The horrific shooting on the campus of Virginia Tech this morning isn't all sorted out yet. Early reports put the death toll at 21, or 22 counting the gunman, though it's not clear whether he was shot by police or whether he killed himself. Then it was 26, then 27, then 32, not counting the shooter.
Coverage at this point in the media lifespan of a tragedy is a very strange thing. There's misinformation and speculation, along with attempts to mark the events as somehow unprecedented. In this case, early reports called it the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history, topping the famed University of Texas clock-tower murders in 1966, which claimed 16 victims before the gunman, Charles Whitman, was shot to death by police. The reports are also comparing today's Blacksburg massacre with the Columbine killings in 1999, in which 12 students and a teachers were shot to death, along with the two teenage gunmen. Then there was the 1991 Luby's Cafeteria massacre in Killeen, Texas, in which 23 people were killed and 20 others wounded. That wasn't on a campus, and so, for as long as the Blacksburg count was 21, that was still the worst mass shooting in American history. Now, it looks as though Blacksburg has topped Killeen.
This comparison business is a strange phenomenon. The Blacksburg shootings, obviously, are the worst shootings in American history for anyone even remotely involved: anyone who will end up with victims in their family, with friends who had victims in their family, faculty and staff at Virginia Tech, and even college-age students currently enrolled, who will feel a great deal of reflected terror and sorrow. But there's a need in media to comparatively weight things. Is this better or worse than the incident last September when a man killed himself and his two sons at a West Virginia college? Better or worse than Kent State? How are these things measured, anyway? By the stark casualty count? By the numbers of families affected? By the total amount of psychic pain? By the long-term effects on the communities? There is an entire industry -- Critical Incident Stress Management -- that handles assessment and treatment after these kinds of events. Is there any point in comparing them? And if not, why does the media do it? Is it just to bulk up ratings, or is it a professional version of the human phenomenon of not knowing exactly what to say?
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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The Weight of Tragedy
Posted Apr 16th 2007 2:08PM by Ben Greenman
Filed under: Breaking News, Crime
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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 13)
1. Thank you for putting words to my thoughts. Just because the numbers are more shocking, doesn't make it any more or less tragic than other incidents. It merely raises the bar to quantify the next trajedy.
The media seems to focus on quantity in almost everything, and rarely on the actual impact on people. Costliest storm, deadliest train wreck, etc.
I want to be like June at 3:06PM on Apr 16th 2007
2. Very good point. I was annoyed with the media for doing this, but you really put it into words.
The sensationalism is the worst part of a tragedy. As bad as the events of September 11th were, I thought what was even MORE disgusting were the movies and shows years later, that make money off of it, such as "World Trade Center".
David at 4:17PM on Apr 16th 2007
3. When these idiots stop getting the attention that the Media gives them, then maybe situations like this will come to an end. It seems the shock value is what they attempt to achieve and the Media supplies it. If you embrace past situations, each wants to out-shock the last slaughter, and the Media is only too happy to supply the coverage. One can see the excitement in the faces of those that are breaking the news.
Does it deserve coverage? Yes. Should the killer’s background and history be made public? No. My thinking is they desire to shock the world and become famous. Just look at some that have been caught, they parade around gloating like they had accomplished their mission and are enjoying all the attention that is given them.
Once they have been identified, the only other thing the public should be told is when they are imprisoned or put to death for their horrific crimes. Then let the other prisoners and God take care of the rest.
Gotta go now, I think I am being watched
Richiemac at 4:37PM on Apr 16th 2007
4. I am heartbroken over this tragedy. My heart goes to the parents and families. I would be remiss in not saying - that this is the "anniversary" week of Columbine, Waco and the bombing of the Murrah building in OKC (April 19). I just pray that we don't see more of these horrific tragedies - I know that demon-possessed McVeigh "did it" in HONOR of the Waco tragedy. I can say that - I live in OKC. Continue to pray for our Nation.
Brynda at 4:41PM on Apr 16th 2007
5. if he is a black man doing the killing then there is no hope for justis,all he will have to do is call al shorpton or jesse jackson or the naacp,and others like them and he will walk a free man tilling everyone look what i did,and get by with it,all i had to do is call al shorpton and jesse jackson and the naacp,and they got me off,becouse some white person made me bad,but if it was a white man,all he will get is a hotal with bars,no justis.
white at 4:51PM on Apr 16th 2007
6. What I'd like to know....why is it possible to enter a campus or likewise university of any kind today (after all that has happened in the past) with a weapon of ANY sort without any kind of detection devices such as our airports and banks now have. Workplaces etc.
