It’s been a whirlwind, tragic, somber, and sobering few days, of course. And certainly Mister Faded Glory’s heart goes out to the entire Virginia Tech community as well as the extended kin. We’ve scarcely seen such an awful event in our lifetime.
We’ve been so transfixed with the story all week, however, and had even intended to craft a spirited critique of the media’s themes and tendencies tonight as the week has unfolded. However, the act of typing such critiques somehow felt completely and totally hollow. Suffice it to say we agree with NBC News and support its complete airing of the killer’s epitaph – it’s journalism.
Not shock, not gatekeeping, not ratings-seeking. Motives of a psychopath be damned, it’s part of the search and quest for truth, and it certainly sheds light not necessarily on extreme psychosis or schizophrenia – but the narcissism, and the pure evil, and the entire question of what makes a person completely snap. This is only part of our still-unfolding evidence. How in the world did this happen? How does a human arrive at such a morbid intersection of delusion and evil?
And we’re a little miffed at the early – and now impaneled - rush to indict Virginia Tech’s administration for not “locking down” a 26,000-student university upon news of a random murder. If that even were possible. It’s like locking down Mason City, Iowa. Can’t happen.
The fact is, and the truth is – no matter how prepared we may be, no matter how much foresight we display, we cannot defend people, homes, or institutions with 100 percent certainty – if the opposition is completely willing to die for its cause. It’s impossible. It’s tragic. It’s the truth.
And we’re completely dumbfounded as to how the conservative machine somehow, totally coincidentally picks the perfect firestorms of news coverage in which to drop nuggets about its narrowing of civil liberties – we just don’t know how that manipulation of the news cycle (a) happens, or (b) goes unchecked.
Regardless, our thoughts and opinions are of little comfort, meaning, or weight during this tragedy. We can point you to the Post’s Howard Kurtz and Slate’s Jack Shafer for much more detailed, spirited and insightful inquiry, or blogging.
