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 2 of 4)
16. I'm one who tends to put a political spin on a lot of things in this section - but I agree with the governor of Virginia, this is no time to insert politics into a mass tragedy.
One of the few things I remember from by BS degree in psychology that prepared me to sell car insurance was that depression is anger turned inward. The idea behind some long term psychotherapy is to find the source of the anger, get it out in a verbally explosive manner that is a catharsis for the patient, and then work with the patient to move forward dealing with life in a new way with the knowledge of the causative factors of his or her depression. Even psychologists, who have a vested financial interest in long term therapy with those who can afford it have for years frequently advocated medication to get the patient to the baseline of normalcy so they are able to work on the underlying issues. However, in many cases, especially in the public health system of mental healthcare paid for by insurance, medication ends up being the main component of treatment with very little "talk therapy," and that seems to be the case here.
My questions here are what was the experience level of the counselor that dealt with the killer, how much mandatory talk therapy was required for him to remain a student, and WHY were anti-depressants prescribed.
The news reports say that creative writing teachers referred him to counseling, and it doesn't sound like they were worried about him being depressed and killing himself. On the contrary, it sounds like everyone who came in contact with him and/or knew of his writings were scared of him being a potential killer.
If your depressed, anti-depressants amp you up so at least the biochemical causes of depression don't keep you in a near mentally comatose state with a gloomy view of everything. However, when you are potentially dangerous and the problem doesn't seem to be anger turned inward, but rather extreme anger already showing, anti-depressants can amp you up to act on your dangerous thoughts.
News reports say he became increasingly weird, and I assume this occured as he took the medication. If he was in talk counseling, surely this would have become apparent to the counselor, especially when the counselor had access to he homicidal plays the guy wrote.
I cannot imagine the guilt the killer's counselor is feeling now, and I'm sure that he or she did not deliberately let a killer leave the office. Nonetheless, the real question now is the counselor's competency and the course of treatment. I envision a counseling license being pulled in the near future.
Phil at 6:27AM on Apr 18th 2007
17. I cant imagine the devestating pain of losing a brother, a son, a daughter a sister or a best friend to something so entirely senseless. The pain for those students at Virgina Tech and the Parents of all those lost; May God be with you now and in the future.
Thoughts and Prayers from Calgary, Canada.
Alyssa at 7:22AM on Apr 18th 2007
18. i was amazed that no one made this George Bush's fault, until I read the last comment,,,crazy,,,
I do agree with the poster who said something along the lines of if this guy did not die, Al Shartpton and Jesse Jackson would get him free,,if you ask me, Sharpton and Jackson have done more to divide this country than Bush.
Use some common sense people, the shooted was screwed up. Its easy to take the whole "it takes a village" approach, but this kid was screwed up and needed help and didnt get it...If you are going to blame the school or blame bush or blame his parents then you should also put some blame on yourself and jesus while you are at it
James at 8:50AM on Apr 18th 2007
19. Some of the comments here are truly disturbing: 1) anti-immigrant, as though America wasn't founded by immigrants who "discovered" an already-inhabited land; 2) racist and bitter - - and not even subtle about it 3)anti-Christ: No,Roberta, God does not only love Americans who aren't "minorities." [I wonder what your vision of heaven must look like: a 1950's America with "separate but equal" signs?] Jesus saves more than just people who look like you.
Anyway, the bottom line is this Professor is a hero. He died in a Christ-like way -- giving his life for his "brother." May God bless his family who will miss him, I'm sure. He was a good one.
cj at 9:17AM on Apr 18th 2007
20. You find them in Georgia, in the likes of Ryan Clark, the young black student who was among the first of the shooter's victims. It is believed he died trying to save the first victim, the young lady with whom it is alleged the shooter was infatuated. Ryan left a twin brother behind among his family. His picture should be right next to the Professor's, rather than singling him out as the lone hero in this tragedy. There are several heroes. And Ryan is one.
Melanika at 9:53AM on Apr 18th 2007
21. AT LEAST PROFESSOR LIBRESCU HAD HIS PRIORITIES RIGHT. HE SACRIFICED HIS LIFE TO HELP HIS FELLOW MAN. WHAT MORE CAN A PERSON GIVE THAN HIS LIFE TO HELP OTHERS. HOW PROUD HIS FAMILY MUST BE. TRULY SOMEONE WHO DESERVES THE TITLE HERO.
ANN at 9:37AM on Apr 18th 2007
22. Clark, the young black student who was among the first of the shooter's victims. It is believed he died trying to save the first victim, the young lady with whom it is alleged the shooter was infatuated. Ryan left a twin brother behind among other members of his family. His picture should be right next to the Professor's, rather than singling him out as the lone hero in this tragedy. There were several. Ryan was the first.
