Tragic events at VA Tech

I think the recent events at VA Tech has touched so many lives. As the horror unfolded and we heard about individual stories, it all brought back another place and time not so long ago to me.

There is a small church school right down the street from where I live now. Back in 1988, I worked across the street from this school and remember the events of one December day. There was a young man, not quite 16 years old, that brought a Mac-11 into that school and opened fired. He took the life of one teacher, shot a few more and then went after a class filled with children huddled in the corner of the room. Luckily he was taken down by another teacher. As this sad story unfolded, there were reports of this young man being bullied and tormented in this school. I will never forget the sights and sounds of that day. It lingers with me as the VA Tech story will.

My heart goes out to the victims and their families at VA Tech. I know several students there, one that was actually on the floor where the shooting had taken place. It is hard to understand the motive or reasoning when such a tragic event happens. Of course there just is no reasoning to such a tormented person who has lost touch with reality.

On another note here, I received a phone call from an old friend that I haven't heard from but once since my return from China. Her only comment was that she hoped the insane Asian kid that had killed all those people wasn't adopted. Uggh, my only comment was well you know all adopted people are insane and on the edge of snapping at any minute. I should say my tone was rather, well sarcastic as hell. This friend knows that all three of my children are adopted and most importantly of all, that I, myself, am adopted. I am sorry, but you know most adopted kids don't grow up feeling inferior or turn into some evil mass murderer.

I know I am a bit defensive and hypersensitive to this topic, but you can bet, if this young man at VA Tech had been adopted, the media would has chimed in on that fact and never let go. I guess my point is they would never say he is a bio kid with problems, but yet if he was an adopted child, that would have been the main focus and reason for his insane act.