So, yesterday, we had the worst shooting in American history. Now, we still know very little. We know nothing about the shooter’s motives. Early reports say the shooting deaths two hours earlier of a young woman and man may or may not be related to the whole event. They still do not know.
And yet, we are already getting the rampant speculation. And it’s not just the pain in the ass news channels. I saw yesterday bloggers and blog commentators suddenly were using this to make it all about their politics. Violent video games and movies are already getting brought up. So is gun control (both sides of the issue). Misogyny and general domestic abuse.
These are all debates worth having. But currently, they should not be attached this tragic event. People have barely had time to begin to mourn. Can we not shoehorn our agendas in yet? While there are rumors that the earlier shooting might be connected, and that the woman was his ex-girlfriend, we don’t know that yet. In fact, according to witnesses, he said nothing at all, he just walked in and shot a professor, then started to indiscriminently shoot fellow students. There does not seem to be a pattern to suggest any gender hate at this time. It may turn out to be otherwise, but to speculate on that right now? Useless without something to back it up.
And honestly, even if he killed his girlfriend first, that merely shows hate towards her and the guy in the room with her. It doesn’t mean that the entire insane tragedy was the result of a hatred, dislike or mistrust of women. If he had focused his shooting on women? Then bringing up misogyny makes sense. But so far, it appeared his targets after the first two were not chosen for reasons of gender.
We can speculate (without the facts no less) all we want. It isn’t productive until we have more infomation. Please, let people mourn, let the police do their work, let the dead be laid to rest. Is it so unreasonalbe to ask for people to show sensitivity and restraint until we have the facts?
UPDATE: They are now pretty sure the shootings are related.
Update 2: More info here.
6 comments
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April 17, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Ami Angelwings
Of course Jack Thompson is out.. >.:O
I hope this guy turns out to be a chess enthusiast XD
April 17, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Ami Angelwings
Of course Jack Thompson is out.. >:|
I hate all these ppl who come out of their holes so that they can link their pet cause to a tragedy >:O
I hope this guy turns out to be a chess enthusiast XD
April 17, 2007 at 10:41 pm
thomwade
Actually, I am curious. Were you bothered by the fact that he was Asian(Specifically he was Korean)? I am seeing comments of a fear of a backlash. This probably doesn’t apply to you, Ami, as you are Canadian.
But I confess i was a little surprised by that fear as expressed. I don’t know of many people who live in fear of Asian men going on a rampage, and since the majority of school shooters are white, I would be shocked if there was any kind of backlash. On the other hand, I might be giving some folks to much credit.
April 18, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Filby
I’ve already heard some right-wing bloggers using this as an opportunity to rail against exchange students. Never mind that he was raised in America.
I expect there to be some anti-Asian backlash amongst the usual small-minded bigots, though not on the same level as the anti-Arab backlash post-9/11.
To address your original post… I agree. Even on the news last night, the interviewer kept badgering the school’s dean about his opinion on gun control laws. I think the dean was totally in the right to keep them to himself and ask the interviewer to keep party politics out of this for the time being.
April 18, 2007 at 2:14 pm
thomwade
Yeah, there is certainly a time for the discussion…but it is not right this instant.
April 18, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Ami Angelwings
It was a bit unnerving b/c his background is a lot like the ppl I grew up around, esp like many of my friends…
I was a little surprised? But honestly, I dun expect too much backlash b/c he’s basically American. And Asians are not usually seen as a threat (for good and bad, our men are treated as being asexual weaklings :\)
I think that the stereotyping is going to be against quiet, anti-social types tho