Why is this school shooting so alarming to people?

Question

More people than this are killed every day in Iraq.

Because they were killed in VA and not in Iraq it's horrible, tragic, unthinkable, disguisting, appalling, etc.?

Yes, it's horrible that some wackjob opened fire at a college campus.

Are the kids' lives more important than soldiers' lives or Iraqi lives?


40-50 killed in Iraq doesn't make the 10 o'clock news anymore, but a college shooting is soooo tragic?

I fail to see the difference between human lives and their worth.

I'd like to hear from someone who thinks they're qualified to assign value to life and death.

Eh maybe I am a jackass (won't be losing sleep over that one). But I'm asking a very pertinent question to this day and age.

If you'd get off your high horse for 2 seconds, maybe you could see my point.

I'm wondering why 33 kids dying today are more or less important than hundreds dying every day in Iraq.

When calling someone an idiot, one should make sure to use the proper form of "you're" or you risk becoming the idiot.

I'm not spinning anything. Get the political bullshit out of your head.

With more words than necessary I'm asking people why certain lives are more or less important than others.

Read. Comprehend. Retort.

Who the hell said anything about libs/con/repubs/dems?

Answer 1

The only reason is that the lesson is, quite simply, it could happen to you... anytime... anywhere...

It's not an issue of whose blood is redder; its just the question of the expectation of violence. The reason the school shooting (and 9/11, and every terrorist attack that ever was) is more horrific to the layperson is because it happened in an environment where no violence is supposed to occur. Our soldiers in Iraq know that they have to sleep with one eye open; Virginia Tech students don't -- and shouldn't -- need to as well.

Answer 2

A living human body is an amazing walking miracle that no one should have the right to interfere in. That said, let me be the first to admit I would not hesitate to take another's life were they to threaten myself or my child. If that means that I think I'm qualified to assign value to life and death, then you've heard from someone.

To address your question, I believe that the state of alarm is due to two perceptions:

1. A college campus is not typically considered dangerous. The biggest danger a college student is perceived to face would be falling asleep in Calculus 101. Therefore a death on a college campus is notable because it is (theoretically) rare.

2. Soldiers are perceived to be volunteering to give up their lives for their country. College students have volunteered no such thing. The death of an "innocent" is more newsworthy than the death of a "willing" soldier (or one who foolishly expected the government to be judicious with American lives).

I personally believe that the selective service should be illegal, that no country should have the right to mandate it's citizens to death, based upon a history of wasting such lives on frivolous and illegal wars.

My son...anyone's son...is worth more than Bush's oil exec buddies and Cheney's Halliburton profits. But that's just my opinion.

Answer 3

That's been my point all along BEFORE the shooting. People have been dying in our cities long before the Iraq war. Nobody cared. Millions of babies are aborted each year. Nobody cared. Rapes, murder, stolen property, etc. go on everyday. Nobody cares. All of a sudden the Iraq war happens and everyone cares! Why? They hate Bush. These are the same people who didn't care about starving in Africa. Or dictators any where else. But now Iraq is all important. Hippocrates!

Answer 4

Don't be an ***, it's so alarming because it's in the United States, things that happen here are more important than things that happen thousands of miles away.

And no one can assign value to life and death. But which 10 o'clock news are you watching, the Colbert Report? I'm still hearing about Iraq...

Answer 5

You might want to be a bit more careful about who you paint with that very broad brush. I am, and always have been opposed tot he war in Iraq. I am sickened by the loss of life there (regardless of the nationality of the victim).

Having said that I am very alarmed at the shooting in Virginia. This in no way means I have "assigned value to life and death". To very loosley paraphrase John Donne, every life enhances me and every death dimishes me.

You are frustrated with the lack of attention to the violence in Iraq. Me too. This doesn't make anyone bad because they are worried about other's death though.

Answer 6

I agree but Iraq happens every day and we have become numb to it. The news isn't escited by it anymore. This VA thing is news. But I do agree we need to think more about the soldiers dying in Iraq. My friend is over there now.

Answer 7

I agree with the point of this post. Life is cheap depending on politics not the actual value of anything. Its politically cool that so many die in Iraq because we have a litany of excuses as to why it happens. They are fighting there so we dont have to fight here, they are dying to help free some people, support the troops (dont count their bodies) this goes on and on. These kids getting killed brings up alot of politically charged questions and not alot of well thought out excuses.

Answer 8

I think it's alarming b/c it was unexpected. We're always hearing about death in Iraq. That is nothing new and we're very used to it. But such a shooting in a school is a rare occurrence.

Answer 9

both instances are sad, but the school shooting is more alarming because these kids didnt wake up thinking that they were gonna die today, but when you join the military its part of the consequences you sign up for and if you live in a war torn country its also part of everyday life

Answer 10

It sounds to me like you are assigning value to life and death by posing this very question.