In a 1974 speech in which he honored returning POWs including John McCain, Ronald Reagan asked where we find such men. He answered, "We [find] them in our streets, in the offices, the shops and the working places of our country and on the farms."
Yesterday at Virginia Tech, we found one in a college classroom. Professor Liviu Librescu was shot while blocking the door to his classroom, thereby impeding the gunman while his students escaped by jumping out of the window.
For Professor Librescu the road to Blacksburg, Virginia was a winding one. Originally a Romanian, Librescu survived the Holocaust and later immigrated with his wife to Israel. In 1986, he took his sabbatical in Virginia and decided to remain, lecturing in mechanics and engineering, and conducting his research at Virginia Tech.
Professor Librescu's sacrfice reminds us that we find "such men" -- our heroes -- not just among native Americans by also among those who come to this country from other lands. His confrontation with a mass murderer who also came here from another land reminds us that the U.S. is a melting pot of good and evil. Evil triumphed yesterday, but the good produced by the effort, energy, and example of those like Professor Librescu is more lasting.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 4)
1. Everyone from Virginia Tech. and their families are in my prayers and thoughts.
May God Bless.
sara at 5:20PM on May 31st 2007
2. Remember Todd Beamer and co.. Think of the losses those guys saved us.
lil_turk at 6:57PM on Apr 17th 2007
3. I am from Quebec Canada, and can confirm that this touches us deeply. Our deepest symphathies to all. It is a tragadie for all.
My Heart goes out to All, I just wish we could stop all the violence in this world, and care and take care of each other as we should.
There is alot of disturbed people out there that need help, how needs a friend, who needs to talk, lets stop and listen and hold out a hand...it can make a world of difference.
From what I read on Cho, some did try to be friends with him and help if they could but without success. (At least they tried.)
Lets stop being jugemental and be more comprehensive to others and their needs.
I would also like to say that I also feel for Cho`s parents and family. I would not want to be in their shoes....not only did they lose there son, but their son killed all these people for what? nothing.....They are living this nightmare by them-selves and are judged severly for what Cho has done....They must have alot of questions unanswered and must question themselves as parents...questions like where did we go wrong?The familys of those killed have the world behind them, Who is behind Cho`s family?
Again my Sympathie to ALL...
May God Bless you all.
Canada at 7:48PM on Apr 17th 2007
4. if feel bad for those who died and there love ones,but if the killer would have lived hw would have got away with it,all he would have to do is call all shorpton and jessie jackson or the naacp and the aclu,then would walked free,now let al shorpton and jessie jackson go to hell and pled this mans case,mayme they can sat this man free from hell becouse he was done so badly by white people,i am so glad this man took his on life,all that would have been done to him is,the law would have just gave him a hotal with bars,he would have been sat free soon,becouse al shorpton and jessie jackson would have got hih off.
white at 10:30PM on Apr 17th 2007
5. This is not about from where you are from or what race you are from but about a disturbed human being. Also don't blame the parents, they are hurting also. STOP THE RACE AND WHERE YOU CAME FROM ISSUE!!!!!!!!!!
God bless all the victims!!!
donna at 10:20PM on Apr 17th 2007
6. "There surely is in human nature an inherent propensity to extract all the good out of all the evil." -- Benjamin Haydon
Kristina at 10:27PM on Apr 17th 2007
7. Maybe it IS about who you are and where you came from, in part. The shooter came here at the age of 8, and he never fit in: no friends, no desire to make friends.
He retreated into his mind and apparently never came out to live in the real world where the rest of us live.
I think his twisted screenplays that everyone is talking about show that he just never developed into a caring, compassionate PERSON. And, obviously, his parents or other social network didn't help him.
He probably had no idea how nuts he was.
By the way, Sharpton and Jackson have nothing to do with this. Focus.
cj at 10:58PM on Apr 17th 2007
8.
White, are you a human being with human feelings? It doesn't sound like it.
I can't even imagine how horrible this is for the families of the victims or how terrifying it must have been for the students. Personally I lost my father when I was 13, it is the worst pain you can ever feel to lose someone close to you.
Wait until you lose someone you care about then come here and try to change the subject to reverse racism or whatever other political agenda you have. Despicable.
You want to know the real tragedy? The school was not locked down after the first shooting. At my University had there been a shooting on campus they would have locked it down immediately, in fact we were locked down once because an armed felon was fleeing police near campus. We did not wait two hours when there's someone on campus with a gun, and because they didn't lock it down immediately 30 more people died. In most classrooms there is only one exit and a high volume of people, there is NO EXCUSE for allowing those classrooms to remain open after ANY shooting on campus.
The other tragedy is that a textbook anti-social with violent tendencies was not given the help he needed from the campus counseling services after obvious signs and being warned about his case by his English professor. Not only was this socially disordered young man not given help, he was able to buy a gun of all things. Because of that 33 people are dead. How many more spree killers with a copy of The Catcher in the Rye in their back pocket do we need to see as a country before we allow for some better gun control?
