It's just never going to stop is it ?

[blues90]

Somewhere in my mind and perhaps it's due to shear luck , I have never been shot at or had my life threatened . I have come close a few times but nothing happened .

Deep down inside I have always felt most people meant no harm and tried to project the best .

Even after all the wars and murders and the endless list of things that crop up all across the globe , I always felt that some day this will end .

But it's not like a rain storm or a blizzard now is it , it's not like the sun rises and falls .

I have lost all faith and I don;t know why today was the day , but it was . Perhaps like many I have had enough , there is no excuse , there is no reason for people to act worse than any animal that roams the globe .

I do well know there are many good people but I also know man will never change .

I wish everyone well and do hope all make it without harm coming their way and that's all I can do .

[SmokingJacket]

1. I just wish I knew what the problem is.

Why do so many people wish harm -- and tolerate harm -- to others? Is it getting worse, or does it just feel that way?

[Democrats_win]

6. We've watched politicians promise something better and deliver something worse.

Certainly every "promise" of the current administration has proven to be a terrible disaster. Our nation and society is collapsing without good honest leaders running the country instead of the sadistic liars we now have. America is facing the doom years.

[Richard Steele]

2. No, it really isn't.

:hug:

[bdamomma]

3. our minds and hearts are not innocent no more.

it doesn't help having a gun happy pre emptive president either. I thought when we reached the 21st century we would be processing in everything education, technology, medicine, and environmental break throughs, boy, I was wrong, our children deserve much better.

[blues90]

8. Yes the great 21st century and what do we hear

Bush with the first war of the 21st century , well great start bush , great start .

I don't know whether people have become desenstized or if there are just more people increasing the odds .

I do know people have always killed but not for the crazed reasons or at least not for so many reasons they do now .

all that comes to mind is the old movie (The day the earth stood still ) as a long lost message that may have helped if people were open minded .

[pscooper]

4. no, it isn't

We don't like some random animal; we are animals. Just particularly smart ones. Every bit as viscious as any other preditor on earth.

I find humor the best medicine.

There's nothing funny about this story, so if you're feeling particularly down, I recommend renting a favorite funny movie and giving this painful day a rest.

[NightWatcher]

5. It's a weird, bad world

Having been held at gunpoint with the barrel against my head as the gun man told me that I was going to die, I feel so bad for these people who were at the school, or knew someone that was at the school. It's a bad feeling and it doesnt go away. I have also taken a gun into a gunfight and "knowing that you have a gun" does not make you feel safe. It makes you feel more scared because you know what might happen.

Hunter S Thompson called it "fear and loathing" and I see more and more of it everyday, everywhere I look. I am still a positive person, because I hope for a better world. I also try to do what I can to make my world better and help those around me.

I pray for peace. Peace in the Middle East, Peace in Iraq, Peace in Virginia, Peace at home, Peace in my mind, and Peace be with you.

[bdamomma]

7. Peace a forgotten word to some people.

[napi21]

9. Unfortunately, fighting & killing is part of our culture & many others.

I've never understood it, but I sure have met and worked with a lot of people who believe very strongly in power always wins, if I'm not bigger & stronger than you I'll get an equalizer, and I'm right you're wrong and you'll do it MY WAY! No amount of commons sense or logic will ever change their minds either.

I worked with a very attractive young girl, 20 years old and finishing college. You can't imagine how calmly she spoke about gun shots outside her windows at night. I was flipping out! I asked herwhat in the world she does when that happens? She quite calmly said "Oh, if they're really close I just hit the floor until they stop. If there's not real close, it's no big deal, I just continue studying."

I could tell you many stories like that or worse. Haven't you ever heard someone say "That SOB should be shot! or Kill that SOB! Yes, to some that just a lot of talk, but to others THEY REALLY MEAN IT!

All I can say is if you think about how this Country began, not a whole lot has changed.

