<~ Killing me Softly ~>

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Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Whose Fault Is It?!!

The Virginia Tech shooting was indeed a grim reminder that there are some really sick people in this world who really need help. But if you look closer at the whole episode you would realize that this was the result of racial discrimination. I wonder if things would be the way it is, if the ‘killer’ was well received by friends. Would this all never have taken place if he was not told constantly to go back home to China (minding the fact that he wasn’t even from there) or if he was not laughed at when he tried to read or express himself.

Did anyone really bother to come to the aid of this boy when he was being discriminated against (maybe they did…but was it enough, in a society that constantly nit picks on the origins of their ‘killers’ right down to the basement the family used to live in their homeland). It’s definitely something to think about.

Rebels usually come from minority groups not the majority. They react the way they do because they feel marginalized. They do not get to exercise their thoughts and express their feelings cause of the nature of the environment they are in. Often their views are suppressed. Liken the situation to that of a balloon exploding when it finally has too much air in it…

I am not saying that the killings were justified (of course not! Especially with innocent lives gone just in minutes. It just is ridiculous!) but maybe they led this guy over the edge…Help should have been given when the problem was seen budding.

But what I fail to understand was why did the Prime Minister of Korea apologise to America for this incident? Why? Coz the killer’s origins was from Korea? Coz he killed Americans? Coz he killed citizens of a Super Power? Or are Asian leaders just simply too diplomatic and apologetic? Or are they afraid of offending Americans? I would love to think that it’s simply an Asian culture to apologise for something that is not your fault. Interesting culture…but then again we are Asians…we do things very differently…We talk different, we look different, we smell different…so it should also make sense to have this uniquely Asian culture. Afterall, Japan has been apologizing for decades for the wrong they have done. Makes me even wonder if we take apologies seriously or saying sorry is so simple it slips out of the mouth faster than the brain can think!

I would like to remember the last time the American government apologized for something their citizens did wrong in another country. I am sure there have been instances though I think it would be much fewer than any Asian country has clocked.

I have nothing against Americans or Asians…definitely not…but I definitely have something against how diplomatic ties take form within the countries in the world. It’s one thing to be polite but another to apologize and compromise the position of your country and its people in the eyes of the world. Stand your ground when you have to and apologise when it warrants the need to do so. It makes the gesture more meaningful.

Labels: Apology, Asian, Culture, Racism, Terrorism, Virginia Tech