I chose this article “It’s like when 9/11 happened” for my letter to the editor, but I think I should write about it again because it’s an article that everyone should read. I saw it on Salon and it’s really just an interesting topic about the Virginia Tech Massacre. It’s a really sad thought, but probably true.
The article discusses how VA Tech Korean students are feeling now, since the gunman at their school was also a Korean. Many Korean students fear their lives because Cho Seung-hui, the alleged gunman, was a permanent
U.S. resident who was born in
South Korea. Two Korean students wanted to attend the Convocation on the Virginia Tech campus, however, friends warned them not to because “it could be a bad situation.” The article relates back to the events of September 11 when much of our country was afraid and held the Arab culture responsible for the events of only a select group.
This sadly enough brings a negative aspect to our country. Think about it, a time when we should all pull together and support one another for the terrible event that occured, we are making other people of the same nationality as the gunman feel fear when they did nothing at all. What kind of impression are our citizens making if we are stereotyping others and making them worried the way they are. I would hope that those who are angered at the entire Korean culture realize that it’s an individual who made the decision to hurt all of these people, not an entire race.
I had hoped that our country could learn to join together through a situation like this, not make things worse.
This is a really interesting topic. I actually had to discuss this in my ethics and values class. Its incredible how the actions of one person can affect a whole body of people. In the case of 9/11, muslim people were targeted. It is so awful to see a whole people punished for the wrongdoings of one individual. Its also sad to say but even the most caring and tolerant people give into a particular stereotype.Ultimately the question here is how do we keep a tolerant world view and not be naive at the same time?
Comment by Shannon Slattery — April 19, 2007 @ 10:10 pm |
For my letter to the editor I related the events that occured at Virginia Tech back to September 11th also. My letter to the editor was in response to a man’s letter to his son about how although he knows his son may be frustrated in the things he was saying, the father wanted to tell him how mcuh he loved and appreciated him. Although it is unfortunate that it takes events such as this for someone to truely express their feelings, I understand. I feel as if people do not take for granted the people in their lives but that they take for granted assuming that people know how they feel. I feel as if they may already know how much you care, it doesn’t hurt reminding them for no reason every once in a while.
Comment by jamiej88 — April 19, 2007 @ 10:52 pm |