The tragedy at Virginia Tech this week hit close to home for me. I work and live in a college community and something like this could have happened anywhere. The community is in shock and grieving and it will be a while before things will settle down there. Now is the time for our thoughts and prayers to be with those in that community. It is a very cliche' thing to think, but the phrase "There but for the grace of God go I" just kept popping into my head yesterday. Let me know what you think.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Tragedy in Blacksburg
Posted by Joseph C. Harris at 4:58 PM
Labels: Up Front and Personal, Virginia Tech
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4 comments:
Yes, those thoughts cross my mind too. I used to work on a college campus many years ago. My kids are in college now.
And when I was a senior in high school a custodian rampaged through the school with a machete, stabbed 2 security guards and took a girl hostage. He held her in the custodian's office located right next door to our classroom.
This really could happen to anyone, it's so scary!
you're certainly right that sort of thing can happen anywhere.
interestingly to me, on the morning after this tragedy, i heard on the news here - because of a shooting we had in February (Google "Trolley Square shooting" if you want more information) and the mental health department was concerned about those who had just had that experience having to relive it so-to-speak - a reminder that we are safe. that seems hard to believe sometimes, given the turn of events, but it helps us to carry on.
i like the thought at the end of your Friday's Feast. so important!
one last thought - something has got to be done about gun control! without easy access to guns, this kind of tragedy would at least not be of the same magnitude, as no one can kill 32 people with his bare hands - or even a machete - before being apprehended.
i'll get off my soapbox now. :o)
Great comments, Call me betty and alisonwonderland. A few thoughts now that I have had a few days to process all of this. I know someone at Virginia Tech, admittedly not well, but we have mutual friends and I know who she is.
This was a very determined young man. A lockdown of the campus would have been the worst thing that could of happened.
He got his weapons legally, although lied to get them. The gun dealer did what he was legally required to do under that situation, which is sell the young man his weapons. I think the young man would have gotten them at any cost.
Could have this been stopped if someone else with a gun was near the situation. I don't know and neither does anyone else.
If we have gun control, I beleive the only people who would conform are law abiding citizens. The criminal element will never abide by the rules, that's why they are criminals.
It is good to have open discussion like this in any forum though. That is what debate and freedom of speech is all about.
By the way, I don't think its cliche to think that way, it just feels that way because of how our society views God.
My thoughts automatically turn to Him when things like this happen. I was in a coffee shop that day and the only things that came into my mind were the lyrics to the old hymn "It is well with my soul" (see my April 16th post). The first time I heard it was freshman year in college the night after Sept.11 and it is still incredibly powerful, especially when you hear the writer's story.
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