What If It Happened Every Day?
By Keith Boykin, in politics
Tuesday, April 17 2007, 10:24AM
The news was gruesome and alarming. Reuters reported that at least 30 people were shot yesterday in a deadly gun rampage that rocked a city once known for its safety and scholarship. By now, you've heard about the story, and many of us have already stopped paying attention.
But I'm not talking about the deadly school shooting in Virginia Monday morning. I'm talking about the deadly violence in Iraq that goes on everyday. While most of the world was understandably horrified by the campus shooting at Virginia Tech yesterday, almost no one paid attention to the 30 people who were shot and killed in Baghdad on the same day. The shock and horror of watching such dramatic violence in Virginia immediately resonated with Americans. But here's something else to ponder. What if it happened every day? What if we saw that kind of carnage in our communities every night on the evening news? It sounds far-fetched, but that's exactly the situation that faces many Iraqis almost every day of the year.
If the shooting in Virginia tells us anything about human society, it should tell us that violence is far too common in the world. It's not just an American problem or an Iraqi problem, it is a global problem. What kind of world do we live in where young students have virtually unfettered access to sophisticated deadly weapons that can be used to kill their classmates and teachers? And how did we become desensitized to the tens of thousands of civilian casulaties in a war we're still fighting in Baghdad?
I don't think it is possible to stop every murder or every killing that takes place in this country or abroad, but I do believe we have a responsibility to promote the conditions for peace.
For all the talk about our Christian values in America, we are an extraordinarily violent society. The FBI reported 1.4 million violent crimes in the U.S. in 2005 and more than 16,000 murders. That's a drop from the record high figures in the early 1990s but it shows that we are still far too violent.
Through elective wars, capital punishment, gang violence, and media depictions of violence, we demonstrate our collective societal preference for violence as a solution to our problems. I don't know what motivated the young student in Virginia to shoot up his classmates, and I don't know what motivates the suicide bombers in Iraq to blow up their neighbors. But I do know that we have a duty to promote peace in this country and abroad.
Imagine the impact that could be made if America lead an international campaign for peace instead of a war on terror. Imagine the goodwill we could generate if we diverted some of the $500 billion we've spent on war in recent years so that we could build hospitals, schools, and housing throughout the undeveloped world.
Imagine the difference it might make if our leaders dropped some of the macho rhetoric and talked about service, duty and community responsibility? I know there will be much discussion in the next few days about gun control and mental health counseling and legislation, and I welcome that conversation. But we should also ask ourselves about the world we've created and what each of us can do to make it better and more peaceful.
The Virginia shooting was shocking, in part, because it was so unusual. Unlike the Iraqis, we're not accustomed to seeing such large-scale violence on a regular basis. Or, more precisely, we're not accustomed to seeing it here in the United States, because clearly we know it's happening in Iraq. But what if it happened here everyday? That might be the tragic catalyst that would finally inspire us to do something positive and constructive about the violence in our country and the rest of the world.
It would be tempting to point to the shooter in Blacksburg and isolate him as the problem. But the problem and the solution don't lie outside of us. They answers are within.
Comments conceal
mike
April 17 2007, 11:00AM
Keith - Thanks for putting this in perspective for everyone. I had a similar thought yesterday. This is an extremely sad and unfortunate situation, and I don't want to minimize its significance. I did, however, think about the millions of people (including those in our country) that live in constant fear everyday and loose love ones to senseless violence on a regular basis.
On another note, I enjoyed your comments on My Two Cents last night.
Derrick from Philly
April 17 2007, 11:45AM
I watched a 2 hour special last night about the feelings and perspectives of American soldiers in Iraq. It reminded me that no matter how much I despise the Bush Admin., I have to be careful not to run by big mouth insulting the folks in uniform putting their lives on the line everyday in the belief that they are "protecting their country from terrorism."
Still, we need to start promoting peace by admitting that the invasion of Iraq was based on lies and misinformation from a corrupt American regime. If we had a decent opposition party in this country that statement could be made, along with an apology to the Arab world for 60 years of a one-sided foreign policy oppressive to them. Of course, this is only a leftist's pipedream. I may as well wish for a date with Reggie Bush.
