Its too soon for much meaningful commentary on the mass-killing in Virginia yesterday, but I did want to say a few things now that two US new cycles have run their course.
It turns out that it was a South Korean national that was responsible for the shooting. Today, both of my English co-teachers had talked with me between classes about they they were hearing through Korean news sites. Apparently, the comment boards were a buzz with Korean students in the US afraid of a backlash against them if the shooter turns out to have been Korean (this is before his nationality was known). Hopefully people can see this for what it is: the horrible acts of a very disturbed man.
There might be some commentary that needs to be made about gun control in the US. Although I've been on the record for 9 years in favor of gun-control, it sounds like nothing less than banning guns completely would have prevented this. Maybe this incident says something about Korean culture. Maybe this says something about American culture. Maybe, it just says something about the fallen condition of man.
I included this image, which was distributed on Facebook today, to show my firm belief that this really could have happened anywhere--even at my alma mater, the University of Missouri.
My thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones and victims from the shootings.
I highly doubt that there will be much backlash against Koreans in general. America is actually surprisingly good about overt racism these days. If this had been in asia, and some black person had done it, it would be a completely different story though. haha
ReplyDeleteYeah, I doubt there will be a backlash either. However, when I got to school today, the first question I was confronted with by my students was, "Will America be mad at Korea?" I'm a little disappointed that Korea doesn't have much faith in Americans.
ReplyDeletePeople are wondering if we'll have another version of the anti-Muslim sentiment after 9-11, but I don't foresee it happening.
ReplyDeleteThere's a big difference between one guy who loses his mind and a coordinated effort by 19 people with the backing of more. And the U.S. had already been wary of Muslims at least since the rise of the ayatollahs, but we haven't had any trouble with Koreans. (Kim aside.)
Plus, although the Muslim community has assimilated pretty well in the U.S. (compared to Europe), I think Koreans have assimilated even more thoroughly.