Glorifying Virginia Tech killer
Ya know the reason Cho sent a media package to NBC is because he wanted air time, infamy, in death. I’m as curious as the next person, but I don’t think we should be glorifying him. What we should be glorifying are the kids he gunned down in cold blood. If he knew his actions would have the media spotlighting the very people he despised would he have done this?? I don’t think so, he knew his face would be the one plastered everywhere, he knew his message would get out. We are rewarding these actions and encouraging this type of behavior as a sure fire way to get your point across. The focus should be on the students he so cowardly murdered. He is becoming a martyr to every kid out there who has been bullied. Whether their fantasies are this extreme or not, they dream of a way to ‘make them pay.’ He wanted to be portrayed as a sacrificial victim, a hero to the underdog. As much as I do not understand this mentality, I do know that he is getting exactly what he wanted. Everyone knows his name, everyone knows his message, everyone has seen his face numerous times, everyone can read his play, his actions are being justified by our society. The satisfaction he must have gotten the 6 days prior, as he was filming and writing what would inevitably over shadow the wonderful lives he cut short, is infuriating. The smile on his face during that week was a pompous smirk; he walked the halls feeling empowered, stronger then ever before. He got what he wanted. If that video was never shown, his atrocities would have been in vain. Instead we rewarded him.
How many of us even know one name of the 33 killed? What they were like? If they had a message for the world? Here are just a few names I found online, along with a little about them…Here’s a great site I found that has all the victims …
http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/04/19/the_victims/?page=1
.Ross Abdallah Alameddine, 20, of Saugus, Mass., according to his mother, Lynnette Alameddine…. Alameddine’s Facebook page shows he wished a friend a happy birthday before heading off to class yesterday. He lists musical interests from Jim Morrison to the Beastie Boys as well as several movies and books.
• Christopher James Bishop, 35, according to Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany, where he helped run an exchange program…… According to his Web site, Bishop spent four years living in Germany, where he "spent most of his time learning the language, teaching English, drinking large quantities of wheat beer, and wooing a certain fraulein."
The "fraulein" was Bishop's wife, Stephanie Hofer, who also teaches in Virginia Tech's German program.
• Ryan Clark, 22, of Martinez, Ga., biology and English major, according to Columbia County Coroner Vernon Collins…., Bryan Clark on Tuesday described his twin as someone who could do "anything he put his mind to doing." He said their mother raised them to "not discount or say you can't do something until you've tried it."
That's why it wasn't surprising that Ryan had three majors, played in the band and planned on going into neurosurgery when he graduated, Bryan Clark said.
• Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, A French instructor from Truro, Nova Scotia, Jocelyne Couture-Nowak moved 8 years ago to Virginia Tech, where her husband, Jerzy Nowak, teaches horticulture. She had worked passionately to spread the French language, and was described as vibrant, enthusiastic and dynamic by the vice president of administration, Bernie MacDonald, at Nova Scotia Agricultural College, where she taught French.
• Daniel Perez Cueva, 21, killed in his French class, according to his mother, Betty Cueva, of Peru…. (JP-wb) — The mother of 21-year-old Daniel Pérez Cueva, a Peruvian student killed in yesterday’s shooting massacre at Virginia Tech, was an outstanding sportsman who excelled in swimming, his mother Betty Cueva said. He was a member of Peru’s National Swimming Federation.
• Kevin Granata, age unknown, engineering science and mechanics professor, according to Ishwar K. Puri, the head of the engineering science and mechanics department…He leaves behind his parents, a brother, two sisters, his wife and three children, Alex, 13, Eric, 12, and Ellen, 11. Kevin Granata earned his master's degree in physics from Purdue in 1986 and built a resume that made him a nationally known name in biomechanical engineering, working on movement dynamics in cerebral palsy. His school Web site says he published 67 works through 2005 and worked at Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State, the University of Virginia and Wake Forest University.
