Will We Ever Learn?

I just have to vent a little bit. I realize that it has actually become the "norm" to live in a world that makes virtually no sense at all sometimes... but I'm getting a little tired of the irony. It's the issue of "copycat" crimes.
We have become a country obsessed with the unbelievable. When tragedies such as the Virginia Tech massacre happen... we can't seem to get enough of the details. I'm guilty of it myself... making sure to catch the top stories of the day on the news... pouring over pictures showing the grief of ever individual "in the moment"... It's human nature I guess... because we can't help but feel for those and imagine what it would be like for ourselves if they, were us.

But then the media takes us farther - into an even darker place. It happens every single time and we never learn. It's the killer that suddenly receives this twisted glory. Their faces are plastered everywhere you look. Front pages of every paper in every country. Videos... writings... we are enlightened to every detail of their life. They go out as a star. And for most of them, that is exactly what they have spent their lives craving.

So the cycle is passed on. I couldn't even begin to imagine how many Dylans' and Chos' are out there right now dreaming of the day that they too could become "a star". But we know that they are out there. And we are feeding them what they, in whatever twisted way may believe is the answer to all their problems. Why?

Now... the country will pour it's time and money into debating the issues of security and gun control... schools all over the US will practice procedures for invasions and lock downs. And why? Because it is not going to stop. The number to beat has been set. 32 - the "Largest Massacre in US History". In our own twisted, yet appealing way... once again we have glorified an incredibly devastating and senseless tragedy. We will lower our flags... but with so many pictures and so much to read.... will anyone notice?

Virginia Tech and the families of those victims are pleading with us to remember the victims - not their killer. They deserve our respect. It makes me wonder how different this story would be portrayed. What if we were never shown his face... heard his words... seen his video. What if instead we saw nothing but the faces of those who left us that day? What if all we read were the pages of their lives? THESE days that follow these crimes are where we go wrong. THESE are the days where ideas are planted. THESE are the days where plans are put into place. And I'm ashamed that a country so powerful and rich, continues to be so blind.

I don't care anymore why it happened. I could care less at this point if procedures that should have been followed were, or if someone missed something along the way. It happened. It was horrible and ugly and senseless... but it's done. And now there are parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters, and children who need us. They need us to look at them and honor their loved ones... NOT the individual who took their lives. So keep praying for them as life begins to move on while they cannot move. And don't forget the family of Cho. They are grieving just as much - and I would dare to think maybe even more...

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." I Peter 5:10