Virginia Tech Shooting - Prayers

[Etoh*the*Greato]

I don't think its a sign of desensitization if you're far removed enough from the incident to not really... you know... cry. I feel bad for the people involved, and I've said a prayer, but don't beat yourself up because you're not pulling out your hair and gnashing your teeth. Your prayers are enough.

[Miss WWE 2007]

Yeah prayer changes and helps things.

[LostChild]

My prayers and condolances go out to the families and loved ones of those who were killed. May the Lord ease their suffering hearts.

My prayers of thankfulness go out to those who were blessed to have survived. May the Lord keep a steady hand on them and keep them safe.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Seems like a lot of people are now hating Korean Americans for this. A group of people were vandalizing Route 40 near my home, screaming out "Go back to your country" and whatever crap they want to say.

Apparently they released the identities and location of the killer's parents. WHY? That's only going to cause angry mobs of non-Koreans to go and harass the parents.

I actually did get harassed at school for a bit, and I expect it to continue throughout the week.

[bigsleepj]

Seems like a lot of people are now hating Korean Americans for this. A group of people were vandalizing Route 40 near my home, screaming out "Go back to your country" and whatever crap they want to say.

Apparently they released the identities and location of the killer's parents. WHY? That's only going to cause angry mobs of non-Koreans to go and harass the parents.

I actually did get harassed at school for a bit, and I expect it to continue throughout the week.

This post saddens me a lot.

[soul alive]

I'm sorry, MSP - that's really horrible. Hang in there.

And yes, the brilliance of the media in releasing information of that sort (shooter's family's location) never ceases to amaze me. *sigh*

My prayers continue to be with the victims, friends and families, as well as the shooter's family.

A really well put quote from the message boards for the shooting:
[quote="midwest mom4"]“I just think that at this time people should use more energy to pray for EVERYONE involved in this situation, including the gunman and his family. This is an extremely sad situation for all and it should be an eye opener for all that it is time for our WORLD to change and I believe that the first place for this is in all our hearts.â€

[Radical Dreamer]

Seems like a lot of people are now hating Korean Americans for this. A group of people were vandalizing Route 40 near my home, screaming out "Go back to your country" and whatever crap they want to say.

Apparently they released the identities and location of the killer's parents. WHY? That's only going to cause angry mobs of non-Koreans to go and harass the parents.

I actually did get harassed at school for a bit, and I expect it to continue throughout the week.

Wow, that's really lame. People have such a way of shifting blame to everyone or everything else but the killer. Be it video games, politics, the parents, the girlfriend of the guy...

And the whole Korean American harassing bit just makes me mad. Just because ONE Korean went half-insane and shot 32 students at his school doesn't mean all of them will. It's just like when the Japanese Americans were shunned after the Pearl Harbor attacks. Absolutely ridiculous.

I'll be praying for this whole situation.

[Puguni]

I just want to scream. Someone needs to make an appeal on behalf of the Korean American community, because if nothing is said, then it will be the next victim. We don't condone what the shooter did at all. All we are thinking about is how this tragedy will backlash on our people who weren't involved at all.

Please, please pray for the community. No one, especially me, ever wants to see a terrible trend of hate crimes against Koreans. We're grieving along with you.

[Aruiko]

I cant possibly understand, how bad must human feel. The pain of vistims and also killers pain. Like how bad must his pain and agony be for doing this.
There are so many wo suffer. My prayers will be with this.
Sorry i cant express myself in english right now probelly. ecause im so shokked. So hope noone misunderstands anything.

[Tenshi no Ai]

Wow, that's really lame. People have such a way of shifting blame to everyone or everything else but the killer. Be it video games, politics, the parents, the girlfriend of the guy...

And the whole Korean American harassing bit just makes me mad. Just because ONE Korean went half-insane and shot 32 students at his school doesn't mean all of them will. It's just like when the Japanese Americans were shunned after the Pearl Harbor attacks. Absolutely ridiculous.

It is pretty sad and pathetic :/ Ok, so it just happens to be a Korean guy, does that make it right to go off bashing others just because they just happen to share their ethnicity in common? Heck no. Always an issue it it just so happens to be a minority, and it always gets blown out of proportion :/

I also hate the whole blaming thing. Yeah, things can HELP cause people to go crazy and do stupid things, but is it really the factor of that that MADE them do something, or themself? Oy :/ There's alot of things that sure don't help, but still...

[Sonicbomb77]

:\ this is stupid

Sadly all we can do is watch and pray, but still,

this is rly stupid. :\

btw: Hang in there MSP!

[Nia-chan]

Has anyone read his plays? :/ They're very disturbing.

[Mave]

MSP, I truly feared this the moment I read the hint that the guy was "Asian-looking." This is similar to the backlash made to us international students on my campus after 9-11. I received an official email from the university telling us to be careful for the next few weeks especially if you're from the Middle East or are Muslim. It truly is a waste of time targeting the Korean Americans and making pointless generalizations.

I feel sorry and somewhat identify with Asian Americans who get treated differently. I will pray for God's protection over the innocent ones and to clear the blinding anger of those who are hurting and outraged. May all place their trust in You and may they work towards healing and comfort, rather than choose to respond to hatred and violence with more hatred and violence. Free us from this fear that grips us and to turn to You for hope.

Amen.

[ICE-rocks]

I heard about this... man its horrible. (praying)

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Has anyone read his plays? :/ They're very disturbing.

They were more immature and poorly written than disturbing.

And mave, thank you xD

[Fish and Chips]

Seems like a lot of people are now hating Korean Americans for this. A group of people were vandalizing Route 40 near my home, screaming out "Go back to your country" and whatever crap they want to say.

