone-fueled mayhem.
ReplyDeleteMakes me wish so much more for the days of my childhood, simple, less violent. Bicycles, rollerskates, Moms in aprons, children out playing, Leave it to Beaver, I Love Lucy, Tom and Jerry, Pepe Lepew, Sunday masses, Family reunions (big ones), hopscotch, 4 square, standing up for the Pledge of Allegience WITH our hands over our hearts, darning with Grandma, trips the the cemetery to visit our deceased relatives, Sunday picnics, yoyos, jumpropes, paperdolls, hulahoops, days when the only violence I remember was JFK being shot, and mama crying. Back then I felt safe, not so much anymore.
ReplyDeleteDid you hear that a paper in Italy called this "as American as Apple Pie" blaming our Gun laws. Sad days.
ReplyDeleteThere was a bomb threat at my niece's college this morning (see CNN Texas University headline). Copycat to be sure but you have to take it seriously. Frightening stuff for these kids.
i don't agree about gun control you can only stop the law abiding citizen from owning a gun, thoes who are up to no good will get one any way.
ReplyDeletewe live in a sick socitity and some how we need to fix that.
Velvet, although I am not in accord with you on "brought to us courtesy of the NRA", my heart aches today. And my prayers are with the families and friends that mourn.
ReplyDeleteInteresting view points. I know in my generation, and the one that has followed, some are descensitized to violence. Why, I ask. Is it television? Lord knows we see enough on T.V. Has it become common place? For the children that grow up in neighborhoods where there is drug abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, this sometimes becomes the norm...and sometimes not. I have no answers. What I will say is, I hope the next generation finds events like this as appalling as I do. By speaking out to our children and grandchildren our views on how this is so wrong, will pass our principles down to further generations. The only way we can change the world as a whole, is to change it one person at a time.
ReplyDeleteCreekhiker, they certainly will.
ReplyDeleteJanet, I don't think we can totally protect ourselves from people like that--but I think there are things we can do to make it more difficult for them to destroy so many lives.
Rhea, welcome, and thanks for the tip about the book. I'll add it to my reading list.
Maxngabbie, you've described beautifully a time I remember well. I wonder if we'll ever feel that safe again. Your observation about changing the world one person at a time is right on target, too.
Duly Inspired, I hadn't heard about the Italian newspaper comment, but I guess I'm not surprised. It makes me terribly sad that people in other countries have come to have such negative opinions of America. And how scary for your niece! I'm glad it was a false alarm.
Patsy, I know where you're coming from, but I think we have to try to do something different. What we're doing now certainly isn't working.
Jackie, regardless of differing opinions on gun-control and the NRA, I'm sure all of us feel deeply saddened--and angered--that something like this has happened again. When will it stop, and what can we do to to change this shoot-to-get-even mentality?
I don't know as it will ever stop, Velvet, as long as there are unbalanced people on the streets. Yes, I feel deeply angered - but not at the NRA. At our system that does not take care of our mentally impaired persons. This is a very sick young man that should not have been on the streets.
ReplyDeleteYou are profound, Velvet.
ReplyDeleteWith my own two precious babies in college, I cried for these poor souls and their families. I can only imagine their pain. My son's school had a gunman in the residential area near the dorms, last December - thankfully, the campus was put on immediate lockdown and there were no tragedies.
ReplyDeleteI do blame our gun laws - or lack thereof.