Published
I am watching FOXNews and they just reported they have received a "bulletin" about a shooting at a nursing college in Tuscon. They will break in more more news as they get it. Two women have been shot...No word on condition...I hope they are not seriously wounded.
My prayers are with them.
Originally posted by StargazerPerhaps where we differ is that I think all the events leading up to that one moment have equal weight.
No actually, I think we agree. Had Flores not killed them so they couldn't respond, I could have assigned equal blame and responsibility. But when he picked up the gun, then it simply changed my perspective. If I hear of this kind of behavior from a co-worker or student, I can relate, but for me, when the one person picks up a weapon, then, the perspective for me is lost.
Everyone deals with tragedy differently. Like I said, I am a problem-solver by nature. It gives me no comfort to simply assign blame and walk away. I need to understand why it happened, to look at the systems in place and where they broke down, and talk about how to change things for the better so this never happens again. That is how I deal. And I think it's more productive than the blame game.
True, and I can respect that. But these types of killing continue no matter how much pubicity it gets, no matter how much bullying is addressed. It continues. So I think that this kind of rationalizing didn't work for Columbine, and it won't work for Flores. It WILL happen again in my mind, because in my mind, the reason it continues is because we don't teach children or people accountability or coping skills. We teach them that they are exceptions to everything and they will get their way.
Originally posted by StargazerPerhaps where we differ is that I think all the events leading up to that one moment have equal weight.
No actually, I think we agree. Had Flores not killed them so they couldn't respond, I could have assigned equal blame and responsibility. But when he picked up the gun, then it simply changed my perspective. If I hear of this kind of behavior from a co-worker or student, I can relate, but for me, when the one person picks up a weapon, then, the perspective for me is lost.
Everyone deals with tragedy differently. Like I said, I am a problem-solver by nature. It gives me no comfort to simply assign blame and walk away. I need to understand why it happened, to look at the systems in place and where they broke down, and talk about how to change things for the better so this never happens again. That is how I deal. And I think it's more productive than the blame game.
True, and I can respect that. But these types of killing continue no matter how much pubicity it gets, no matter how much bullying is addressed. It continues. So I think that this kind of rationalizing didn't work for Columbine, and it won't work for Flores. It WILL happen again in my mind, because in my mind, the reason it continues is because we don't teach children or people accountability or coping skills. We teach them that they are exceptions to everything and they will get their way.
Originally posted by sjoePerhaps we could get Djibouti to like us if we legalized clitorectomies for little girls
as we already do legalize, and even encourage, circumcisions for little boys.
We can discuss this on a separate thread if you like, seeing as clitorectomies on girls are done soley to prevent them sexual pleasure and have NOTHING to do with removing foreskin...
Originally posted by sjoePerhaps we could get Djibouti to like us if we legalized clitorectomies for little girls
as we already do legalize, and even encourage, circumcisions for little boys.
We can discuss this on a separate thread if you like, seeing as clitorectomies on girls are done soley to prevent them sexual pleasure and have NOTHING to do with removing foreskin...
Fair enough, Susy. I can understand and respect that.Originally posted by Susy KNo actually, I think we agree. Had Flores not killed them so they couldn't respond, I could have assigned equal blame and responsibility. But when he picked up the gun, then it simply changed my perspective. If I hear of this kind of behavior from a co-worker or student, I can relate, but for me, when the one person picks up a weapon, then, the perspective for me is lost.
Fair enough, Susy. I can understand and respect that.Originally posted by Susy KNo actually, I think we agree. Had Flores not killed them so they couldn't respond, I could have assigned equal blame and responsibility. But when he picked up the gun, then it simply changed my perspective. If I hear of this kind of behavior from a co-worker or student, I can relate, but for me, when the one person picks up a weapon, then, the perspective for me is lost.
I find it amazing that some choose to believe Flores' letter. A killer is credible? I suggest those interested go to http://www.azstarnet.com to read todays' edition. Classmates and few remaining LIVE professors are starting to speak out about what really happened. Flores was the bully. Students were afraid of him. He rarely did homework, and did not turn in papers on time. When he was failing the first time thru, his instructors had tutors called him at home offering help. He threatened a professor who warned him he was failing to "watch your back if you fail me." He was repeatedly offered help, academic, and psychological help. He never accepted help because he did not want help. He wanted to blame others. A psychiatrist in town is calling his letter the "woe is me" manifesto.
Please do not make the mistake of attempting anthropomorphism with Flores. Even the bleeding heart liberal in me has a difficult time admitting that there are people in our society who no matter what, will act ugly, be vicious, and simply need to be locked up. Flores was no victim. Even if some all of his allegations were correct (which they are not) it still shocks me to see people justifying his actions or EMPHATHIZING.
(((end of rant)))
I find it amazing that some choose to believe Flores' letter. A killer is credible? I suggest those interested go to http://www.azstarnet.com to read todays' edition. Classmates and few remaining LIVE professors are starting to speak out about what really happened. Flores was the bully. Students were afraid of him. He rarely did homework, and did not turn in papers on time. When he was failing the first time thru, his instructors had tutors called him at home offering help. He threatened a professor who warned him he was failing to "watch your back if you fail me." He was repeatedly offered help, academic, and psychological help. He never accepted help because he did not want help. He wanted to blame others. A psychiatrist in town is calling his letter the "woe is me" manifesto.
Please do not make the mistake of attempting anthropomorphism with Flores. Even the bleeding heart liberal in me has a difficult time admitting that there are people in our society who no matter what, will act ugly, be vicious, and simply need to be locked up. Flores was no victim. Even if some all of his allegations were correct (which they are not) it still shocks me to see people justifying his actions or EMPHATHIZING.
(((end of rant)))
Arizona Daily Star
Students recall Flores as loud, intimidating-person shown in letter wasn't man they knew
http://www.azstarnet.com/specialreports/21101SHOOTINGS2fMOREFEARS.html
Arizona Daily Star
Students recall Flores as loud, intimidating-person shown in letter wasn't man they knew
http://www.azstarnet.com/specialreports/21101SHOOTINGS2fMOREFEARS.html
Lisa,
Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much for posting THIS link. I read the letter from Melissa Goldsmith, MSN, RNC and I could not hold back the tears.
Melissa's sentiment is exactly what I was trying to convey, and the fact that the entire college community felt that Flores was ultimately responsible for everything leading up to this tragedy, makes me feel at ease. At ease knowing that hopefully, with Melissa's strong and brave letter, others will not continue to turn a cold-blooded killer into a martyr.
Thank you.
sjoe
2,099 Posts
Perhaps we could get Djibouti to like us if we legalized clitorectomies for little girls
as we already do legalize, and even encourage, circumcisions for little boys.