This whole Virginia Tech shooting is making me feel, how do I put it, very uneasy. I read late last night that the gunman was an Asian in a AP story (I believe), and today it was announced that he was Korean. I strongly believe that race or ethnicity of the gunman had anything to do with the incident itself, it was an act of an individual and not that of an ethnic community. But I was very sad to see a lot of ignorant comments made by Japanese bloggers, most of them jumping to conclusion without any information other than his ethnic background. I hope media won’t stir this up… Maybe I am over sensitive because I just watched the movie Crash, which was filled with prejudice and frustration caused by it.
[added 4.19] Case in point: look at April 19, 2007 Boston Herald cover. It has Cho’s photo (clearly Asian) and a large lettering reading “TIME BOMB.” Now, I know a lot of Asian kids who are quiet, or avoid spotlight. Some because they don’t speak English too well, others just are shy. Does this make quiet Asian kid a Time Bomb? I hope not. Again, maybe I am overreacting.
The quote“Prejudice is the child of ignorance” is by William Hazlitt.
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth, From despair to hope, from fear to trust, lead us from hatred to love, from war to peace; peace fill our hearts, let peace fill our world, let peace fill our universe.
“World Peace Prayer” by Marty Haugen, GC732
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