csberry

I'm sorry for those directly affected by the events at Virginia Tech. My prayers and sympathies go out to those that were involved or lost a loved one.

But this is the kind of news story from which I am COMPLETELY disconnected. I don't give a fuck about the guy's manifesto. He was a lone, sick fucker that did something inhuman. It's good for universities to review their plans for crises, but the killings are merely an excuse. There's no larger conspiracy or any indication (assuming that news coverage will miraculously not produce copycats) that student snipers will be gunning down each campus. What does this story have to do with the hundreds of millions of people not directly involved?

Part of me yearns for yesteryear when we didn't know instantly around the planet that some dead model's only child was actually fathered by someone other than the person listed on the birth certificate. Rumors that Susan down by the general store had a similar story might have happened, but no one outside of that town would have known or cared about that situation.

Events like what happened at VT are tragic events that often lead to more tragic reactions. The movies that supposedly inspired him will be criticized. Every single incident in the guy's past will be held up as a failure to prevent this dramatic conclusion. Lawmakers will demand more restrictions on gun control with this single incident as the motivating factor. You don't want another VT Massacre, do you? Will students or even the general citizenry of South Korea be scrutinized like those from the Middle East?

People have to react because the news industry forces reactions. They prod everyone into giving examples of how they are reacting to it; demanding action or they'll make you look uncaring.

I spent the (thankfully) few minutes in the doctor's waiting room today doing my best not to vomit while the Fox News talking head expressed disgust about the video the guy made...and then proceeded to show clip after clip.

Worst of all is how the things that impact ALL of us get brushed aside. Thanks to the news coverage of every single witness or acquaintance, analysis of every element of what the killer left behind, and discussion of what must be done to prevent it from happening again; news stories that have a far-reaching affect are kept short or cut altogether.

* Where are the 15 minute investigation pieces about Gonzales's problems with amnesia. If Bush wasn't in charge and Gonzales wasn't in charge...who the FUCK was!? Folks, acts of responsibility that go several rungs down the ladder isn't called delegation...it's called not doing your job.

* What about the Sec of Def's surprise visit to Iraq and that country's government's stubbornness to meet the benchmarks? Should the US be tying Iraq policy to benchmarks in the first place? Benchmarks for the creation of a gadget in a company is entirely different than the creation of a country with internal military strife.

* How did Sanjaya go from the middle of the pack in votes last week to being eliminated last night?

But I digress...