April 18, 2007

"Virginia Tech Tragedy and Politics - The American Way"


Washington, DC (PoliticalJones.com) - Just think, one week ago Don Imus and the question of whether he would keep his job was the story of the moment in our country. It appeared that the meaning of our American culture and society hinged on the outcome of his job security. It only took a few hours of absolute violence, insanity and mayhem in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to change the whole debate in this county, and bring life into perspective.

The tragic occurrence at Virginia Tech should remind all of us how fragile life is.  The cable news networks that will unfold this story in every conceivable way possible are detailing this violent and horrific story around the clock.  This terrible tragedy will resonate across the country, affecting both students and parents alike. The politics of this tragedy has already become a part of the story as well, it is  another way Americans' mourn and express their grief.

In the aftermath of this massacre, gun control has now become an important issue in Election 2008. This is a hot button issue that is divided into two schools of thought. There are those groups who are adamantly against more restrictions on the right to purchase weapons, while the other group wants even tougher restrictions. There will be some who believe this incident could have been prevented if students had been allowed to carry weapons on campus. While others believe that allowing students to carry weapons on campus would have increased the number of shootings and deaths prior to this tragedy. The right and need to vigorously debate these very important issues is the American way, and there will be plenty of time to do that in the future.

Clearly, this should be one of those moments in our Nation’s history where even those who are on opposite sides of this argument can step back, mourn and reflect on this great tragedy. When a catastrophe of this magnitude occurs, some will attempt to link all the ills of our country into this one event. We should not allow ourselves to do that.  Let’s not forget that the massacre at Virginia Tech is about those who have died, those who survived, and the families and friends who loved them. Once all of the media glare dies down, and it will; they will still have to live with the fact that their loved ones are gone.

So let’s hope that before all the fingers are pointed, and before the entire pop psychology breakdown of the perpetrator and society, that we are able to see this for what it is. Not a political or societal moment, but a very personal moment of lost for the families of the victims. They deserve our respect. Our outrage and sorrow ends once we turn off the continuous cable news coverage, but the pain and grief for these families will last forever.