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,'...
Mo's Blog Roll
Resources
The Weight of Tragedy
Posted Apr 16th 2007 2:08PM by Ben Greenman
Filed under: Breaking News, Crime
Mo's Video
The Sound of a Smoke-Free Barack...Almost two years ago we speculated on how Barack Obama's voice would change if he stopped smoking. ...
Most Popular Stories
- Don't Like Goodbyes...
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Is it Time to get some Cheerleaders?
- How NOT to give an Oscar Acceptance Speech
- Could Jim Belushi Win the Nobel Peace Prize?
- Spring Break Sexy T-Shirt Removal Training!
- Quest for the Crown 5: Plastic Wrap to Make you Less Fat!
- Quest for the Crown 4: Work Those Heels!
Most Commented On
-
Coming Soon
Recent Comments
- not-pboyfloyd on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- not-pboyfloyd on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Roert Dean on General Clark is Absolutely Right!
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Ryan Anderson on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- fanman on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
Mo's Bio
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.
Top News Headlines
Political Machine Blog
- Obama's First State Dinner: The Guest List
- Jennifer Hudson Sings at Obama State Dinner; Menu by Marcus Samuelsson
- Bill Richardson Goes Back to Washington . . . Finally
- The Obamas' First State Dinner: A Schedule of Events
- Doug Hampton Details Ensign Affair in 'Nightline' Interview
- Where the Gay Marriage Debate Should End
- Independent Would Shake Up Nevada's Governor Race
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 13)
31. YEEE HAAAW I love it when some kid goes psychotic and just shoots the shit out of his school it makes me proud to be american. DRINK BEER!
Justin at 7:29PM on Apr 16th 2007
32. I would just like to say one thing to Mr. White
YOU ARE AN IDIOT !!!!!
London Fog at 7:50PM on Apr 16th 2007
33. I would just like to say one thing to Mr. White
YOU ARE AN IDIOT !!!! PLAIN AND SIMPLE
London Fog at 7:49PM on Apr 16th 2007
34. I would just like to say one thing to Mr. White
YOU ARE AN IDIOT !!!! PLAIN AND SIMPLE
London Fog at 7:48PM on Apr 16th 2007
35. Here we go....we have to find someone to blame...cops and their response, security measures at the school,bush and his policy's...give me a break. How about the wacko that did the shooting! I can't wait to hear about his upbringing. Its the same old story..over and over. Lets all get real.
ru-day at 7:35PM on Apr 16th 2007
36. This may sound old fashioned ..But I feel really bad for these young adults today.It just seems that it all stems way back to when both parents are working and no one around to raise the kids besides grandparents, babysitters instead of the people who CHOSE to have children but yet found that materialistic reasons would rather give that job of raising their kids to the public instead. I honestly feel that if a couple chooses to have a family the mom or dad should be their for their kids 24/7 and this is why all these kids have so many problems today.. They have to grow up fast, they have to have the BEST of everything if not someone will mock them..All kids just want love and support with adult guidance. If they had that upbringing I dont think half of these kids would be so messed up and living on anti depressants or drug related problems etc. Just think about it. Years ago back in the 50's for example Family values were a priority. These kids never even experienced what a family is really all about. We are the role models for these kids and guess what.. What one doesnt learn doesnt know better. And he repeats history over and over. It is very sad society that isnt necessary. If people would just THINK and plan in advance before they start a family. This is why so many kids today become young confused messed up adults. Well this is my opinion.. And I feel very sorry for the families that have to live with this tragedy . I know I couldnt bare if my child was killed. These kids just need SOMEONE to look up to as their role model and someone that would LISTEN to them and help them through todays struggles
JILL at 9:50AM on Apr 17th 2007
37. Disgusted, I share you feelings, however, a three hour gap that allowed this psycho to decide where and how he would kill is unforgivable. The college knew the slime was still loose. Rather than disrupt their classes and protocal, they turned their back on every lesson learned since the Texas tower incident 40 years ago. It bit them back hard. If the student body had been notifed to be on the lookout for this person, he may have been spotted before he was able to chain up the building. No my friend, the college must be held accountable at some level. Just as us citizens were made aware of potential terrorists threats and required to keep an eye out, so to should the students have been made aware. Forgiving the school is no solution to this continuing problem, they make enough money to disrupt classes for half a day no matter what the inconvience.