Peter at 10:44PM on Apr 17th 2007
9. The person who wrote comment number 4 needs to learn some english. "Hotal", "mayme", "pled", what were you thinking? Yes Cho took his life. Yes he caused a lot of pain for a lot of people, but what are you doing bringing the NAACP into this? Your comment was pointless. God bless all those effected by the recent event.
also white at 11:14PM on Apr 17th 2007
10. When will the violence and hatred end? There are some serious issues here that need to be looked into on so many levels! What did the school do to protect the victims and the shooter? What did anyone that knew the shooter do to protect innocent victims?
The violent lyrics that people listen to, the violent movies, games, etc....it is the almighty buck....this world needs to get down to basics, have a value system! And, it starts at the top, our President and parents....until people start to make some serious changes in our lifestyles, we will end up destroying one another!
It is a sorry state of affairs when being a good and kind hearted person puts you in the minority! We need to care more deeply for one another and want the best for one another! Help one another, not kill one another!
Mr. Bush, that means you too...what steps do you take to protect us? You continue to put us at odds with other Countries and we are losing numerous lives, billions of dollars and families involved will never be the same! Mr. Bush, you are not so different than this massacre/murderer...
We all need to take a step back and reassess where we are and what it is we really want. I would hope that all this violence is not what we want.
Merchants need to stop selling and buying movies, movies and books that promote violence! The laws need to be stronger against drugs and violence and our leaders who are in trusted positions need to step up to the plate and set a better example...that includes all parents, teachers, politicians and religious!
Monica at 6:37AM on Apr 18th 2007
11. Peter, don't blame other people for what happened. I'm suure that he'd have obtained a gun illegaly had there not been a legal way to do it. Imagine if everybody who wrote something a little dark were taken away and fed ritalin (sp?) in the interest of being cured? Hollywood would be broke in a heartbeat. There was one, and ONLY one person responsible here. Thank goodness that person is now dead. I hope he rots in hell.
However, to get back on topic, Nothing but praise for the heroism of Professor Librescu. Perhaps it was not meant to be a sacrifice, but it turned out to be one, and for that he will always be remembered as a hero. I have no doubt that there were many other acts of heroism which we'll never hear about. It's just sad that there had to be any.
Chris at 11:15PM on Apr 17th 2007
12.
Chris, it's a lot harder to obtain a gun when you can't just buy it at the store. Could he have found it another way? Possibly, but that's not at all guaranteed, he would have to know someone with a gun or get it off the record at a gun show (another loophole that should be closed).
I never said he should be locked up and put on ritalin, that isn't what counseling is. Every major university out there has a counseling system for troubled students, he was clearly troubled and the school was aware of it, so how he slipped through the net, I don't know.
I disagree with you that we shouldn't be blaming things other than the killer. Haven't you recognized the pattern in these spree killings? It's fine to be a loner, but a loner with violent fantasies and access to firearms? That should send up red flags everywhere. There is more we could be doing to prevent this from happening again, and in my opinion it has gone much too far this time to just blame it on the killer and move on.
Mr. Librescu was indeed a hero, and it is disgusting that such a good man had to die when we have seen this happen many times before and done little to address the problem.
Peter at 12:32AM on Apr 18th 2007
13. Peter, Take your own advice and try not to make this about agendas of any political stripes.
Roberta, anyone on US soil (while vacationing, working, or attending an institution of higher learning) is entitled to the same civil liberties you and I take for granted each day.
We are all given a chance to pursue educational or entreprenueral goals.
Some of us--(young men who fit the WASP profile just have to work harder--or, for that matter, simply look a little harder for the appropriate grant money)
Hopefully, you have tried to enstile the value of a work ethic into your daughter. Start young and try to stay less bitter. For her but also for yourself. What matters at the end of the day is not where you are but who you touched
mejaney at 5:33AM on Apr 18th 2007
14. Another thing you should be aware of is the difficulty in gaining US citizenship status. I havent the foggiest idea if the young man in question was here on a student visa or not, but I do know second handly how difficult it can be.
First of all, the US gov't exploits the global economy everyday.
Second, I have known several "aliens of exceptional ability." My friend Maria's mother and father have been research scientists at NIH (National Institute of Health) for 13 years. I believe
They have raised a family here and her brother and herself were born and schooled on American soil, in the public school system. She has, however, never voted in a public election.
I tell this story not to say "hey, they've got the right to rag on the system" but not yourself. I don't even bring it up because I claim to have any answers on US immigration policy. I bring this to your attention only to break down walls it sounds as though were constructed based on unfounded conclusions drawn from lack of information.
mejaney at 5:35AM on Apr 18th 2007
15. "GOD BLESS AMERICA?" And what about the rest of the world? Any true individual of faith would understand the spiritual implications of this tragedy. If someone had shown a certain young man some more Christ-like love, I may not be posting this. It's perpetuation of this insular patriot party view of faith that prevented me from seeing the light of Christendom for my own lonely adolescence.
Also, I think our founding fathers would want you to know the reason civil liberties are extended to those on our soil is because they deemed them INALIENABLE, God-granted, **human** rights.
That, sister, is the true testament of faith behind ideals of men like Ben Franklin.
Bless god.
mejaney at 5:35AM on Apr 18th 2007