Apparently they released the identities and location of the killer's parents. WHY? That's only going to cause angry mobs of non-Koreans to go and harass the parents.

I actually did get harassed at school for a bit, and I expect it to continue throughout the week.

People will always love a martyr...but want scapegoat.

[Nia-chan]

They were more immature and poorly written than disturbing.

And mave, thank you xD

That's partly why they were disturbing


And was he really looking for a girl?

[Angel37]

Seems like a lot of people are now hating Korean Americans for this. A group of people were vandalizing Route 40 near my home, screaming out "Go back to your country" and whatever crap they want to say.

Apparently they released the identities and location of the killer's parents. WHY? That's only going to cause angry mobs of non-Koreans to go and harass the parents.

I actually did get harassed at school for a bit, and I expect it to continue throughout the week.

You know, MSP, when I first heard the guy was Korean, I thought of you and went "oh no..please don't let this turn into 9/11 with ethnic groups getting harrassed for what one idiot did." I was hoping you'd be ok but apparently the human race is still incredulously irrational and hateful. You'll be in my prayers- I am deeply saddened for you.

[K. Ayato]

I think this could've been solved better if the school responded more to the guy's writings presented in his English courses. I just finished reading the article on his stuff on msn.com today, and all his professor could do was constantly recommend counseling to him. That in and of itself isn't a bad move, but she shouldn't have stopped there. I don't know the ins and outs of how school teachers and other staff should respond if and when a particular student is acting out of sync, but there were probably more approaches than just saying "Hey, I think you could improve with some counseling."

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Teachers are generally wrapped up with a lot of red tape. They're hands are tied in many respects because the schools are afraid of being sued. If the wrong thing is said to the wrong person, it can cost the school a lot of money, and the teacher's job by proxy.

[Alexander]

*calms down*

Okay, I think I can go on now.

Goodness, I haven't felt this emotionally torn over anything for a very long time.

I read his works too. Goodness, they let him just go like that? I would have at least spoken to his parents about this.

And what's perhaps most scary of all is, he looks completely normal. He might not be smiling, but he still looks so normal...

[crossalchemist]

Apparently Westboro "Baptist" Church (the creators of godhatesfa_s.com and godhatesamerica.com) will be protesting at the funerals of the fallen. Is there no way to stop this idiots? There must be something someone can do, some sort of legal action or something, to keep these hateful (things I can't say being a Christian man) away so these poor families can mourn in peace!

Also, I'd like to put out a petition to all hackers, ethical and non, to take down Westboro's websites. They are havens of hate for people looking to start genocides here on our soil.

[Nate]

I'm not sure what the legislation is as far as funeral protests go, but I'd like to think that somehow the members of WBC will be kept as far away from the mourning/services as possible. Really, I'd say a better solution would be to pray that that their planes be delayed or their cars have trouble to prevent them from being able to arrive at the services. I think that isn't an unreasonable or unethical request to God.

And I may have kind of spurred this sort of thing on with my comment about Jack Thompson, but we probably should not bash the people who are using this tragedy to promote their own sick twisted agenda. Doing so would only make us the same as them. Instead let's keep this focused on supportive comments to the victims and their families, and prayer for them.

[Alexander]

I'm not sure what the legislation is as far as funeral protests go, but I'd like to think that somehow the members of WBC will be kept as far away from the mourning/services as possible. Really, I'd say a better solution would be to pray that that their planes be delayed or their cars have trouble to prevent them from being able to arrive at the services. I think that isn't an unreasonable or unethical request to God.

And I may have kind of spurred this sort of thing on with my comment about Jack Thompson, but we probably should not bash the people who are using this tragedy to promote their own sick twisted agenda. Doing so would only make us the same as them. Instead let's keep this focused on supportive comments to the victims and their families, and prayer for them.

And as Jesus said, "Love your enemies as your neighbor. And pray for those who persecute you." (Can't remember the verse location. )

I should add that to my signature...

[Fish and Chips]

Normally I might agree with Nate on this point, but the WBC have crossed so many lines by now, I honestly can't contain my anger with them. Saying that victims deserved to die, and are burning in Hell? And what's more right in the faces of the mourning. I'm sorry, but I can't react passively to that sort of talk.

[Mave]

Folks, this is a prayer thread. Please stick to the praying, no matter how strongly we feel about some issues here. Let's continue praying that God's Spirit will give sufficient Strength and Grace to those inflicted and grieving so that they may be able to endure anything else such as backlashes and things like WBC. Thanks!

[faithfighter]

my prayers are with the victims families and loved ones, also for the healing of the injured and the emotional healing of the survivors.
plus prayers for the gunman's family. they are suffering too.

as requested by Mave I will stick only to prayers but I did write a devotion on this topic so I will post the link (hope thats ok) for anyway who wants to read it

http://www.xanga.com/devoteddisciple

-zooky

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I will say, after watching Seung-Hui Cho's video, I feel great sympathy for him.

Of course I don't agree with his actions. Either way, I do feel highly sympathetic for his feelings. I totally understand where he's coming from.

[Tenshi no Ai]

I will say, after watching Seung-Hui Cho's video, I feel great sympathy for him.

Of course I don't agree with his actions. Either way, I do feel highly sympathetic for his feelings. I totally understand where he's coming from.

What did he say on it anyhow? I missed it but heard something about it saying "this is for my brothers and sisters" or something like that (and didn't know if he was talking about Koreans, Americans in general or what).

[Nate]

I think he was referring to people who felt like outsiders or felt that they were picked on all their lives.