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Show MONDAY. JUNE 18*2007 One student's view on how we should combat rampant psychosis 'A V.i I t happened one morning in the aftermath of one strange and very bizarre day of murder and mayhem at a local university. It could have been any university really, but he chose Virginia Tech. That's when I finally realized that these very random, cold and calculated killings would continue indefinitely, until everyday citizens were mobilized throughout the U.S., and the world for that matter, to become what you might call "Watchers" or "Sentries" to combat this evil in society that has come upon us, from out of nowhere, almost over night. No, it became vividly apparent that on that tranquil morning, a morning that would change how I view security on a broad scale, just how farreaching a security plan would actually have to go to provide everyday citizens with the protection they deserve in order to feel a greater level of comfort as they go about their normal routine. I'm talking about a mass anonymous security force, if you will, for those around them, unawares that only becomes visible in when an event such as mass murder is about to be unleashed upon them, and where there is not time to wait for local law enforcement to react. I'm not calling this vigilantism, or anything of the sort, but to me, it is now a dreadful reality that weaponry-both human and mechanized in nature-are now a large part of the solution rather than the problem that is all too common in and around our communities. We would now be taking responsibility for our safety by carrying with us a way to fight back against the antisocial, psychopathic killers being produced, in whatever corner of the globe that would perpetrate the unthinkable act of mass killings upon us. No, in my view, it is high time that a system is put in place whereby normal, everyday Janes and Joes could enjoy a certain level of security throughout every walk of life, if only by having a "Watcher" or "Protector," if you will. Call it a "Sky Marshall's" program for the masses that would only appear, or manifest itself at the very moment of an imminent threat to human life and limb, when time is of the essence. What I'm talking about is security and safety on a grand scale, not ever imagined by anyone, anywhere; accept, maybe the likes of Hitler. Why can't our local and national communities mobilize and create a security system in which every citizen would be given the same opportunity to control their own destinies through what we will now call "A System of Mutually Assured Safety at Home, (ASMASH), and take back control over our lives, fighting back, and assuring ourselves, once and for all, that murder on a massive scale may never be able to carry out andfinishit's evil plot? That by some means, be it the tazer or the properly licensed conceal-and-carry weapon, there will always be a quick and capable response to homicidal murderers wherever and whenever they may strike again. I heard it said shortly after the killings at Virginia Tech that "we can't place a guard at every door." My God Man! That is just the kind of think- f ing that allowed 30 additional innocent young men and women to perish at the hands of a homicidal maniac; [while over two hours before, two innocent victims were gunned down in the same manner, at the same general location.] Horrendous! We can and should, in light of this tragic and highly unnecessary lapse of judgment and carnage, go way beyond any security system that has heretofore ever been conceived of by any sane, rational human being and set a plan in motion that will not, again, fail us. I propose that the abovementioned plan of attack be taken seriously and given a proper hearing before all entities in charge of security and I do so: Respectfully Brad Ellsworth illustration by J*atthev William Staff Infection If you didn't have to spend money on gas what would you spend it on? All the royal treats at Dairy Queen! "-.•].":}'•" Is a citizen gustapo really necessary? Jared Magill Opinions Editor Thanks for the letter Brad, So, here we are again. After Columbine, the shooting rampage at Trolley Square just a few months back and countless other acts of violence that the media does not find interesting, we find ourselves once again rending our garments, casting our gaze skyward and wailing "If only..." Meanwhile, politicians on both sides of the political spectrum are busying themselves with the task of linking the Virginia Tech massacre to whatever cheap political point is on their daily agenda, while we, the public at large, with apathy and escapism at the top of our own daily agendas, dull our senses with the latest update on plight of Paris Hil- ton. We retreat to our private quarters to reach out across the vast expanse of the internet to connect with our personalized, hand-picked entourage of My Space friends who may live any number of miles away, while we take as little notice as possible to the people right next to us. If only there was a software program that could teach us how to take notice of the needs of others: be it compassion, medical attention, a straight jacket etc. Only when our apathy and contempt for each other manifests itself incarnate and sticks a gun in our faces are we shocked out of our selfabsorbed stupor and forced to acknowledge the demons we unwittingly conjure. Then we begin to cry out saying, "We need more security, more laws and more bureaucracy and if we have to sacrifice our liberty then so be it. We need protection because we are innocent victims. If only there existed a secret, armed, highly trained reactionary brute squad to deliver us from this extrinsic evil." The ranting of would-be doomsday prophets notwithstanding, evils such as the Virginia Tech massacre were not wrought upon us overnight nor did they come from out of nowhere. Events such as these are indicative of a society of people who no longer care for one another. Reactionary or pre-emptive, brute-force counter measures are simply not enough to end this nonsense. What we need is prevention. We must take an introspective look within our social structure to identify those factors, which are the most influential in fostering our citizens into becoming murderous psychopaths and take steps to eradicate them. As the saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." The idea of responsible citizens banding together of their own volition to ensure the safety and security of their respective communities, sort of like a cross between a militia and a neighborhood watch program, has some merit, but that would just be like treating the symptoms without attacking the root of the problem; a band-aid on a bullet wound if you will. And, to institute such a program without addressing the cause of such behavior would be what we could then call "A System of Irresponsible Negligence In the Name of Expedience" (ASININE). OasonPyles I ride a bike. I would just pay my bills. ^ ' : •;•:" • Ben Webster Buy rain gutters for my house. • Spencer Shell A new mountain bike. • Jared Magill New and exciting scarves. • Brandon Schelln I'm going to buy Ikea. * Eleanor Takahashi ybridcar. • Jack Jared Waters ^^^ iThe.Good The. Bad CAIJ, FOE The College Times wants to hear your opinion. Th Whi H * ^Th Uh ldi 3 Prophecy might be on ojft) pass away in the war 3 » ^ ^ f o l l o w i n g psuedo-heroic^ ^ d e c i s i o n not to appeal .;'-' the brink of fulfillment * Mi i 0 • v * E-Mail letters to anthonro@uvsc.edu ^ * Drop off at The College Time's newsroom in sc220 * All letters become property of The College Times, and may be edited for content, ; *:. specifically clarity, length or other concerns at the discretion of the editor. * Letters between 50-250 words are ;' \ encouraged, and those letters marked by their succinctnes are more likely to be published. * Letters must be accompanied by full name, address, and phone number for verification . purposes (contact information will not be published). : "'•;"- / . * Anonymous letters will not be published. |