Absolutely horrific events today on the campus of Virginia Tech, and the second time in a year that violence has touched the small town of Blacksburg (about 90 miles from where I grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains). I've heard many of the news reports about what happened, and even a lot of theorizing as to why it happened, but I still cannot understand it.
33 people lost their lives in an environment that should logically be one of the safest -- a college campus. With wars being fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, and violence touching the largest cities of the United States, you wouldn't think that something like this -- the worst example of this type of violence in the history of the country -- could take place in a small town in southwest Virginia. 33 young men and women, some of whom I'm sure were looking forward to graduating in a matter of weeks. 33 young men and women who, when they left their dorms or apartments this morning, weren't thinking beyond the next lecture, the next exam, or the next date.
I pray for the victims, for their families, for the many others who are in the hands of surgeons and medical staff at numerous hospitals in the area. I pray for the college administrators, grief counselors, and chaplains who will have to help the thousands of other students who have been touched by this horrific event work through their anger, their grief, and their shock.
And I pray for my youngest sister, who is a graduate of that school, lives not far from campus, and has many friends in the area. As of this writing, I don't know if she knew any of the victims, but I pray that if she did, she finds comfort in a community that will most definitely come together in a show of unity -- of family -- that will be needed to cope with the feelings and stress in the days and weeks to come.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAdding my prayers to yours.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to everyone from that school. Such tragedy.
ReplyDeleteIncluding them in my prayers.
This is heartbreaking, indeed.
ReplyDeleteAcross the water here in England, we too are shocked and saddened by this terrible tragedy, our hearts go out to all those affected by this,
ReplyDeleteOur love to you and we are praying,
Helen.
One of the victims was a professor, Liviu Lebrescu, a 75-year-old Israeli professor who had survived the Holocaust. He was noted for his expertise in aeronautical engineering and was loved by his students. He held the classroom door shut to allow his students time to escape through windows. So many stories will be coming forth of courage and heroism, but this, to me, is the ultimate sacrifice of a teacher giving his life for his students.
ReplyDeleteJust awful. I can still remember the shock & horror of Columbine. How can this be I remember thinking, seeing the news coverage of Columbine - as i was looking forward to my little boy starting Kindegarten. Now as he turns a teenager and we talk of college sometimes, I feel the dread again. My heart goes out to all the victims and their families.
ReplyDelete