• Caitlin Hammaren, 19, of Westtown, N.Y., a sophomore majoring in international studies and French, according to Minisink Valley, N.Y., school officials who spoke with Hammaren's family. Caitlin Hammaren rode a horse named Poet and once dreamed of being an equestrian chiropractor.She was president of her high school chorus, one of the top students at Minisink Valley High School, “a beautiful, sparkling” girl with an infectious smile, according to some of the people who knew her best.At Virginia Tech, she became a resident assistant and “mother hen” to her dorm mates.
• Jeremy Herbstritt, 27, of Bellefonte, Pa., according to Penn State University, his alma mater and his father's employer…. Jeremy Herbstritt, 27, of Bellefonte, Pa., received several academic scholarships and earned two undergraduate degrees from Pennsylvania State University before enrolling at Virginia Tech last fall as a graduate student, according to a Penn State spokesman. Family friends said the tall, lanky young man was a devout Catholic, a cross-country runner and a civil engineering student who wanted to pursue an environmental career.
• Emily Jane Hilscher, a 19-year-old freshman from Woodville, according to Rappahannock County Administrator John W. McCarthy, a family friend…. She came to Virginia Tech from rural Rappahannock County and was majoring in animal and poultry sciences.
• Jarrett L. Lane, according to Riffe's Funeral Service Inc. in Narrows, Va… The University of Florida wanted Jarrett Lane in its graduate school of coastal engineering and had even thrown in financial aid.
The relieved senior sent an instant message to his friend Amanda Bishop, and they made plans to drive down to Gainesville after he graduated in May so he could look for an apartment.
.
• Mary Karen Read, 19, of Annandale, Va. according to her aunt, Karen Kuppinger, of Rochester, N.Y. Ms. Berrios said Ms. Read played clarinet and wanted to become an elementary school teacher. She also loved baking. "I loved it when she baked cookies because they were heavenly," Ms. Berrios said.
Caitlin Hammaren, 19, of Westtown, N.Y., was a sophomore majoring in international studies and French, according to officials at her former school district. "She was just one of the most outstanding young individuals that I've had the privilege of working with in my 31 years as an educator," said John P. Latini, principal of Minisink Valley High School, where she graduated in 2005. "Caitlin was a leader among our students."
Daniel Perez Cueva, 21,.. "Anything he put his mind to, he accomplished it," said Hugo Quintero, a close friend and former classmate at C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Va. "He's a guy who not only dreams, but makes dreams come true."
…..I am not saying I didn’t watch every bit that I could about this deranged kid, I read his play, I looked at the pictures…I want to know what kind of monster could do this too. I want to understand his warped mind, for no other reason then to shake my head in disbelief at. I’m not proud of my morbid curiosity; I’m part of the problem as well. So, I decided to try and get to know the people he murdered, to put the focus where it should be, the killer should not be the center of our attention.
How many of us even know one name of the 33 killed? What they were like? If they had a message for the world? Here are just a few names I found online, along with a little about them…Here’s a great site I found that has all the victims …
http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/04/19/the_victims/?page=1
.Ross Abdallah Alameddine, 20, of Saugus, Mass., according to his mother, Lynnette Alameddine…. Alameddine’s Facebook page shows he wished a friend a happy birthday before heading off to class yesterday. He lists musical interests from Jim Morrison to the Beastie Boys as well as several movies and books.
• Christopher James Bishop, 35, according to Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany, where he helped run an exchange program…… According to his Web site, Bishop spent four years living in Germany, where he "spent most of his time learning the language, teaching English, drinking large quantities of wheat beer, and wooing a certain fraulein."
The "fraulein" was Bishop's wife, Stephanie Hofer, who also teaches in Virginia Tech's German program.
• Ryan Clark, 22, of Martinez, Ga., biology and English major, according to Columbia County Coroner Vernon Collins…., Bryan Clark on Tuesday described his twin as someone who could do "anything he put his mind to doing." He said their mother raised them to "not discount or say you can't do something until you've tried it."
That's why it wasn't surprising that Ryan had three majors, played in the band and planned on going into neurosurgery when he graduated, Bryan Clark said.
• Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, A French instructor from Truro, Nova Scotia, Jocelyne Couture-Nowak moved 8 years ago to Virginia Tech, where her husband, Jerzy Nowak, teaches horticulture. She had worked passionately to spread the French language, and was described as vibrant, enthusiastic and dynamic by the vice president of administration, Bernie MacDonald, at Nova Scotia Agricultural College, where she taught French.
• Daniel Perez Cueva, 21, killed in his French class, according to his mother, Betty Cueva, of Peru…. (JP-wb) — The mother of 21-year-old Daniel Pérez Cueva, a Peruvian student killed in yesterday’s shooting massacre at Virginia Tech, was an outstanding sportsman who excelled in swimming, his mother Betty Cueva said. He was a member of Peru’s National Swimming Federation.
• Kevin Granata, age unknown, engineering science and mechanics professor, according to Ishwar K. Puri, the head of the engineering science and mechanics department…He leaves behind his parents, a brother, two sisters, his wife and three children, Alex, 13, Eric, 12, and Ellen, 11. Kevin Granata earned his master's degree in physics from Purdue in 1986 and built a resume that made him a nationally known name in biomechanical engineering, working on movement dynamics in cerebral palsy. His school Web site says he published 67 works through 2005 and worked at Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State, the University of Virginia and Wake Forest University.
• Caitlin Hammaren, 19, of Westtown, N.Y., a sophomore majoring in international studies and French, according to Minisink Valley, N.Y., school officials who spoke with Hammaren's family. Caitlin Hammaren rode a horse named Poet and once dreamed of being an equestrian chiropractor.She was president of her high school chorus, one of the top students at Minisink Valley High School, “a beautiful, sparkling” girl with an infectious smile, according to some of the people who knew her best.At Virginia Tech, she became a resident assistant and “mother hen” to her dorm mates.
• Jeremy Herbstritt, 27, of Bellefonte, Pa., according to Penn State University, his alma mater and his father's employer…. Jeremy Herbstritt, 27, of Bellefonte, Pa., received several academic scholarships and earned two undergraduate degrees from Pennsylvania State University before enrolling at Virginia Tech last fall as a graduate student, according to a Penn State spokesman. Family friends said the tall, lanky young man was a devout Catholic, a cross-country runner and a civil engineering student who wanted to pursue an environmental career.
• Emily Jane Hilscher, a 19-year-old freshman from Woodville, according to Rappahannock County Administrator John W. McCarthy, a family friend…. She came to Virginia Tech from rural Rappahannock County and was majoring in animal and poultry sciences.
• Jarrett L. Lane, according to Riffe's Funeral Service Inc. in Narrows, Va… The University of Florida wanted Jarrett Lane in its graduate school of coastal engineering and had even thrown in financial aid.
The relieved senior sent an instant message to his friend Amanda Bishop, and they made plans to drive down to Gainesville after he graduated in May so he could look for an apartment.
.
• Mary Karen Read, 19, of Annandale, Va. according to her aunt, Karen Kuppinger, of Rochester, N.Y. Ms. Berrios said Ms. Read played clarinet and wanted to become an elementary school teacher. She also loved baking. "I loved it when she baked cookies because they were heavenly," Ms. Berrios said.
Caitlin Hammaren, 19, of Westtown, N.Y., was a sophomore majoring in international studies and French, according to officials at her former school district. "She was just one of the most outstanding young individuals that I've had the privilege of working with in my 31 years as an educator," said John P. Latini, principal of Minisink Valley High School, where she graduated in 2005. "Caitlin was a leader among our students."
Daniel Perez Cueva, 21,.. "Anything he put his mind to, he accomplished it," said Hugo Quintero, a close friend and former classmate at C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Va. "He's a guy who not only dreams, but makes dreams come true."
…..I am not saying I didn’t watch every bit that I could about this deranged kid, I read his play, I looked at the pictures…I want to know what kind of monster could do this too. I want to understand his warped mind, for no other reason then to shake my head in disbelief at. I’m not proud of my morbid curiosity; I’m part of the problem as well. So, I decided to try and get to know the people he murdered, to put the focus where it should be, the killer should not be the center of our attention.
posted by elanflux at 1:05 PM
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