[Straight Shooter]

10. A small suggestion ...

Find out which newspapers cover the area which includes Virginia Tech. Write a letter to the editor and express your sorrow at what has happened. Write a letter to the staff of VT also. Write to the local churches and tell them you are praying that they may find peace someday, or, if you don't pray, tell them they are in your thoughts.

In the midst of tragedy, the comforting words of a stranger can mean a lot. They won't feel so alone. It will help to ease your pain, as well, to do what you can, when you can.

:hug:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

11. We make incremental steps towards enlightenment. We have seen it in our

lifetimes.

MKJ

edited, we all rage and we all love. After the rage, the love is hard to find, but it's there and powerful. There hasn't been much love out there, lately. But we all know the feeling.

You're among friends.

[Pavulon]

12. And you probably never will see a weapon pointed at you

I worry about heart disease. Drunk drivers worry me. I do not worry about being shot. I travel and with common sense you can manage not to be shot or robbed, or at least not both.

[Hardrada]

13. I worry about hitting a deer. Too many around here.

[Pavulon]

14. Worry is odd, paying interest on a loan you haven't taken out

opposing violence is reasonable. I just cant bring myself to worry about the random stuff.

[Autobot77]

15. Don't worry

While we do live in a violent society it is nowhere near as violent as the media would have you believe. School shootings in America are not new nor is violence a recent phenomena. Banning violent tv shows and video games won't anything nor will banning guns.
Better access to health care including mental health care will go along way, as it will help troubled people get the help they need.

[blues90]

17. It's a bit late now for some things

Now that we have violent video games and graphic movies how do you take the damage done away .
I do feel they have an effect to a certain degree . perhaps before they were allowed to flow into the market people should have sat back and thought of the possible issues that may arrive from these things .

Lets say people have a long history of murder and violence , we know this and have for many years , why then make it even more acceptable ?

[scarletwoman]

16. Our whole planet is drowning in a miasma of violence, and the U.S. is biggest contributor.

Our culture is saturated with violence, our country exports weapons and war and terror around the globe.

It's a crazy-making situation, and it's global -- the collective psyche of humanity is under enormous stress. And every once in awhile someone just gives in to the crazy all the way.

sw

[ben_thayer]

18. At the risk of sounding

overly pessimistic, I think we're seeing signs of natures ruthless and awful population control measures. Lab experiments with deliberately pressured rat populations resulted in insanity, cannibalism and disease until their numbers dropped to levels that were environmentally sustainable. By the time Mankind reaches those extremes, the horrors of abortion are going to look like a Sunday picnic.

Stepping off soapbox now and donning asbestos underwear...

[blues90]

19. well that's quite possible

Since we have over populated the planet without conscience and there is little danger of being killed by a wild animal in most places .

I know you will agree it is a horrible shame that this sort of killing comes about once one has a life and hope for a future , but then we always have had this hope .

However in america we do tend to bring it on ourselves being the war mongers of the globe .

I imagine soon enough our end will be the nuclear bomb instead of the gun .

[ben_thayer]

21. I know what you're saying...

Is it really better to have lived and lost, than never to have lived at all?

:shrug:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

22. The "horrors of abortion" are hardly front and center for most. It's the horror of genocide against

living, breathing, multi generational families that is so wrenching.

MKJ

[ben_thayer]

23. Exactly my point

It's why I'll never understand the fundies (For whom it IS front and center) insistence on "Life at any cost"

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

24. I'm surprised I made your point while disputing it so vive le difference. n/t

MKJ

[whistle]

20. Every day in America 51 people are murdered, 34 of then with fire arms

...every day, across the country those numbers are repeated within a fairly close range. Today's shooting spree at VA Tech with its 33 victims now will be a spike in those numbers, but tomorrow and the following day and the day after that another 48 to 54 new victims will be senselessly murdered and roughly two thirds will be homicides where fire arms were used. In addition the numbers will rise as our population increases, but the trend over the last five years has been a 3% to 5% rise in the murder rates per 100,000 population as well. Some 19,000 homicidal killings are likely by the end of 2007 here in the U.S. and it won't stop, certainly not on its own :cry: