“Virginia Tech students and staff return to classes/work today, after a roller-coaster week. They have a difficult task ahead of them, trying to re-establish some sense of normalcy in their lives near the end of a school year that seemed unremarkable until one of their classmates, a veritable volcano in human form, erupted in their midst, with such horrifying results.
The hordes of media people (who descend like a plague of locusts on such occasions) will, we can hope, be gone–except for a few of the most stalwart, persistent, and perverse hangers-on. The media does have its place in our society, I concede. Many of the images and interviews I’ve seen–and I haven’t really seen more than the tip of the iceberg, I know–have been needfully informative, thought-provoking, even inspiring. The Virginia Tech marching band playing outside the hospital windows for the wounded, for example, was a wonderful demonstration of the school’s solidarity and enviable “Hokie spirit”. In other cases, I have been dismayed by the insensitivity and excesses displayed by some reporters and media outlets–to wit, NBC’s less than judicial, exploitative use of Killer Cho’s “multi-media manifesto” (no further discussion required, I think).
It was agonizing for ME to watch one surviving victim, sitting in a wheelchair, being asked how he’s “going to get his head around” this experience (by Ann Curry, if I’m not mistaken). This question provoked a momentary wordless blank stare from the young man that said it all for me (i.e, he has no idea whatsoever, how, or even if, he will ever find a way to cope with it all). We–and they–more to the point, certainly don’t need this kind of thing.
At this point I’d like to address a few words to those who have a far more legitimate right to be on the VT campus this morning. We know you will never forget your lost classmates and friends. Nor will we. From everything I’ve heard about them they were, without exception, remarkably fine, wonderfully alive, beautiful people. In the spirit of the words of John Donne (“…any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind…”) we are all, sadly, diminished profoundly by this event.
Please, if you can, though, do everything you can to put this thing behind you and get on with living the kind of lives that those who are lost cannot. Some of you will, I realize, be plagued by persistent, disturbing thoughts and memories as a result of the trauma you have suffered, both psycic and physical. I would ask you not to hesitate to seek out your friends, family members, and professional counsellors, if need be, to talk out your feelings. I hope that, ultimately, you’ll be able to find some sense of inner peace.
One thing I do know: you all possess a powerful, resilient strength of spirit. God love(s) you. God bless you. Go Hokies!”
Paul Genaux
Bremerton, WA
