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Mourning or Manipulation at Michigan State University?
No one would say that the shootings at MSU were anything less than a tragedy and nightmare. Two students died on February 13; six other students were wounded and five of them suffered critical gunshot wounds. Today the students were invited back to classes, but the way that return was acknowledged and promoted is a sad commentary on our view of the sanctity of life and the promotion of politics over the importance of mourning and honoring the dead.
The two primary abasements following this calamity occurred in two ways: first, students were told that they could attend classes virtually; second, some students were planning to attend a protest for gun control legislation at the state Capitol instead of attending classes. In the first case, the students who went to class virtually were being coddled and were dishonoring the memory and conditions of those who were direct victims. Instead of understanding that their own healing would begin in so many ways by appearing on campus, in spite of their fear and upset, they cowered at home rather than dealing directly with their grief. And they also lost the opportunity to grieve with other students, offering and receiving comfort through their actions. In the second case, going to a gun protest is a disgusting way to honor those people who were victims, making their pain and loss into a political prop.
Not everyone took the self-centered and narcissistic way out:
‘Coming back together is something that will help us,’ said Thomas Jeitschko, executive vice president for academic affairs, adding that faculty will have extensive flexibility in how they run their courses.
‘We know that everybody heals at their own pace and in their own manner. Getting it exactly right will not be possible,’ Jeitschko said at a news conference Sunday. ‘Coming back into spaces that are familiar, interacting with people who are familiar, is helpful in the process of healing and grieving.’
His words encouraged students to face their fears and move beyond their own pain by helping others.
But one professor couldn’t get past his own self-serving political agenda, after telling his experience during the shooting:
The assistant professor said that he is sharing his story in hopes of bringing about gun reform.
‘If the lawmakers and the senators saw what I saw, instead of hearing in the news one more statistic. If they had seen those girls and the pools of blood that I saw, the horror we lived, they would be shamed into action,’ Díaz-Muñoz said.
One student demonstrated a wisdom that reflects on his own mature life view and the need to take responsibility for his experience and his actions:
Brogan Kelley, a freshman at Michigan State, left East Lansing after last week’s shooting to return home to his family in west Michigan. But he drove back on Sunday so that he could attend class in person. He said that he felt like it was important ‘to go back about my life.’
‘For me, not going to class felt like I would have been letting the shooter win. I didn’t want this one tragedy to define the place I call home and the university that’s giving me my education,’ said Kelley said.
* * * *
Once again, we see university students being coddled in the face of difficult life circumstances. Of course, they were afraid to go back to the campus. Of course, they may not ever get over this horrible incident; it will probably be melded into their memories. But wouldn’t they be wiser, stronger, and more appreciative of their own lives and the sanctity of the life of others by honoring them through their presence on campus and comforting others who are suffering? Wouldn’t they learn and grow by facing their fears, honoring those who were victims, and saving political protests for another day?
Published in Culture
Are you claiming that most murder weapons used in IL were originally sold in IN?
Do you have a cite for that?
The lefty media contributes to the spin. Zafar can’t be blamed for his opinions because the lefty media has an agenda and even deceives Americans with their spin. Did you notice how quickly the MSU shooter story disappeared? Black shooter, prior arrest for gun crime, released by Soros AG, mental health issues, illegal gun, and gun free zone. Oopsie.
What gets me is we used to have real men who would protect themselves and their loved ones. Now we have men who want to outsource the protection of their loved ones to others.
Illinois is always blaming Indiana rather than their own state letting criminals roam free.
Even have a large ocean for a border doesn’t save a country from the black market. The black market in Australia sells handguns for up to 3x their original value.
Nothing is perfect :-)
Will be there real soon, family stuff and bucket list cruise. .