I reserve a special kind of sneer for people like Tim Kreutschmer, Michael McLendon, Cho Seung-Hui and the likes of them who, being inexplicably fed up with the state of their apparently miserable lives, find a dire need to go on a shooting spree, killing dozens of people who probably have done them no wrong in their lives. These people always eventually turn the gun on themselves, most likely seeing their own death as some sort of a glorious escape and a resounding statement of their angst and individualism against this wrongful world.

Cold-blooded as I may sound, I can never find it within me to summon up any sort of sympathy for these killers. I may empathize, because, who hasn't at any point found that there is too much that is wrong with the world? But no matter the circumstances, I can see no reasonable explanation for such ruthless acts. The media too often portrays the perpetrators as withdrawn, anti-social individuals who lacked the human touch, hence creating a conducive environment for violent fantasies. Invariably, someone will come out after the incident to say "if only I had reached out to him...".

Unfortunately, in my opinion, such acts are but the extremely violent equivalent of a whiny homeless drunkard berating about the unfairness of society to people like him, the marginalised. No one should have to take responsibilty for anyone else's actions - if you are a homeless drunkard, chances are, you blew your rent on alchohol, and no one has hired you because you're never sober enough to go for an interview. Similarly, the vengeful individuals are such because they've spent their life indoors, stewing over the injustices life has dished them, instead of out in the sun playing some soccer.

But as we arrive at the generation that has somehow been taught to pinpoint all wrong on everything but themselves, I do think that sadly, we will only see more of such cases.

scribbled
1:50 PM