I agree. First he was called an American of Korean parentage.
Then he was a Korean. Frankly, I do not recall ³resident alien² etc. but I DO know he spoke very good English. At least he wasn¹t Haitian or from Ghana, Nigeria, Togo or from Harlem threatening a White female Professor as a young Black male. Dr. Nikki Giovanni was not a White female professor facing a student who postured he would NOT change his writing, nor could she make him leave her class. I still feel that the threatening student would have been removed before any mass violence happened. -Wilma BTW, Are you coming and has César contacted you? YOU started this! (Just college stuff folks.) On 4/25/07 8:47 AM, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On the other hand, placing more value on the individual or a single > family rather than on the community is quintessentially American behavior. > I'm no teacher, but the story can illustrate assimilation just as much as > cultural differences. > > And BTW, why did the media initially describe the shooter simply as an > Asian student? As he was otherwise not described for purposes of > identification and indeed may already not have been at large, his race was > wholly irrelevant. > By the next day, I think, the description changed to "resident alien" from > Korea, which was perhaps more dubious. It may be harsh to question the > attempts to dig up every scrap of info on the shooter, but aside from > suggesting that his being an immigrant or not having naturalized was > newsworthy, it was bizarre to use that term rather than the more conventional > lawful permanent resident (legal term) or green card holder (popular term). > I'd hate to think how he'd have been labeled if he was out of status. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] > Sent: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 7:45 AM > Subject: Re: [UC] VA Tech and "The Untold Story" > > Dear Liz, > > My heart goes out to with regard to Maggie. I also know what it¹s like to > lose a sister. > > I didn¹t mean to imply that mental illness etc. is an immigrant problem. I > was pointing out the cultural differences in how people process it and deal > with it. > > Many of the cultures people come from are repressive and harsh toward those > who are different¹. Most parents do not want others to point out the faults > of their children. That¹s natural even though I feel it¹s unfair to ask for > help but not for input or advise. > > I personally know of a case where an immigrant parent form North Africa was > suing the School District because he wanted his very violent son who had a > congenital affliction mainstreamed into classrooms no matter how much he > disturbed others¹ education. > > In his home country, his kid would NOT have been allowed into a regular school > environment and he knew it. He was bellicose and arrogant about his son¹s > rights, even after a teacher was hurt. > > He did not want to accept the fact that his only son was not like other normal > children. > > I could be wrong but I feel it a bit unfair to emigrate in order to perpetuate > this situation and not get counselling for the child. He blamed all the > teachers, everyone, not himself or his child. > > Last year, I had another student who fits the profile of the VA Tech killer to > a turn. It could be just a matter of time for him and that scares me. > > > On 4/25/07 1:02 AM, "Elizabeth F Campion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > <javascript:parent.ComposeTo("campionef%40juno.com", "");> > wrote: > >> Dear Wilma, Sande & List neighbors. >> >> Please don't buy into the delusion that "Mental Illness" or mass murder are >> "immigrant" problems. >> Feeling safer is not the same as being safer. >> We should not hesitate to keep our eyes open, much closer to home. >> >> Like Wilma, I wonder what part, if any, race played in the progression of >> killing at Virginia Tech. >> I'll share my doubts and fears. >> I heard the news with horror, and as facts were delivered, I thought of >> "Horror", films in which the black guy and a pretty ingenue are usually the >> first casualties. Than I thought about race and "old Virginny" and wondered >> if the first on the first crime scene saw a "couple", one that had crossed >> racial borders, and assumed a murder-suicide that was emotionally confirmed >> by the dark skin of the man. >> >> As a parent, I can not imagine that German and Math and other classes >> continued at the Campus on a day when a double murder had just taken place, >> especially with the murderer still at-large. And so, I search for >> explanations that make it seem possible. >> It is easier for me to believe that the school screwed up, than that the >> parents didn't try to get their son help. >> >> I do not have the experience of having black skin, but I grew up from poverty >> and enjoy the company of black friends and diverse neighbors and have noticed >> that behaviors towards me and expectations of me do seem to change in some >> reaction to the people I am with. As a result, I tend to examine choices >> through lenses that highlight class, race and gender. I try to filter out >> the facts, or mentally role play the scenario substituting different types, >> to estimate if the result would be the same. >> >> I have had the experience of being raised with a two (of twelve) siblings who >> I consider mentally ill. >> Both were incapable of seeing their own illness. >> Both were resistant to the therapies (including medicine or self analysis) >> that might have helped them. >> One I consider "evil". Maybe because he was male, older, stronger and >> because the victims of his rage (frustrations, confusions?) were myself and >> family members who I loved. Age and illness have made him more benign, and >> me more forgiving, but... I do not forget, and I do not take chances with >> myself or my children. >> The other I mourn, sometimes inconsolably. She was two years younger, >> delicate and beloved by all her siblings. Her illness was simultaneously >> chronic and random and perceived as a tragedy. Ironically, she may have done >> more damage than my angry brother. >> Manifestation of her mental illness included: >> rampant, insatiably needy sexuality and >> fire starting. >> From the sex, she contracted AIDS. And she continued to have sex, lots of >> it; with many partners; sometimes many in one day. >> The system fought diligently to save her from her "physical" disease and from >> suicide attempts and incidents of physical violence but could not be enlisted >> as a Chastity belt for the protection of those who would have sex with her. >> There was almost an attitude of "she is not competent to consent, therefore >> anyone who has sex with her is a rapist, therefore they deserve what they >> get", and no matter what we did, there was