Superville Review

It's been a couple weeks since the killings at Virgina Tech and there are several thoughts I have continuously had since the tragedy.

One: when is the United States finally going to take mental illness seriously? Too often, people with grave mental illness, which can manifest in a person's inability to cope with reality or produce violence brought on by disconnection with reality or adherence to a life lived by fantastical unreality, fall through the cracks of treatment.

Two: the Virgina Tech event also magnifies the age old debate about gun control. The shooter bought his guns and ammo with ease. The right to bare arms is a right that should be looked at immediately. Because guns exist does not mean everybody in the country should own one.

Three: The media coverage on the shootings was, of course, in today's age, over the top; symphonic soundtracks and movie style graphics included. Many interviews floated out the role of blame in the tragedy. The Va Tech administration. The Blacksburg police and sherrif's office. The truth is a small town law enforcement office did the best they could do under the circumstances. Perhaps the administration of the university could have gotten the word out to students earlier, but the truth of the matter is a killer had a gun, a mad, deluded passion and the element of surprise. There is nobody to be blame ultimately, but Seung-Hui Cho. Life is sudden, for better and for worse and many times there is no way it could have been forseen. Everybody walking the face of the earth have to deal with the truth of the fragility of existence and genuinely appreicate life itself.

Four: Seung-Hui Cho did a horrendous thing, a cowardly thing, but as we pray for his victims and there families, we should say a prayer for his family and yes, even for him. All are worthy in God's eyes; even though they may fall miles short in the eyes of their fellow human beings.

Labels: Gun Control, Mental Illness, Seung-Hui Cho, The Police, Virginia Tech

The Police triumphantly reunited, Mary J. Blige displayed why she is destined to be a legend, The Red Hot Chili Peppers are legends, Chris Brown can song and dance, James Brown will be sorely missed and after receiving public censure for anti-war and anti-George Bush remarks, the Dixie Chicks made a triumphant return to the spotlight winning several awards. This was the most important results in the 2007 Grammy Award show.

In a period where any criticism of American foreign or domestic policy was seen as anti-patriotic amidst the fear of terrorist threats at home and abroad The Dixie Chicks, one of the more popular groups in the country at the time used their right to free speech as American citizens living in a democracy, to criticize their President. Corporate fall-out, public fall-out led the Chicks down an isolated path of hate mail, decreased airplay and the resulting stress.

Once again, a country that is supposed to be framed on the tenet of public discourse and disagreement showed that we are not able to handle a truth we would rather not accept and those willing to issue their truth will be punished. It was good to see the Dixie Chicks receive several awards based on the excellence of their artistry and the truth within it. The good thing about living in a democracy is that even though one might here opinions that they furiously disagree with, they have a right to respond to it. Last night, in Los Angeles, California, the Dixie Chicks responded to the public beatdown they received by displaying the end result of perserverance.

Labels: Chris Brown, Democracy, Dixie Chicks, Grammy's, James Brown, Mary J. Blige, Terrorism, The Police