It's downright surreal to look back at the massacre that happened at Virginia Tech just two days ago. It's even more surreal to think about how this could have happened anywhere.
Apparently, some people saw the signs that the gunman was about to snap. Some tried to help. Others laughed about it--like a sick joke was okay. It backfired on them (literally).
The former head of the English dept. was concerned enough to pull Cho out of classes and work with him one on one. She even recommended that he receive some counseling. But, there was nothing in place to make certain if he received the counseling. She went to the police and to the University trying to get someone to listen. But, until Cho did something significant or made a tangible "threat" they would do nothing. It's a little late now, isn't it?
Students who were in classes with Cho were reportedly prone to joking about him and how he was "going to do something" one day. I appreciate dark humor as much as the next gal, but does it seem funny now? Was it worth a cheap laugh at the expense of dead students? I think not.
Cho lived in the dorms. His very presence there was likely putting people at risk in a limited way before this incident occurred. Of course, he put them at serious risk as he rampaged around campus shooting at people. Couldn't counseling be a requirement for an obviously unstable student to be able to live in the dorms???
What about the police? There are several reports that they had spoken to Cho in previous weeks about stalking women. Hmmm. They had already been contacted by the English Dept. about him. Couldn't that have been the "something tangible" that they needed in order to get him help?
Sadly, everyone there was a victim of sorts: the innocent dead, the survivors, the gunman, the families who are left behind to wonder and grieve. Who knows what would have happened if there had been a successful bid to force Cho into getting some help. Would any of us be thinking of Virginia Tech now?
Six months from now, will it matter that we cared? Or will we sit back and become complacent again and wait for the next deadly event?
Support the Hokies. Pray for them. Pray for their families. Pray for guidance that this carnage can be stopped BEFORE it happens next time.
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