Yes, I think ABC would have done exactly the same thing if Cho had sent them the video and his manifesto.
What I find troubling are all these psychiatric experts who are Monday morning quarterbacks. I also find it a bit offensive for them to suggest that because we learned nothing new about the crime, there is no value to showing the video. I think there is great value in showing the video because doing so may make some people wake up to the fact that there are people out there who intend to do great harm—and we need to be prepared individually and as a society to oppose them with whatever force is necessary.
This psychiaquack should be trying to answer the question: Why are the only two people to have opposed Cho a 75 year old professor and a 40 something professor. The former was a Holocaust survivor; the latter had served in the military. Or perhaps I should phrase the question differently, why were all the male students in those classes so sheepishly waiting to be shot dead rather then taking action to save some lives if not their own?
You said — “What I find troubling are all these psychiatric experts who are Monday morning quarterbacks. I also find it a bit offensive for them to suggest that because we learned nothing new about the crime, there is no value to showing the video. I think there is great value in showing the video because doing so may make some people wake up to the fact that there are people out there who intend to do great harm—and we need to be prepared individually and as a society to oppose them with whatever force is necessary.”
This is exactly right. There are too many people who want to say, “Don’t show me this...” but will catisgate others for not being *aware* enough to have done something about it before. You become aware when the public is *made aware* — by exposing the public to the true nature of these kinds of disturbed and evil people (and he was evil in what he did, for sure...).
Regards,
Star Traveler
“Or perhaps I should phrase the question differently, why were all the male students in those classes so sheepishly waiting to be shot dead rather then taking action to save some lives if not their own?”
first, no one knows what happened in those classrooms and no one knows how many died as a result of trying to get to the gunman. At least two men died giving others a chance to live when the gunman entered their specific rooms.
second, the gunman was able, by eyewitness accounts, to change clips in under 2 seconds. considering the gunman shot people in the front rows, by eyewitness accounts, and considering the amount of desks, books, bodies and other stuff in the way, the chances of someone actually being able to get to him from the rear of the room are remote.
third, HAD the students KNOWN he was going to enter their room and were prepared, I could see your point, but at the risk of being flamed, if you don’t know where he is or where he’s going, the first reaction is to get away.
The best option was to have people there who were armed and willing to confront this monster, but they aren’t allowed by law. this killer had a “kill-free zone” in which to work. he picked his building and his targets very carefully to inflict maximum damage.
Good post and an excellent question!
I suppose they were waiting around for the Government to come in and talk Cho down to where he could see the error of his ways.
” why were all the male students in those classes so sheepishly waiting to be shot dead rather then taking action to save some lives if not their own”
Didn’t some save lives by barricading a door in two instances? Once after he fired rounds inside a class and tried to come back, once when alert male students saw him coming down the hall.