JP at 7:53PM on Apr 16th 2007
38. One thing this tragedy has exposed...the idiot members of the press at the press conferences.
I was embarassed for the people taking the questions.
mike at 8:10PM on Apr 16th 2007
39. i think its silly that you are all arguing over whats right and wrong, or that the person who shot the victims was so evil. I am a student in todays world and I'm just sad that the shooter was so miserable and angry that he was pushed to this point, of killing 32 people plus himself, and wounding 26 (as of 5:13 pacific time). What would have happened if someone had reached out to him? Would this world be just a little less unhappy? Would those people have lived? I can't say whether or not, but maybe it would have made a diference. People today, especially the youth, are filled with angst. Maybe its time we stopped thinking about ourselves and actually reached out to our neighbors. Love, People, Love.
simply a student at 8:15PM on Apr 16th 2007
40. Number 13... I agree completely... we all need to be more aware of the warning signs surrounding young kids... and focus on putting a handle around the situation before it gets this out of control
All I can think about now are the families who no longer have thier child, sister, brother, cousin...etc. My heart is hurting and my prayers are with them
saddened at 8:21PM on Apr 16th 2007
41. I definitley agree with the comment from "Richiemac" (person number 2 who commented). It always seems like the media is looking for tragedies and murders and they secretly want to be bigger and more horrific, to give them something to talk about. Then that makes the criminals think all that they have to do to get on tv is kill a few people. They want to be the person everyone remembers in history (even for a bad reason), and to be that person they feel they have to do something bigger and badder than the criminals before them. This is an awful thought that haunts this coutrie's citizens.
Some people sit around all day and watch the news and they believe everything they show on the news. and guess what they show on the news; murders,deaths,fires,terrorists,plane crashes,car crashes,shootings. They take everything awful thing that happens and tell you every little detail, often making it sound ten times worse. When all people hear about is death and how the next time you walk out your door "it could be you", they spend their lives hiding away in their houses, afraid of driving in their cars or riding in a plane, for fear of dieing.
Not everything in this world is bad. Some things are good too. You shouldn't go to sleep at night without thinking some guy is going to break into your house and shoot you. Your house is supposed to your sanctuary;a place to be safe and feel safe. But when you don't feel safe in your own home, their's a problem. You should be able to go to bed at night with no worse thoughts than the big test you have to take tomorrow or the meeting with your boss at work.
There is SO much more to the world than being on tv! so so much more. Don't hide from the world, don't be scared. Things like this happen but if you spend your entire life waiting for them to happen,hiding in a little hole, scared to even go for a drive, your entire life is wasted. No matter what you do, your time is going to come, so why not make the best of every single second of every single day and live the very best life that you can. Whether you're going to die tomorrow or in many many years, you're alive RIGHT NOW, so try your best, act your best, be your best. Make your time here on earth, the time of your life.
addie at 9:55PM on Apr 19th 2007
42. Well I do not know what my number is going to be but...first of all I am deeply sorry for each family that has lost their loved ones, including the family of this white, black, brown, or asian person that put american's feelings in so much pain. Once again some families have to face the horror of this life just because some kind of lunatic and incompetet authorities from both sides school and police, sorry if I offend somebody by my statment but we know that at least there were over 100 minutes from the first shooting and yet authorities let students go ahead to their classes with nothing but a stupid e-mail. Second of all I don't think this matter is about RACISM OR BEING WATCHED BY GOD ORRRR BEING CALLED BY HIM, BECAUSE OUR BROTHERS THAT DIED THIS MORNING WERE LOST SOULS. Please forgive any mistakes I may have made in my grammar. My sympathies to the families involved. P.S. I love this country with all my heart and didn't know any english till 8 years ago.
Uneducated and Spanish but I hope my english is better than #4
Alex Suarez Solis at 2:16AM on Apr 17th 2007
43. My Heart and Prayers go out to all of the Virginia Tech families that have lost someone. May God be with them through this tragedy.
My heart is pouring out to these families.
I wish there was something I could do.
Not to be mean but why do people kill so many then go and take their own lives. Why don't they just kill themselves.
IT IS JUST RIDICULOUS!!
SadTragedy at 8:52PM on Apr 16th 2007
44. IT'S VERY SAD THAT 33 FAMILYS LIVES WERE TURNED UP SIDE DOWN TODAY AND ALL PEOPLE CAN THINK ABOUT IS BLACK OR WHITE. IT'S SAD YOU CANT SEND YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND GO OFF TO WORK KNOWING YOUR KIDS ARE SAFE.YOUR HEART POUNDING EVERY TIME YOUR CELL PHONE RING OR YOUR BOSS SAY YOU HAVE A CALL ON LINE TWO. WE ALL NEED TO PRAY TOGETHER AND STOP POINTING FINGERS.
ELIZABETH at 1:16PM on Apr 17th 2007
45. I'm sick of all these shootings! What was done to prevent these
shootings! Nobody should take this as an opportunity to make dumb
racist comments, it's not right. Hey Bush, ur leaving soon, for once,
do something to help this country.
Nazkhan at 9:23PM on Apr 16th 2007