April 16, 2007
Virginia Tech Tragedy
When I flipped on the radio in the car this afternoon, I was horrified, angered, and saddened to hear the news of the Virginia Tech tragedy that occurred earlier today in Blacksburg, VA. It has become the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history, a record I'm sure Virginia Tech would rather not hold.
Upon hearing the news, my thoughts immediately turned to Columbine. This month marks the eighth anniversary of the school massacre that took place in Columbine High School in Littleton, CO where 15 people were killed, including the two gunmen. I'm not sure this connection is coincidental, but many of the facts remain to be seen.
My thoughts pivoted, then, to the amazing powers of healing and forgiveness displayed by the Amish community after the killings at the West Nickel Mines School in Lancaster, PA in the fall of 2006, just a few months ago. May we all mimic that faithful community's strength and their sense of unity.
My prayers go out to the family members of the victims of this senseless crime. I pray, too, for those families who have been unable to reach their loved ones and are experiencing a living hell while they try to do so. May peace come to all those involved. No one will be able to give these families satisfying answers; what answer could satisfy?
This tragic situation reminds me of a quote I once read by an anonymous author. It reads, “I guess when your heart gets broken you sort of start to see cracks in everything. I'm convinced that tragedy wants to harden us and our mission is never to let it.”
It is our duty as a society to recognize the cracks when they begin to reveal themselves. And we must, as the quote suggests, join together and refuse to harden in the face of evil.
Posted by Judy at 04:23 PM | Comments (2)