no sense that maybe: >> Some of the man were also mentally ill >> Maggie had healthy looking days >> The "rapist" might have an innocent partner or seed a child that did >> not "deserve" the disease. >> >> No matter how much we (our family) loved Maggie and no matter what was spent >> or done or attempted or desired, we could not make her well and we could not >> find or buy services that could. But believe me, we tried. And often heard >> criticisms from people who can not imagine how hard we tried. >> And I am left, to wonder, how much did Maggie suffer and how many people did >> she harm, because we, our family and our society, did not have the ability or >> will to humanely contain her. >> I could talk for days about trying to get her help. >> Incidents (like setting a fire in an occupied apartment building at 4 AM) >> that I was certain would be grounds for commitment were dismissed. >> Different siblings, with different styles and talents all worked (sometimes >> separately, sometimes together) toward her safe containment. >> Intellectually I know that Maggie was harmed, by action and neglect, with >> and without intent and almost daily. >> Emotionally, I can not bear to contemplate the full extant of her suffering. >> But I also wonder how much death and suffering resulted from her sex acts and >> how many other families suffered as we did. >> >> I can remember sitting in a court room, trying to arrange a commitment for >> Maggie. >> Many cases would be heard in the same session. >> Some of the mentally ill had terrifying appearances. >> Maggie often looked like a fragile angel. >> But, she was often the one who arrived in full restraints. >> Orderlies fed up with her biting, spitting and flailing would drag her into >> court in shackles and a muzzle. >> The pros were terrified of her rages and unpredictable behaviors. >> But the judge(s) would see past the chains to the frail, white, female and >> would "release" her. >> >> I mourn for the lives cut short at Virginia Tech. >> I feel sorrow for the families of killer and victims and for the loss to us >> all. >> But, I can not blame the family of the killer, or any single person or a >> computer game as the catalyst for these murders. >> There seems to have been a perfect storm of events and opportunities that >> permitted this tragedy. >> >> It may be that frustrated hopes for greater racial harmony (I'm still hoping >> and working toward that end) and / or >> agonizing over a family situation that found no happy resolution has left me >> incapable of clear vision. >> But I see a broken system that seems prepared to warehouse homeless families >> and force the unsustainable burdens of mental illness upon its victims and >> their families. >> >> I do not have the strength to volunteer in these areas (yet?). >> I applaud those who do volunteer. >> I am grateful for the people who work, with good heart, often in low paid >> jobs, to bring comforts and stability to victims in group homes and mental >> health wards. >> And I hope we, as individuals in a larger society, find ways to open our eyes >> and delegate our desires (through voting and spending). >> >> I'll probably be sorry I pressed send, but I hope my words encourage those >> with the skills to do research, create medicines and test therapies to strive >> to do no harm, while doing good (and hopefully well). I hope that care >> givers find rewards in their acts of compassion and care. I pray that caring >> for a loved one with mental illness does not overwhelm healthy members of >> families or cause the disease to jump to younger, more vulnerable >> generations. >> >> It is late, good night. >> Sleep well and in safety (both real and perceived). >> >> All the best! >> Liz >> >> >> >> On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:00:33 -0400 "SKnight" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <javascript:parent.ComposeTo("sandoremi%40verizon.net", "");> > writes: >>> >>> >>> Wilma, >>> >>> >>> >>> Your post points out a very frustrating problem for us native born >>> Americans. That is the lip service paid to diversity prevents us from >>> being able to treat so many, if not all, of these problems among our >>> immigrant population, children in particular, because of the refusal of >>> the parents. We completely forget what a testing ground our country is >>> for so many different ethnic groups. These situations don't even exist in >>> most of the world because of the innate homogeneity of the populations. In >>> that sense, it is truly exciting. But oh so frustrating. >>> >>> sk >>> >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> >>>> From: Wilma de Soto <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>> >>>> To: UnivCity listserv <mailto:[email protected]> >>>> <mailto:[email protected]> >>>> >>>> Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 7:28 PM >>>> >>>> Subject: [UC] VA Tech and "The Untold Story" >>>> >>>> >>>> Dear Neighbors, >>>> >>>> As a Teacher of English As a Second Language, I have seen many children >>>> from >>>> overseas from MANY different countries and cultures, who surely would have >>>> been ostracized in their countries' traditional and very old societies. >>>> >>>> Their parents brought them to the US and foisted their kids upon our >>>> School >>>> Systems and resources using statutes created from Affirmative Action Laws >>>> rather than acknowledge their child may have a serious problem. >>>> >>>> It is a cultural taboo especially among the most educated and >>>> conscientious >>>> parents and more so if the children are boys. >>>> >>>> Still, we taught those children with all due care and respect and tried to >>>> get their parents to get them help that we would pay for to no avail. >>>> >>>> These are not just Asian students, but Arab, Pakistani, Albanian etc. >>>> >>>> >>>> http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20070422_Asians_often_reticent_a >>>> b >>>> <http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20070422_Asians_often_reticent_ >>>> ab> >>>> out_seeking_mental_care.html >>>> >>>> I sent this link from the Sunday Inquirer not because the VA shooter was >>>> Asian but to the contrary, the parents who are NOT Asian raised the >>>> biggest >>>> stink. >>>> >>>> Some parents have even sued the School District of Philadelphia to demand >>>> services for their children that would not be available to them in their >>>> countries. >>>> >>>> That is not to say that most American parents would not deny the same >>>> about >>>> their children, but American parents would at least blame everyone else >>>> for >>>> their problems and then eventually seek help. >>>> >>>> I just wonder >> > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from > AOL at AOL.com <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000437> . >