Melanika at 9:38AM on Apr 18th 2007
23. James, what the heck has Al Sharpton or Jesse have to do with this? They have done nothing to "divide" anything. Uniting the nation doesn't mean keeping white people in power or not challenging racism whenever it rears its ugly head. You people are so threatened by the very thought of black unity it is starting make you look paranoid and delusional. You don't have to accept Sharpton or Jackson. They're not your leaders. They're voices respected by the majority of black Americans. That doesn't concern you unless you are a racist fearful of being exposed. You always no the one the rock hit by how loudly he screams. If this tragedy showed us anything, it is that America needs to face the horror of its past, it's culture of exclusion and racism if it is to have any hope of a productive future. By 2030, "minorities" will be the majority. You had better get used to that.
Melanika at 10:13AM on Apr 18th 2007
24. Thank you Mr. Mirengoff for your article honoring Professor Librescu. I also thank the first post which mentioned the heroics of Todd Beemer.
As much as I can understand the thoughts and feelings of outrage toward the shooter, etc by other posters, I am saddened they were included on a page which presented an article meant to honor and praise Professor Librescu's courage, bravery and sacrifice.
I did not personally know any of the victims of the shooting nor did I know Professor Librescu. But, hearing of the Professor's survival of the Holocust where millions died and the sacrifice of his life to save his students I feel sadness as if I did know him. I urge his students to never forget what he gave to them as their professor and to please remember him for that as well as his heroic actions.
In reply to the article's title; "Where do we find such men?...I say, we find these men and women daily in our hearts, heads, souls and our lives we lead each and every day. Sadly we don't always know they are heros until their demise. VT currently has thousands of living heros who didn't sacrifice their lives but by reaching out to comfort their peers during this horrible, painful time their actions are heroic also.
Jordan at 10:22AM on Apr 18th 2007
25. Ryan may not have been a Jewish Holocaust survivor, but he was the descendant of survivors of the black holocaust of slavery, post-slavery Jim Crowism, and the violent era of 50's, 60's and 70's. I say this not as a reflection on the Professor's sacrifice, which is commendable under any circumstances, but to remind us that honor should be given where it is due. ALL the victims who died are heroes. And you are right, millions died in the Jewish Holocaust. Many of them were not Jews. But were victims of racism and hatred none the less. And while many of them were dying, many were also dying in America and around the world because of race hate.
Melanika at 10:42AM on Apr 18th 2007
26. It seems human nature for everyone to want to put blame somewhere. In my opinion, it is not a race issue- games,movies,and music should not be blamed-Bush had no way of stopping this- no measure of background check for guns would have stopped this maniac-the counselors tried to help but obviously couldn't- and the school would also have been ripped (if it turned out to be a 'domestic' dispute that ended at the dorm, which would have been bad enough) for creating panic and chaos. This guy was clearly messed up, and I personally do not want to take any of the blame away from him- he will continue to pay for what he has done. My heart and my prayers go out to all the families, friends, and collegues of those who were taken- I am truly sorry for your losses.
carlap at 12:42PM on Apr 18th 2007
27. What happend was a tragedy, Yet we may never know what really caused him to do this. Many innocent lives where lost, But yet a lone Teacher stood his ground knowing that if he didnt stop him there then his beloved students where all going to be killed. He took the courage from his heart and sacrificed him self to let his students live on. No greater person can be called a hero then him. He knew what was going to happen and he his best to stop him. We need more people like him, and a lot less people who only care and think of them selves. This is America and this is my home.I was born and raised here. We need to stop this now...
KAILIN at 10:55AM on Apr 18th 2007
28. P.S.--Men like these are hard to find these days- but they are there, and I believe they surface, especially when faced with something like this- this shows who truly loves their fellow man- complete and total sacrifice to help someone other than yourself.
carlap at 12:41PM on Apr 18th 2007
29. from Ghana, Africa, and it suddens my heart when i hear stuff like this, what could enter a human for him to behave like this, its a strange world we live in, May the lost souls have a place with the father up there. it should also come as a lesson to all who take things for granted, if his plays and troubled life were given a little more attention, all would not have happened.
ekow at 11:27AM on Apr 18th 2007
30. This is about Librescu and what he did for his students. Save your complaints for another comment board. This professor was a hero and may or may not have meant to die to save the lives of his students. He was an amazing man to have done what he did. I only wish that I would be able to act in the same way, or that someone would do the same for the people that I love. We could all take a lesson from this Professor Librescu in courage and heroism. For all the people that lost their lives in this horrible tragedy, you will not be forgotten,and for their families, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Ashley at 11:34AM on Apr 18th 2007