Posted on 04/18/2007 5:35:28 PM PDT by jdm
Apr 18, 2007 — "Ismail-Ax." These two words were scribbled in red ink on the arm of Seung-hui Cho, the 23-year-old Virginia Tech student who killed 32 others and then himself in a bloody rampage Monday.Cho was an English major and poet whose writings had raised eyebrows in the past. But what could "Ismail-Ax" mean? Is the phrase spiritual, poetic or just a bizarre expression of a troubled student?
Watch the full story on "Nightline" tonight at 11:35 p.m. EDT
One "Nightline" viewer recognized "Ismail-Ax" from a poem he had read by Drum Hadley, the 1960s beat poet. The poem is called the "The Goat Ranchers" and in it Hadley, under the pseudonym Yonder Ridgeline, writes about "Ishmael's Ax."
Here's the excerpt:
Went where they'd herded goats when they were kids,
Went where they were lovers,
Went where they were married here, those fifty years ago.
Traces of Ishmael's ax on the scarred trunks of the cedar trees,
Crossing the canyons and winding arroyos.Do you know the meaning behind "Ismail-Ax?" Let us know on the "Nightline" message board.
While some may see a parallel, this poem does not have a disastrous ending like the tragedy in Virginia. Hadley writes of a couple, married 50 years, reflecting on their time together.
Others recognize the name Ismail for its religious significance . A similar name, Ishmael, is widely known as the name of the eldest son of Abraham, father of the Israelites. He appears in the Christian, Muslim and Islamic faiths, and his character is both revered and criticized throughout all three religions.
According to Strong's Dictionary, the name "Ishmael" literally translates as "God will hear."
With the origin of "Ismail-Ax" still unknown, the Internet has erupted with people trying to decipher its true meaning. Perhaps they hope that unlocking the secret behind "Ismail-Ax" will explain how a troubled kid could commit an act so terrible.
This is really ugly. Not to mention fodder for another nutjob.
Yep. So are some on FR.
Congressman Billybob
They're officially retarded.
Or they're trying to blame the Joos.
The Israelite line went down through Isaac. Ishmael's descendants were promised to be trouble. Ismail is the Arabic spelling.
My head hurts.
Three Christians got their heads cut off in that country. The perps got 20 years, but it's still a light sentence for such a barbarity.
Yours is the most rational explanation. I’d suspect Cho read some of Doc. Ak’s books, and “sent him a message” ~
I thought it was wrong in that regard.
I received an e-mail from the photographer. This person is not the VTech shooter.
Let’s ask Fermat. It’s a joke. He just did it to make us think it actually meant something so he could mess with our minds for ages.
What did ismail ax?
I’m with you PA Mom. The release of this video should have
waited for a month or more.
Come Monday morning, one of the networks might receive
a video of a person getting decapitated just because their
spouse wanted to make the nightly news cast....JJ61
Ishmael was Abraham's son by a concubine; Isaac was his son by his wife Sarah. KEY POINT: God's covenant was made with Abraham and extended through Isaac, not Ishmael.
MM
Or I could do a Simon Cowell: “how a troubled kid could commit an act so terrible.” What an utterly puerile piece of analysis. How about a little sympathy for the 32 people murdered by this piece of human excrement?
It struck me as backwards, but I wasn’t sure of myself.
Or as Al Sharpton would say: What did Ishmael Aks?
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The story of Abraham destroying the idols in his father’s shop does not appear anywhere in the Old Testament. It is part of the Midrash (Jewish traditional lore). The version that I am familiar with, Abraham used a club, not an axe.
A little confusing. Through Abraham's son Isaac came Jacob (Israel) from whence the Israelites obtain their name. Decendents of Ismael, the Ismaelites, are the Arabs.
Prayers for all those killed in this tragic massacre, including thier families.
I know, it looks nothing like him (other than they both are male Asians). It is interesting to see how people are combing the web looking for the meaning. I suspect there is an explanation in the stuff NBC received.
“Others recognize the name Ismail for its religious significance . A similar name, Ishmael, is widely known as the name of the eldest son of Abraham, father of the
Israelites.”
Interesting, isn’t the the twisting they put the logic through to avoid saying Ismail was traditionally the father of the Moslems by leaving the false impression Ismail was the father of the Jews. The father of the Jews was Abraham’s second son, Isaac.
“The angel of the LORD said to her further, “Behold, you are with child, and you will bear a son; and you shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has given heed to your affliction.”
“He will be a wild donkey of a man, his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand will be against him; and he will live to the east of all his brothers.”
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