I do wonder how many Iraqis now say, "we were better off under Saddam."
jay
April 17 2007, 11:49AM
Well said Keith, all human beings are entitled and deserve to live in peace no matter what country they call home. However, if we will not learn from that pain we have experienced and caused we are in a terrible cycle that will attempt to teach us over and over again.
J
Norman
April 17 2007, 11:55AM
Keith you read my mind with this article. While flipping through the news stations yesterday, particularly CNN, all I saw were reports of the shootings at Virginia Tech. Not to seem unsympathetic toward those students and their families, but I started to think about the amount of attention being paid to this event. Then my thoughts moved to the news (murders, starvation, social and political unrest, and the plethora of terrible events that take place on a daily basis) that was being ignored. I'm simply glad that someone else shares my thoughts and worries.
-Kudos
edvince
April 17 2007, 12:58PM
European media are now reporting that 22 year old Ryan Clark an Afro-American was seemingly involved with the ex-of Cho, who has a Jewish family name Hischler. I too am in an interracial/intercultural gay marriage, so how this will play out in US will be interesting indeed.
Adam
April 17 2007, 2:14PM
We transmit images of violence on TV, movies and video games with alarming frequency and cry out when these scenes are re-enacted in real life. People, please wake up. We are all responsible for this with our choices. The Oscar for best picture this year went to The Departed, a very violent movie. The most popular movie recently was 300, a paen to voilence and war. Some of the most popular TV shows are CSI and 24, again bloody and violent. What are we supposed to expect? After 9/11 a dialogue actually started about this. About the culpability of America in mass producing violent TV, movies and videogames, shipping these images around the world and then crying no fair when they are re-enacted in real life. But no real change came about. I believe we are being called to to change, to become better beings and look at ourselves before it is too late.
Judy58
April 17 2007, 3:04PM
This is a sad time in america right now. My heart goes out to their families. But i must ask this how long did it take our president to get to Va, and how long did it take him to get to new orleans? Just asking.
bubba
April 17 2007, 3:41PM
It's not farfetched at all to imagine this violence on a more regular basis. Not only because of the societal appropriation of similar material in the media, but our inability to learn from events like this. After 9/11, our thirst for vengeance sent us to war with a country not connected to the tragedy, and our pride kept us from seeking the reasons why the attacks were carried out. Look at how long airport security measures remain mediocre in the aftermath. We don't react to violence in a way that shows we refuse to tolerate it. Otherwise, how could 2 hours elapse between the shootings at Virgina tech? I know campus security is a far cry from real law enforcement, but please. Anyway, these tragedies do occur every day. Whether it's 30 people in one setting or 30 scattered across the country.
Karim
April 17 2007, 4:05PM
We never think about violence until we become the victim of it.
Leniere
April 17 2007, 5:18PM
Keith,
I think about those people everyday. Whenever I think of Iraq, I think of all of the young people (around the same age as the VA Tech students) who are often some shade of brown, from lower to mid income communities and homes. I marvel at the idea the people who are losing their lives in Iraq overwhelmingly do not represent the people who sent them there (and in some cases profit from it).
That said, I think it's obvious why people will connect to something like this. This is terrorism-light on our soil. These young people are not at war. They went to school. While there are numerous legitimate questions about whether we should be at war, there is no question that no one (maybe it's just me and them) expected that these young people would be gunned down in class.
manchild1
April 17 2007, 6:10PM
So true indeed,but folks..us ghetto peeps see violence
everyday in some form or another. I feel for those at
Virginia tech..but violence ,murder,rape,robbery,
drug dealing etc are a way of life for many inner city
folk...on a regular basis...why does it become worthy of
news when it happens at a Virginia Tech?
Reggie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
April 18 2007, 4:13AM
As Leniere noted earlier, "Because they went to school." When someone goes into any place of education to senselessly kill innocent students, who had their potential cut short, and teachers/professors, who were shaping the minds of future scientists, doctors, teachers, and etc, this is something that doesn't happen in this country often and shouldn't. The media will cover this and I respect them for doing this.