Are the universities in our country any different or less important to install these devices? When will we learn?
I sometimes feel no sympathy for the people who allocate rules and policy in our education system today....maybe that's who the raw temperment is focused towards to begin with? Makes one wonder how it got so out of hand and seems to continue to get worse with each incident. How high do the stats need to get before administrators WAKE up?
mike at 4:56PM on Apr 16th 2007
7. is it o.k. for a black man to do the killings or a white man,the black man will get off becouse he said he was treated badly by some white people,he just have to call al shorpton and jesse jackson and the naacp,and other black groups then he will walk a free man,but if it was a white man there will still be no justis,all he will get is a hotal with bars at taxpayers cost.
white at 5:04PM on Apr 16th 2007
8. White, why did you put your comment twice? Were you disappointed no one got upset or angry at your first comment? It's obvious you're just trying to push buttons and get attention. I'm glad this forum is above giving it to you.
M at 5:05PM on Apr 16th 2007
9. Hey #4 White. Why the hell can't you get over this crap about racism. This is a tragedy of major proportions with thousands of brokens hearts by a sick deranged inhuman monster. What the hell does this have to do with race. Why don't you get a life. Would it make you feel better if it was a black man? Do you think that will make the parents and other relatives feel better? With all the greif this has created, all you can think to do is somehow make it a racial issue when it isn't. Why don't you go find something constructive to do with your life and make some attempt to let Bigotry and racism die like it should. This comment " Stupid " is coming from a white man who wishes people like you would just go away.
Gotta go now, I think I am being watched
Richiemac at 5:11PM on Apr 16th 2007
10. This country is going to hell in a handbasket, simple as that...
Wyvern at 5:27PM on Apr 16th 2007
11. Thanks for NOT posting my comment regarding the guilt of the college. Are you in favor of irresponsible thinking, even if it is the elite college administrators? Let the blame fall where it belongs, on the shooter, the police and the college.
JP at 5:27PM on Apr 16th 2007
12. Tragic as this event is, it shows that even our elite academic institutaions have no clue when it comes to security. One shooting in the morning should have been enough, especially when the shooter was still roaming the campus! They let classes continue, providing a perfect opportunity for this monster to commit mass murder. This college and its administrators must be held accountable, for they are as guilty as the thing who pulled the trigger.
JP at 5:28PM on Apr 16th 2007
13. Why don't these tradgedies occur at Gun stores, shooting ranges or Police stations? When are we going to figure out that taking guns away from law abiding citizens only makes us defensless. These people don't care about laws against guns. If they knew that the teachers and professors were aremed and capable of defending the students this wouldn't happen. Yet we insist on creating these "Gun Free" zones that psychos merely see as safe shooting galleries. Pull your head out america. Making law abiding citizens defenseless does not make you any safer, in fact it makes it easier for these people to do this.
Frank at 5:32PM on Apr 16th 2007
14. To all that has suffered a loss in this and any other of these herendas act of voilance our world has made a thing of entertainement..I am truly sorry for you..My words and thought will never be enough to comfort you..
To all those who look to the T.V in aww and amazement when something like this happens it is you who is to blame (all of us)These kids and angry people do this to tell us (the world) hey look at me look at what im doing..When all they realy needed was one person to look at them and say look..there is something wrong let me help you..or if you cant you call someone who can.Becouse not one person can say that there was not a sign that this person was going threw some thing. There are always warning signs. Its just us as a whole just dont care to see it anymore.we dont care for our fellow man anymore..its me me me...If we just started to at least care a little bit about our children insted of letting them run wild or our friends go off the deep end this stuff might happen.
And if we quit showing it on the T.v for 24hrs straight.When thats all you see it in a way lets the world know whats going on yes..but it also give the person commiting the crime what he or she wants..to be infamous..to live forever..WHY DO WE DO IT..????For shock value??? OR for the rateings???
For entertainement??? Insted of showing pics of the crimesceen or people being caried off all bloddy or even worse, for the next 24 hrs on the news why not show clips of the familys in there moment of greef show them crying,sad,upset about never seeing that person again,becouse someone didnt love there kid enought to know he or she needed help.Im sorry im just a little tired of the media taking avantage of some one elses misfortunes..And people start caring about your neghbors...
.Sorry about the type-o's I never learned to spell real well.
Thanks for letting me vent
A Bad Speller
Matthew at 5:46PM on Apr 16th 2007
15. Hey #4 are you an idiot??? What school did you go to? If you're going to comment on something; read the facts, use spell check and don't turn it into a race card for anyone!!!! OMG are you kidding me?
an educated person at 5:54PM on Apr 16th 2007