In Memoriam: Virginia Tech
I haven't written anything of substance in this journal for a while, but I feel compelled to write something about the horrible tragedy that the students, professors, staff, and relatives of the deceased or living students of Virginia Tech endured.
It is hard not to get caught up in the sensationalism of such an event, but that being said, it is imperative to realize that this is an intimate tragedy for those who have witnessed the events and those closely related to the school. I have found myself to be quite emotional over the event and it is perhaps that on some level I know the pain. I intimately know the darkness death by guns bring, but in my case, death by guns were a natural outcome of war. Places of education are not a war zone so I feel much pain in my heart for those students.
It is hard to be able to adequately address the situation because I have no words to speak, but what words could really be appropriate? The terror those students/professors must have felt is beyond recognition for most of us. I am sure that we all know the feeling of loss; however, senseless loss is a different type of experience and one that elicits an entirely different course of grief.
I have been thinking of those lost this past week and have found myself physically hurting from their pain and found myself wiping tears from my eyes on several occasions. I cannot spell out what specifically tears at me. The obvious loss of life is terrible, but I am looking beyond that: the promise snuffed out in a flash, the dreams forever in limbo, and the courage of those left behind to continue.
I went to church this morning and it was no surprise that the sermon centered around the Virginia Tech tragedy and it struck me with force that this is a community full of scholars and life and in this personal darkness they have brought light to the world watching. It takes a conviction of character to rise above hate and begin to heal and so many of those that I have seen on television have done just that. I saw something incredibly moving on television this morning and it was a picture of the make shift memorial at the university and adorning the scores of flowers, notes, and tributes was an addition - a message of forgiveness to the gunman. It was so moving that I could not think any longer of "how could this happen" or "why would he do this" because after the fact neither question holds much of anything except explanation and sometimes we cannot seek explanation from nonsense. If those closest to the tragedy can come to forgive then I am in no position to condemn. It was a terrible event and though the actions of this one man brought great loss, as many sad events do, it brought community and support, which will be imperative in the healing process.
To the victims, friends, students, and families my condolences for your loss.
Ross Abdallah Alameddine, 20
Christopher James Bishop, 35
Brian Bluhm, 25
Ryan Clark, 22
Austin Cloyd, 18
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
Daniel Perez Cueva, 21
Matthew G. Gwaltney, 24
Kevin Granata, 46
Caitlin Hammaren, 19
Jeremy Herbstritt, 27
Rachael Elizabeth Hill, 18
Emily Jane Hilscher, 19
Jarrett L. Lane, 22
Matthew J. La Porte, 20
Henry Lee, 20
Liviu Librescu, 76
G.V. Loganathan, 51
Partahi Lumbantoruan, 34
Lauren McCain, 20
Daniel O'Neil, 22
Juan Ramon Ortiz, 26
Minal Panchal, 26
Erin Peterson, 18
Michael Pohle, 23
Julia Pryde, 23
Mary Karen Read, 19
Reema J. Samaha, 18
Waleed Mohamed Shaalan,32
Leslie Sherman, 20
Maxine Turner, 22
Nicole White, 20
We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness ... We will prevail ...
-- Nikki Giovanni, University Distinguished Professor, poet, activist
It is hard not to get caught up in the sensationalism of such an event, but that being said, it is imperative to realize that this is an intimate tragedy for those who have witnessed the events and those closely related to the school. I have found myself to be quite emotional over the event and it is perhaps that on some level I know the pain. I intimately know the darkness death by guns bring, but in my case, death by guns were a natural outcome of war. Places of education are not a war zone so I feel much pain in my heart for those students.
It is hard to be able to adequately address the situation because I have no words to speak, but what words could really be appropriate? The terror those students/professors must have felt is beyond recognition for most of us. I am sure that we all know the feeling of loss; however, senseless loss is a different type of experience and one that elicits an entirely different course of grief.
I have been thinking of those lost this past week and have found myself physically hurting from their pain and found myself wiping tears from my eyes on several occasions. I cannot spell out what specifically tears at me. The obvious loss of life is terrible, but I am looking beyond that: the promise snuffed out in a flash, the dreams forever in limbo, and the courage of those left behind to continue.
I went to church this morning and it was no surprise that the sermon centered around the Virginia Tech tragedy and it struck me with force that this is a community full of scholars and life and in this personal darkness they have brought light to the world watching. It takes a conviction of character to rise above hate and begin to heal and so many of those that I have seen on television have done just that. I saw something incredibly moving on television this morning and it was a picture of the make shift memorial at the university and adorning the scores of flowers, notes, and tributes was an addition - a message of forgiveness to the gunman. It was so moving that I could not think any longer of "how could this happen" or "why would he do this" because after the fact neither question holds much of anything except explanation and sometimes we cannot seek explanation from nonsense. If those closest to the tragedy can come to forgive then I am in no position to condemn. It was a terrible event and though the actions of this one man brought great loss, as many sad events do, it brought community and support, which will be imperative in the healing process.
To the victims, friends, students, and families my condolences for your loss.
Ross Abdallah Alameddine, 20
Christopher James Bishop, 35
Brian Bluhm, 25
Ryan Clark, 22
Austin Cloyd, 18
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
Daniel Perez Cueva, 21
Matthew G. Gwaltney, 24
Kevin Granata, 46
Caitlin Hammaren, 19
Jeremy Herbstritt, 27
Rachael Elizabeth Hill, 18
Emily Jane Hilscher, 19
Jarrett L. Lane, 22
Matthew J. La Porte, 20
Henry Lee, 20
Liviu Librescu, 76
G.V. Loganathan, 51
Partahi Lumbantoruan, 34
Lauren McCain, 20
Daniel O'Neil, 22
Juan Ramon Ortiz, 26
Minal Panchal, 26
Erin Peterson, 18
Michael Pohle, 23
Julia Pryde, 23
Mary Karen Read, 19
Reema J. Samaha, 18
Waleed Mohamed Shaalan,32
Leslie Sherman, 20
Maxine Turner, 22
Nicole White, 20
We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness ... We will prevail ...
-- Nikki Giovanni, University Distinguished Professor, poet, activist