Now as a former engineering student, their deaths meant more to me because science/engineering students usually go on to do some good in society, whether it's developing a potential cure for AIDS and cancer or teaching in public schools. Now as a black gay man, when one of our own, who's gifted and talented (he was a triple major according to MSNBC - pyschology, english and biology), has his life cut short, I can see how people can connect to that.
I'm also interested in what's going on around the world, but I usually don't rely on the American media websites. I usually check out Google news.
Derrick from Philly
April 18 2007, 11:49AM
"...apologize to the Arab world for 60 years of a one-sided foreign policy..."
Yes, and at the same time the Arab world needs to apologize for 600 years of oppression and atrocities against African people; and more importantly, put pressure on the black Arab murderers in Sudan who are committing genocide against black Africans.
I'm sorry Kola, I should have said the above the first time. Eventhough I believe America's pro-Isreal foreign policy is to blame for our troubles with Arabs, that should never let Arabs off the hook for their inhumane behavior toward African people over the centuries--including a bigger role in the slave trade than Europeans.
Kola Boof
April 19 2007, 3:32AM
Derrick, thank you for mentioning the people of South Sudan and Darfur who lose INFINITELY MORE LIVES than Iraq does on a daily basis and it's a genocide in Sudan, not even a fair two-sided war....and, Shit Keith, this IS happening every day IN SUDAN...How many people in SUDAN are murdered and bombed everyday and why is it that Black Americans have this idiotic worship of Palestinians and Arabs but none for your own African blood?
The fact that BASRA, Iraq was one of the world's leading slave ports and that Iraq's 14 million African Black citizens are there VIA SLAVERY is the reason that so many of us North African Blacks don't give a shit about Iraq being bombed and are GLAD...DAMNED HAPPY....that these "shade of brown" EVIL RACIST Arab people who refer daily to Black Americans by any name but "brother & sister" are finally getting taste of the abuse and terrorism that they dole out on a daily basis to African people.
Kevin
April 21 2007, 5:41PM
Keith,
I am very disappointed in you with this article. This should not be about "better or worse". These were students that had nothing to do with the killings in Iraq or Baghdad. They were young and could have potentially gone on to bring about a positive change in the world. So many futures were snuffed out, and now we will never know what peace they could have brought. No one deserves to die like that, not people in Iraq, Baghdad, and not people in America. Thirty-three human lives were lost in this senseless act of violence. Real people are devastated and are hurting. That is what matters. This shouldn't be about what is better or worse. Violence is violence and nothing positive can every come out of it, whether it happens in Baghdad, Iraq, or America. Please show some respect for the families involved with this horrible tragedy.
Ron Lee
April 21 2007, 8:13PM
This was a tragedy indeed. However there is some serious information suppression going on here. When I turned on the news Monday at 11:00 cst. I found myself watching still photos of Virginia Tech. Anyone whose works evennings as I do know that the hottest stories are brought to you live on CNN,MSNBC and FOX.Then there was this picture of this Asian fellow in cuffs with an officer standing by,though he was ID as a reporter they continued showing it. There were reports that the perpertraitor was asian and furious of a female rejection.First report was 2killed then22 and later33.What I find supious is the networks collectively deciding not to have a live feed, most of the kids shot were liberal or minorities, that kid had a fresh hair cut,his clothing looked new and it seemed that some one may have fitted the clothing as well as adjusted and position thosed perfect video taping of this guy. No way do I believe this guy acted alone.Ryan Clark was in New Orleans for Spring break volunteering,many of them were.
S.G.
April 27 2007, 2:15PM
Ms. Boof, we can probably do more about what our government is doing, than what another government is doing, though of course we should try. The Iraq war is not being waged by Bush's cabal to take revenge on black people's behalf. It is a war for white interests. Of course, there is not enough being done about Sudan. But using chemicals like white phosphorous in Iraq and bombing Iraqis is not somehow doing positive things for people in the Sudan. And if Iraq has 14 million black citizens, how on earth is the bombing helping them?
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