The Vice of Killing

Rik's Log 4.24.07

Last week Monday (for those who don't pay attention to the news)
Virginia Tech became the scene of
One of the most insane massacres in American history,
Well at least modern American history.

Anyways the media aftermath of that event
Has become what I call another CNN Circus
Where news channels, newspaper, media blogs, news reports,
& all forms of individuals who claim to be knowledgeable of something
Tell us their "much needed" opinions on the situation.
We also get inundated by hundreds of images
And accounts of what occurred.
Making last week's tragedy into the sensation of the week.

Worse than the tragedy itself is turning it into movie premiere!
And what's worse is that man responsible suddenly becomes a celebrity
Perhaps it would be better if we didn't mention anything
Or made a big deal about it & instead showed a little respect quietly.
Perhaps it would not encourage other unstable persons to seek fame in such a way.
It creates a ridiculous cycle when the next psychopath kills dozens
He (cause it's usually a he but I can't wait till some crazy chic...
goes bang bang in a school, what will the feminists say)
He will thank the media for giving him the great idea...
Cause the media should be equally responsible.
And that's the problem: the media is not responsible.

But as Americans we want all our news and we want it now
And we wanna know all the whos whats wheres and whys.
But why do we all need to know the whos, whats, and whys?
Sometimes people go crazy and kill lots of innocent bystanders.
It happens occasionally, you know people have many different problems...
& some people solve their problems by offing others.

And the other tragedy is how this kid was made a monster.
No one is ever created a cold-blooded killer
It environmental conditions that create people who become mass murders.
As equally responsible as the killer is for his actions
And the media is for their irresponsibility;
The punks who bullied him during his teenage years are also responsible
Cause they created the murderous madman.
And they should at least be acknowledged for their part.

Everything is related in a chain of events
And no one event can standalone.
If people were more responsible in their treatment of others
Perhaps more tragedies could be avoided.
Of all the kids who spoke to the media ‘they knew he was crazy’
But noone said once that ever tried to help
They all just watch silently as he delved deeper into darkness.
We all drown in our apathy.

So as much as society wants to pin this event down on one person
It’s society’s responsibility that this event happened.
Our American culture (through the media) created this individual
Our children taunted and abused him fueling his anger
And the people who surrounded him as young adult ignored the situation.
But when the volcano erupted we only saw one person.
Now we all complain about gun control and school security...
But what about purging our society & redefining our values?
What about teaching our children to be less mean, selfish, & apathetic?
Because without a true reassessment of our values
It’s only a matter of time before another poor tormented soul explodes.

Anyways those are my two cents on the subject.


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