A Star Is Born

C Goodman
YouTube.com has its first bonified mass murderer superstar. A multi-media package arrived on the doorstep of NBC News today. Inside was several photographs and a video of Cho Seung-Hui, the South Korean immigrant who went on that horrific shooting rampage at Virginia Tech Monday morning. He apparently found time between the killings to drop the package in the mail -- then he got back to the bloodbath.News outlets were all too eager to get their hands on what's being called Cho's "multimedia manifesto." Images of this nutcase have been popping up on television and on the Internet all afternoon. The media seems enamored with this guy, talking about his "articulate" manner of speaking on the videotape and his ability to plan out the bloody rampage with such precision.

At one point on the videotape, Cho is said to mention the names of the killers in the Columbine tragedy -- a tragedy that happened eight years ago this week. In the years since Columbine, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold have become synonymous with evil. Anytime there's a shooting on a school campus, their names are immediately evoked. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that the two bastards from Columbine have become heroes in this underground community of psychos. The mere mention of their names on Cho's videotape indicates some form of idol worship -- Harris and Klebold were his role models.

And now it's all happening again. The next generation of would-be campus killers have a new idol. In this day of viral video, Cho's on-camera manifesto will forever be available on YouTube and other video sharing websites to provide inspiration to these sicko cowards.
NBC News claims it was their "journalistic responsibility" to share Cho's rants with the American public. They say it's important to provide insight into the mind of a killer. According to them, it's evidence of why he "snapped" and killed 32 people before turning the gun on himself.

Congratulations NBC(and other media organizations who aired portions of the video.) You gave this piece of shit exactly what he wanted -- martyrdom. Cho obviously wasn't stupid. He had made it through almost four years of college and was very aware of the world around him. He knew that by making and sending off the videotape, his name, face and voice would forever be linked to death. He would achieve the recognition he sought in life from the grave using his weapon of choice -- the media. It was a part of his master plan and, once again, the media fell for it.

When will we realize that the worst thing we can do after these tragedies is to transform the perpetrators into cult heroes? At first, they start off as "unidentified gunmen." By the day after, we know their names, their possible "motives," their favorite color, whether they watched "Grey's Anatomy," and what size underwear they wore. They're instant celebrities, achieving the fame they couldn't fathom in real life. Ultimately, they have won.

Wouldn't it be better if we never knew who these bastards like Harris, Klebold and Cho were? If they simply remained "murderers" or "unidentified gunmen?" They can't be held accountable for their crimes in death, so what's the point in knowing who these scumbags were? I believe there should be an across-the-board policy at media organizations to not publish or air any specific information about these people. Simply identify them as a "23-year-old man" or "the unnamed killer." The media shouldn't be giving them a platform to spew their hate or a spotlight to become martyrs.

So what's happened in the hours since NBC received Cho's "multimedia manifesto?" Cho's face is everywhere -- he'll probably even make the covers of Newsweek and Time, maybe even People. Meanwhile, the misery he caused to countless families and friends of the victims at Virginia Tech is pushed to the backburner. The victims have been victimized again. Cho is now the story. And once again, the bastards have won.

Virginia Tech Shooter Identified

C Goodman

Cho Seung-Hui. That name will forever live in infamy -- synonymous with the largest mass shooting incident in U.S. history. Earlier today, authorities released the name of the 23-year-old English major as the shooter in yesterday's killings at Virginia Tech University. Officials say Seung-Hui moved to Virginia from South Korea in 1992. He was in his senior year at Virginia Tech and has been described as a sullen loner whose creative writing in English class was so disturbing that he was referred to the school's counseling service. Seung-Hui was also reportedly taking medication for depression and those who knew him say his behavior was becoming increasingly erratic and violent. Investigators also found a note that he left in his dorm in which he railed against "rich kids,""debauchery" and "deceitful charlatans" on campus. School officials admit that they're finding it difficult to find out information about Seung-Hui because he was a loner.

Faculty, students, parents and even President Bush and First Lady Laura turned out Tuesday afternoon for a memorial service at Virginia Tech's basketball arena. In a six-minute speech before thousands, Bush said, "To all of you who are OK, I'm happy for that. To those of you who are in pain or who have lost someone close to you, I'm sure you can call on any one of us and have help anytime you need it." Quoting Scripture, he told those angered by the killings not to be overcome by evil. "People who have never met you are praying for you," Bush said. "They're praying for your friends who have fallen and who are injured. There's a power in these prayers, a real power. In times like this, we can find comfort in the grace and guidance of a loving God."

Seung-Hui killed 32 people in his attack.

Bloodbath At Virginia Tech

C Goodman

It's being described as the deadliest mass shooting rampage in U.S. history. A gunman this morning walked onto the campus of Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg and opened fire on anyone in his path. At least 32 people were killed in just a matter of hours. The gunman also died when he took his own life. Investigators have offered no motive for the attack. The gunman's name has not been released and officials don't know if he was a student. At least 26 other people were injured in the rampage, some seriously.

Until Monday, the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history was in Killeen, Texas, in 1991, when George Hennard plowed his pickup truck into a Luby's Cafeteria and shot 23 people to death, then himself.

The massacre Monday took place almost eight years to the day after the Columbine High bloodbath near Littleton, Colo. On April 20, 1999, two teenagers killed 12 fellow students and a teacher before taking their own lives.

It was second time in less than a year that the campus was closed because of a shooting. Last August, the opening day of classes was canceled and the campus closed when an escaped jail inmate allegedly killed a hospital guard off campus and fled to the Tech area. A sheriff's deputy involved in the manhunt was killed on a trail just off campus. The accused gunman, William Morva, faces capital murder charges.