After tragedies occur, we must all look within
The massacre at Virginia Tech reopens many devastating and unhealed wounds: the endless media discourse about how these horrors should have been prevented, the desperate need to place blame on someone, perhaps everyone but the man pulling the trigger, and the exacerbation of the fear and stigma associated with mental illness.
In the wake of such disasters as Columbine, Sept. 11, Oklahoma City and now Virginia Tech, we must concentrate our efforts on coping with the aftermath and healing as a whole. No progress can come from denying the unfortunate reality that sometimes the face of evil rears its ugly head, and no amount of finger-pointing, guilt and blame can ever ease our pain. If a madman is so consumed with hatred and hell-bent on killing, he inevitably will find the ways and means to do so.
Our only hope for healing the wounds that threaten us all must come from within our own humanity: how we treat one another, with respect and tolerance and understanding.
What percentage of college students has been treated for mental-health issues and prescribed medication? As a society, we are quick to put a Band-Aid on the problem and cash in on the cure. Perhaps we should all look a little deeper within ourselves and get to know the people around us.
Debra Getty
Greensboro