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Light to the World
There are deeply disturbed, destructive people in our world. This we know for sure. There are also everyday saints among us. This we have humbly witnessed.
In Blacksburg, Virginia, gunman Cho Seung Hui killed a Holocaust survivor. Professor Liviu Librescu, a 76 year-old professor of engineering, threw himself in front of a doorway into which the gunman was shooting and implored his students to flee. Liviu sacrificed himself for others.
What he did seems unnatural, superhuman. Liviu did not shirk, he did not cower. When a human should retreat, Liviu opened himself, becoming vulnerable to death. All his students, after jumping from a window, lived. "He saved my life," Senior Caroline Merrey said.
In Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, gunman Charles Carl Roberts killed an Amish schoolgirl last year. In the simple schoolhouse in Pennsylvania, 13 year-old Marian Fisher pleaded with her killer, saying “Shoot me first.” Emboldened by her sister’s witness, her 11 year-old sister Barbie added “Shoot me second.” Marian died of her wounds. Barbie survived hers.
I believe the violence done to Liviu and Marian was fleeting and small when compared to the permanent goodness they have shown. The example they gave us by reacting honorably, with dignity and purpose, even in the face of senseless violence, will live on. They have illuminated the darkest places on earth. May we too live their peaceful, resolute virtue.
Liviu and Marian did not wake up on those two awful days determined to do something heroic. They simply reacted as they had many other days: with a consideration of the value of others, and a belief that they could contribute to our world. I don’t need a seething killer in front of me to consider how I can contribute.
But if one was there, what would I do?
By
Elizabeth Tenety
|
April 18, 2007; 11:22 AM ET
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Posted by: hvkxltem ksjf | July 12, 2007 7:14 PM
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Posted by: hvkxltem ksjf | July 12, 2007 7:11 PM
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How do you move on, who will take the 1st step? The U-Tech baseball team takes the field and the rival team coach gives a pre-game speech to his men...'who is gonna win this game? we came here to play ball and that's what we do, it's what U-Tech does. I'm not asking you to throw balls and miss pitches, but in reality, when they take the field, they've already won the game.'
Have you ever known anyone insane? When they seem to be at thier worst, pleading for help, we turn away. I turned away from a friend, he pulled the trigger into his face with his toe and went through the roof...people with mental issues are out there and thank God most of them are not violent to others.
Posted by: brian mcc, the arctic | April 20, 2007 9:06 PM
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Campus Catholic,
I enjoyed your post. We debate the topics you hit on quite often in our house. I have mixed feelings on sacrificing my life for another person
in the context that you described.
I think it is a shame that children like those little girls, and people like the professor have to have their lives cut short by other people who are evil. I think about what those two young girls could have contributed to the world if they had been allowed to live. I think about all the people that the professor shared his knowledge and life experiences with. All the things that we take for granted have been taken away from those people forever. And their families as well.
Its frustrating to me to know that in five years time everyone will still remember the killers name on the nightly news, but the real victims names will only exist in their families memories.
Look at all the good that was just stamped out at VT this past week by one lone madman. Look at all the killing, all the hurt and pain that will linger on for years and years. Most of us will go on with our daily lives and this tragedy will become just one more waking nightmare that we shove back into some dark recess of our minds. Till the next one happens. But the victims families will never forget. The evil act will live on, and on. In books, Tv movies, talk shows, and our societies collective consciousness.
In all honesty. I don't know if I could ever be that unselfish, and brave as the professor and the little girls and all the other people who have ever gave their life for another person.
Posted by: Bobster | April 19, 2007 9:51 AM
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This is interesting, and it brings up a wonderful issue. That instead of focusing on the killer, we should focus on the everyday saints, and you put them.
Instead of the "insane, rambling, crazed", we should emblemize the ones who saved the rest. And we should emulate them.
And I agree with you, it seems superhuman. But maybe that superhuman quality is something we should try to make just plain human.
Posted by: Hafsa | April 18, 2007 11:41 PM
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