Mike,
I hope that there were some arab or muslim folks who joined other americans in helping out the families but i suspect not. And thats a shame and a danger for this country as i see it.
It would be said, if this is the case. But I think it's incumbent to ENCOURAGE, INVITE, AND MOVTIVATE the muslim communities in the West to join with the others to denounce these acts of violence in our societies, where in the West, or in the ones from which these Muslims originate.
But let me say.. I don't think the S. Korean government, or their people, needs to hold themselves responsible for what this twisted young man did. I wouldn't want to be held responsible for the crimes of some twisted American living overseas. Though, I certainly would offer condolences, and expressions of outrage at the act of violence, and prayers and support for the survivors.
It's funny you even brought up the topic, because my Japanese girlfriend and I were just discussing this yesterday. She remarked about how the local Korean community here in N. Virginia had all gathered together to show a public front denouncing the violent act and expressing their shame at what he perpetrated. She mentioned that had the act been committed by a Japanese citizen living in the US, it's not likely that the Japanese community would have done the same thing. Not because they didn't care, but because they recognize that evil people live in all societies and that you can't internalize the acts of violence they commit as being the responsibility of the entire community.
As for Sarman, making the asssumption that he's not a militant muslim himself, but merely someone who doesn't wish to display his shame at the acts of violence being perpetrated in the name of his religion, he's going to have to eventually come to terms with how his faith has been hijacked by militant Jihadists for the purpose of terrorizing fellow muslims.
So I don't expect entire communities to feel collective shame for the acts of individuals in their societies. But I do applaud when they unify and spontaneously act to come together to promote peace and tolerance towards others and to denounce such acts of shameful violence.
That said, and even though the family profusely apologized for the violence committed by their son, one has to ask about some of the circumstances of their responsibility. Their son had previously expressed self-destructive behavior and they were aware of this. But then again, there is only so much a family can do under such circumstances to prevent their child from hurting himself, or others, minus lifetime institutionalization.
Additionally, it was reported that Cho may have been on an SSRI drug (Prozac, or Zoloft). There has been evidence that some patients react VERY negatively to being on these drugs, including acts of violence. The mother of a friend of mine was on an SSRI and then stopped taking them. Now she seems to have become increasingly paranoid and constantly accuses her husband of having affairs (he's not). I think the SSRI angle is one that really needs to be explored when trying to understand why a tormented young man would exact his "retribution" towards his perceived persecution against wholly innocent random victims.
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