Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Virginia Tech Shooting. Should we lock up all of the manics?

On 16th April, the world sank into a state of agony for the 32 lives lost under the gunshot of Cho Seung Hui. A couple of days later, ‘a macabre message from the grave from the gunman responsible for the Virginia Tech University surfaced. In it, South Korean gunman Cho, painted himself as a pistol-wielding moralist out to get even- though he does not say with whom. The package, which contained videos, still photographs and a long diatribe, was mailed to the offices of broadcaster NBC.’

There were already ‘warnings sign of Cho’s deranged state of mind in 2005. He was accused of stalking two women and taken to a mental facility for treatment. Although a judge declared Cho a danger to himself and others, he was simply told to seek treatment and was given medication for depression. He was then released to return to the campus. From this, we could see that the Cho had emotional problems all the while and had been referred to a psychiatrist. ‘

Why, at then, had the judge decided to release him despite knowing he is a ticking time bomb? If he had kept Cho under observation of a professional psychiatrist for a longer period, perhaps such tragedy could be prevented.

Therefore, we must look into the issue of whether ‘we should lock up all of the maniacs?’

A manic here refers to a person with violent madness and I define locking up as admitting him or her into metal institutions because locking up sounds a little harsh. With respect to this question, my stand would be a no. The factor determining whether they are being ‘locked up’ is on a case by case basis.

If the patient’s condition has been proven by a professional psychiatrist as stable and he or she will not bring harm to people to the society, then this patient is exempted from the fate of being locked up. However, a patient like Cho will certainly and definitely be ‘locked up’. Another foolish mistake, like the one made by the judge, must not be repeated as it can only create more havoc and chaos to the society. This is because the price to pay will be too much, way too much. As Cho said in his final video message, ‘You had a hundred billion chances and ways to have avoided today but you decided to spill my blood.’

As much as possible, I feel that one must consider wisely before executing this cruel action of admitting the patient into a mental institution. After all, I’m certain one detests being admitted in a mental institution as it’s equivalent to being locked up in an emotional jail. Everyone will look at you with a different eye, avoiding you when you eventually leaves the institution and enters the community.

On lighter note, perhaps it’s time to we start to watch out for the people around us? If they are down, try to shower them with our love before they sink into depression and cause harm to themselves?
Let them know that we care.

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