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We're not all victims (We're not all Hokies)
LA Times ^ | 20 April 2007 | Rosa Brooks

Posted on 04/20/2007 5:22:18 AM PDT by shrinkermd

...In modern America, there's always plenty of trauma to go around. Even if you knew no one involved in the shootings, have never been to Virginia and can't tell the difference between a Hokie and a Wahoo, there's no need for you to feel left out.

Did you feel sad when you heard the news? Did you ponder, however fleetingly, the mystery of mortality? If so, don't just go on with your ordinary life as if nothing has happened to disrupt it (even though nothing has happened to disrupt it). Honor your grief! Attend a candlelight vigil, post a poignant message on one of MySpace's Virginia Tech memorial pages and please, seek trauma counseling as soon as possible.

Convincing ourselves that we've been vicariously traumatized by the pain of strangers has become a cherished national pastime. Thus, the Washington Post this week accompanied online stories about the shooting with a clickable sidebar, "Where to Find Support" — apparently on the assumption that the mere experience of glancing at articles about the tragedy would be so emotionally devastating that readers would require trained therapists.

At the University of Buffalo, more than 500 miles from Virginia Tech, university counselors announced that they were "reaching out to students feeling affected by … the tragedy." In Dallas, area chaplains rushed (uninvited) to Blacksburg, Va., to "be part of the healing process."

Count me out. There's something fraudulent about this eagerness to latch onto the grief of others and embrace the idea that we, too, have been victimized. This trivializes the pain felt by those who have actually lost something and pathologizes normal reactions to tragedy. Empathy is good, but feeling shocked and saddened by the shootings doesn't make us traumatized or special — these feelings make us normal.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; US: Virginia; Unclassified
KEYWORDS: hokies; tech; vatech; victimhood; virginia; virginiatech
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To: Corin Stormhands
With all due respect, Mizz Brooks can bite my Hokie @$$!

That was my reaction, and I'm not a Holie and have no connection to VT. My daughter has expressed interest in attending VT because she has decided she wants to be a Veterinarian. Tuesday morning her best friend told her she didn't want to go there because there are so many shootings and it's not a safe place. I quickly explained to them both that was not true.........

They are both only 8, si I'm sure attitudes and goals will change in the coming years, but as a mom, if she were old enough, I wouldn't hesitate for her to attend VT right now.

81 posted on 04/20/2007 1:32:09 PM PDT by Gabz (I like mine with lettuce and tomato, heinz57 and french-fried potatoes)
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To: Strategerist

That is true. Actually, it has it’s roots in the whole “shrine” thing, candles and praying there. Not a good development.


82 posted on 04/20/2007 2:26:18 PM PDT by Bainbridge
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To: twigs

They mean something to the kids ‘cause their entire lives “vigils” and ribbons have been the sacrament of the psychobabble culture. They are always accompanied by “moments of silence”. It is a shallow and smarmy culture.


83 posted on 04/20/2007 2:29:32 PM PDT by Bainbridge
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To: gracesdad

Why go to a vigil? Better to go to a church and pray.


84 posted on 04/20/2007 2:37:47 PM PDT by Bainbridge
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To: New Girl
You’ve nailed it!
85 posted on 04/20/2007 2:39:05 PM PDT by Bainbridge
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To: shrinkermd
This woman is dead on. we've become a nation of Emo's.

Now batten down your hatches and be prepared for incoming by the perpetually over sensitive.

86 posted on 04/20/2007 2:59:36 PM PDT by metalurgist ("For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" No to Rudy)
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To: OldFriend
Did we not feel the fear of all those who were overcome by the tsunami, with no place to flee?

NO!

If we simply say, thankfully, it wasn’t me or mine so who cares......what does that say about us?

It says "It didn't affect me so I don't care and I'm not going to get sickeningly emotional over it. Besides, you seem to be overly emotional enough for everybody. Now go curl up in a ball, hug your Teddy bear and have a good cry because of my non-caring callous attitude.

87 posted on 04/20/2007 3:11:37 PM PDT by metalurgist ("For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" No to Rudy)
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To: metalurgist

Read the entire article. It is a boatload of filth. The liberal mind at work.


88 posted on 04/20/2007 4:20:29 PM PDT by kabar
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To: Bainbridge

“Why go to a vigil? Better to go to a church and pray.”

Praying at a vigil doesn’t count with God?


89 posted on 04/20/2007 7:36:30 PM PDT by gracesdad
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To: Corin Stormhands
There's something fraudulent about this eagerness to latch onto the grief of others and embrace the idea that we, too, have been victimized.

I have to agree with this. It's just another way our "esteemed" news media can hype up the horror - remember their motto, "If it bleeds it leads". The more people our MSM can convince to feel like victims, the more support they hope to gain for their agenda.
I am not belittling the murders. It directly affected tens of thousands of people, instilled fear in tens of thousands more. It completely disrupted the school. It’s difficult to think of it without envisioning what the faculty and students went through waiting for the shots to come.
But - I don’t consider my self a “victim”. I don’t believe I was traumatized.

90 posted on 04/21/2007 3:41:26 AM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: R. Scott

Fine. But do make sure you read the entire article to make a full assessment of her agenda.

I went there. My son wants to go there. I have friends and family there. My son has classmates there. I’m not a victim, but I sure as hell ~was~ traumatized by this.

Were we as a nation victimized? No not really, just a further erosion of our belief that our kids are safe...anywhere.

My 17-year-old son was consumed by these events this week. He spent all yesterday afternoon repeatedly viewing the pictures of vigils and tributes from across the country.

To heap scorn upon those who mourn, those who comfort, or those who want to show solidarity by a simple fashion statement, all for political agenda as Mizz Brooks has done is to lower oneself below the scummiest of the scum.


91 posted on 04/21/2007 8:39:03 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands (http://wardsmythe.com)
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To: Corin Stormhands
Fine. But do make sure you read the entire article to make a full assessment of her agenda.

I read the full article, and what I cut and pasted was the only paragraph I agreed with. I do not "heap scorn" on anyone but our "esteemed" news media.

92 posted on 04/21/2007 10:47:42 AM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: R. Scott

The “heap scorn” comment was directed at the author.


93 posted on 04/21/2007 10:52:56 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands (http://wardsmythe.com)
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To: Corin Stormhands

Oh.


94 posted on 04/21/2007 10:54:03 AM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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