VA - Virginia Tech Shooting, 32 murdered, 23 injured, 16 April 2007

[Masterj]

I think his parents not getting him help is more of a reflection on cultural differences. My Korean friends have told me that in their culture, emphasis is placed on pride and privacy. My one friend (who was raised in Korea until 12) told me that illnesses, especially mental illnesses are often considered a sign of weakness and often go undiagnosed and untreated. She also said that in her experience when Korean families move to America, there become a lot of struggles within the family if the father is not willing to "Americanize" to a certain degree. My friend's parents divorced within 3 years of being in the states because her mother started standing up to her father and being more vocal about parenting issues.

 

[Taximom]

I don't mean to insult anyone when I say the following. Many mothers that I talk with that have children w/disabilities often have trouble with the child's father understanding the disability and/or wanting to be a part of the resolution.

Men just handle it differently, especially if it's their son. Throw in a different culture (like Cho's), then I think you really have a problem getting the help that is needed. Having a child w/this type of problem often stresses the relationship and causes divorce.

Once again, I'm not putting down fathers or men-just stating what I've seen and heard. I have seen some great dads in action though!

 

[Marthatex]

Head Start doesn't step in unless family approves or requests.

IMO, there's no way Cho was autistic. When's the last time we've heard of an autistic adult doing what Cho did? He had other psychological issues, but I agree, autism wasn't the problem.

:twocents:

I have my doubts about autism, too. One of the college teachers said it wasn't just his writing, his poetry - HE WAS JUST PLAIN MEAN. Evil.

He may have had a predisposition, but something really bad had to have happened to him in his developmental years.

He became a SOCIOPATH - someone who's personality disorder leads to violent antisocial behavior.

 

[Love_Mama]

Head Start doesn't step in unless family approves or requests.

IMO, there's no way Cho was autistic. When's the last time we've heard of an autistic adult doing what Cho did? He had other psychological issues, but I agree, autism wasn't the problem.

:twocents:

Taximom.....I know you know what you're talking about. I was leaning toward autistic, so am glad you said that autism was not the problem.
I've been reading on the Autism thread and had not heard anything about these children being violent. :blowkiss: :blowkiss: :blowkiss:
Thanks for clearing it up.

xxxxxxxxoooooooo
mama
:blowkiss:

 

[Taximom]

Taximom.....I know you know what you're talking about. I was leaning toward autistic, so am glad you said that autism was not the problem.
I've been reading on the Autism thread and had not heard anything about these children being violent. :blowkiss: :blowkiss: :blowkiss:
Thanks for clearing it up.

xxxxxxxxoooooooo
mama
:blowkiss:

Uh oh! I am not an autism know-it-all! Lol. I'm just speaking from experience. And I'm only at the beginning of that road. I'm sure there are others here that could do a better job than I when addressing autism.

I just read that he was diagnosed with autism when he was a child. Maybe he was in the autism spectrum, but surely it wasn't autism as we know it.

I still can't believe he slipped through so many cracks. It's almost like this was just destined to happen, and that just makes me really sad.

 

[Shadow205]

An interesting article on the Korean Culture
<snip>

Children are indulged until school age. At that point, proper behavior is a must as mischievous children are seen as a disgrace on the family. Discipline is withheld longer that typically seen among native Americans.

<snip>

As students, one is taught to listen and not to question the teacher who is seen as an authority. Overall, children are to be seen and not heard. It is found that children raised in America with American culture have great conflicts with their traditional parents as beliefs begin to clash. Children with disabilities are seen as a punishment on parents from the ancestors. Very little support is available to these families in Korean communities.

<snip>

[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]There is much stigma attached to mental illness. Hwanbyung is a traditional illness that arises from suppressed anger or emotions that usually stem from conflicts with the family. Symptoms include headache, decreased appetite, insomnia, and decreased energy. This illness is seen as fate and the cure is more management and treatment of the symptoms only. [/FONT]

more at the link http://www3.baylor.edu/~Charles_Kemp/korean_health.htm

 

[Floh]

And now for something completely different.

Seung-Hui Cho was a mind-controlled assassin, whether you believe he was under the influence of outside parties or not, the fact is that the cultural brainwashing of violent video games and psychotropic drugs directly contributed, as it does in all these cases, to the carnage at Virginia Tech on Monday morning.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/april2007/190407mindcontrolled.htm

I found this opinion of interest and am taking it under consideration.

so is this some kind of vast conspiracy and if so, to what end?

 

[Floh]

Gunman's Family Feels hopeless, helpless and lost


BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - The family of Virginia Tech gunman Seung-Hui Cho told The Associated Press on Friday that they feel "hopeless, helpless and lost," and "never could have envisioned that he was capable of so much violence." "He has made the world weep. We are living a nightmare," said a statement issued by Cho's sister, Sun-Kyung Cho, on the family's behalf.

***

"Our family is so very sorry for my brother's unspeakable actions. It is a terrible tragedy for all of us," said Sun-Kyung Cho, a 2004 Princeton University graduate who works as a contractor for a State Department office that oversees American aid for Iraq.

"We pray for their families and loved ones who are experiencing so much excruciating grief. And we pray for those who were injured and for those whose lives are changed forever because of what they witnessed and experienced," she said. "Each of these people had so much love, talent and gifts to offer, and their lives were cut short by a horrible and senseless act."

***

"We are humbled by this darkness. We feel hopeless, helpless and lost. This is someone that I grew up with and loved. Now I feel like I didn't know this person," Cho's sister said. "We have always been a close, peaceful and loving family. My brother was quiet and reserved, yet struggled to fit in. We never could have envisioned that he was capable of so much violence."

She said her family will cooperate fully with investigators and "do whatever we can to help authorities understand why these senseless acts happened. We have many unanswered questions as well."

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8OKJ12O2&show_article=1

Clearly i feel sorrow for the victims and their families. i also feel sorrow for the family Cho.

 

[Floh]

As do I. I see that they are not trying to excuse his actions or blame them on the acts or omissions of others, as is the rage these days in our "blameless society". My heart goes out to them.

Her statement has made me cry. the torment of what her brother did to destroy so many lives must be unabidable.

 

[Floh]

On Predicting Violence

In the wake of the Virginia Tech murders, novelist and Entertainment Weekly contributing editor Stephen King comments on the connection between violent writing and violent acts

KING ''Certainly in this sensitized day and age, my own college writing would have raised red flags, and I'm certain someone would have tabbed me as mentally ill because of them.''

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20036014,00.html

 

[kazzbar]

10 years ago Tasmania suffered a mass shooting. The perpetrator was a young sociopath called Martin Bryant. he shot and killed 35 people. Two of which were children. Martin suffered from a low IQ and was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. He was withdrawn and uncommunicative and in his own world. Today he sits in Risdon Prison for the term of his natural. Despite many attempts at suicide he will be there till her expires. He never fitted in and was always odd but had no priors or history of violence Sounds familiar does'nt it....but if Cho had autism how did he fool the Uni and High school for soo long ?

 

[SieSie]

Look what's coming out of the slime pit:

Group plans to picket Va. Tech funerals

Is it wrong of me to wish that Cho had taken out these loons instead of the students?

Absolutely horrendous!!! I will never understand how some people think - and I hate that they call themselves "Christian", what a crock!

 

[kazzbar]

Absolutely horrendous!!! I will never understand how some people think - and I hate that they call themselves "Christian", what a crock!

I have seen the woman who speaks for this rabble on television. What a nasty, tortured person she is... I wonder what has caused her to be sooo twisted in her logic... scary too that she has cohorts of the same 'ilk'.

 

[tezi]

Look what's coming out of the slime pit:

Group plans to picket Va. Tech funerals

Is it wrong of me to wish that Cho had taken out these loons instead of the students?

I knew I shouldn't have even clicked on that link. No, Adnoid, in my view it's not wrong to wish that.

WTF is wrong with these supposed "Christians?" Good grief....They better hope something similar doesn't happen to them....

 

[cheko1]

As do I. I see that they are not trying to excuse his actions or blame them on the acts or omissions of others, as is the rage these days in our "blameless society". My heart goes out to them.

I agree my heart goes out to them also. I was glad to see they put the blame where it belonged.

Thanks Floh for posting that.

 

[cheko1]

I knew I shouldn't have even clicked on that link. No, Adnoid, in my view it's not wrong to wish that.

WTF is wrong with these supposed "Christians?" Good grief....They better hope something similar doesn't happen to them....

Tez,
To bad we couldn't put them all in a room with a Cho. See how they liked it then! They aren't Christian they're scum of the earth!!!!!

 

[tezi]

I'm not sure they actually do. In fact, I'm pretty sure they do not.



And I can proclaim myself King of the Sea Monkeys, but that doesn't make it so. "Love thy neighbor as thyself" - I think they missed that day.

Yep, and a few other pertinent days too. I can't believe they are actually going to picket the funerals. All I have to say is I'm glad I'm not going to be there, because they would be getting a piece of my mind!

So, you are the King of the Sea Monkeys? LOL....

I know this may not be the thread for this, but I wish they would have released all the Columbine documents. It may help prevent these things from happening again. We need to be able to learn what to do to prevent this, instead of reacting to it. I realize Klebold and Harris's parents have been through a lot, but maybe just maybe they may have seen something.

I too feel for this gunman's family.

 

[OMama]

In my most humble opinion, if they picket the funerals, it should be seen as attempted suicide, which should get them picked up and confined to a mental health facility for being a danger to themselves.
Hmmm, could work !

 

[cheko1]

Here is the sisters entire statement:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18236151/

 

[hollyjokers]

Her statement has made me cry. the torment of what her brother did to destroy so many lives must be unabidable.

Floh, her statement got to me too. When this happened Monday, my best friend said she immediately thought of me & worried because I get so emotional when these things happen, but I had not cried all week. Til now.