Another school shooting.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by transplant99

The US knows better than most I would argue, the difference between North and South Korea...you know since their military was part of the war that protected the North from the South in the end.

I remember watching a show on television where average Americans couldn't even locate Iraq on a map, and yet it is probably the most contentious issue in the world today, and has been for over four years now. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find many people who could name the capitals of North and South Korea, which played central roles in the Korean War. But I digress...

Anyways, I really hope this doesn't turn into a race issue. I don't think it will to a large extent, but it will certainly come up in debate about the rights of permanent aliens such as the guman in question.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

... which is why I said "the unaware"...

Didn't say all Americans... a tad sensitive?

So it would be the same as the "unaware" in all countries correct?

If so, then why specify the US.

It was a shot at the Americans IMO.

Im not American so why would I be sensitive?

[HelloHockeyFans]

Holy cripes... get a grip man.

I'm going to step away from responding to your accusations of me taking shot at Americans because... well, it just isn't true.

This thread doesn't need to be derailed. A few posters have already voiced their opinion that I wasn't taking shots at Americans specifically, and I'm satisfied with that.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Yeah, I agree, but it's something the media does all the time.

"Iranian citizen", "Black male", etc.

The sad thing is, the unaware in the US will automatically associate this person from South Korea (and the country of South Korea) to the crazed lunatic up in North Korea, not knowing that these are two separate countries.

I'm sorry but thats a pretty large leap of logic, and I doubt that there's anyone who's going to link this guy to the government of North Korea or its people.

And because of the massive amount of news about the problems in North Korea I think that there's a pretty good mass majority that knows that South Korea and North Korea are not only two different countries, but that South Korea is an ally.

Why would you insert a American's are ignorant shot into this news story. It makes no sense?

[transplant99]

I remember watching a show on television where average Americans couldn't even locate Iraq on a map,

So does this insinuate that the average Canadian could? How about the average Australian?

Just curious.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by transplant99

So does this insinuate that the average Canadian could? How about the average Australian?

Just curious.

It doesn't insinuate anything. That was just what the program was televising. Granted, they probably edited it to work in their favor, but for all the media coverage people are subjected to you think it would be fairly easy these days to point that out.

Canadians and Australians are no more informed / uninformed than Americans when it comes to geography skills, if you consider their entire populations.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I remember watching a show on television where average Americans couldn't even locate Iraq on a map, and yet it is probably the most contentious issue in the world today, and has been for over four years now. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find many people who could name the capitals of North and South Korea, which played central roles in the Korean War. But I digress...

That show was done to be funny, not represent an accurate account of Americans intelligence. I am sure there were people who correctly identified the geography questions, but that doesn't make a funny news segment. Canadians do the same thing with the Rick Mercer and his show Talking to Americans. Heck Americans do it to themselves with a segment on the Jay Leno Show, Jaywalking.

[HelloHockeyFans]

St. Edward's university in Texas was just evacuated after a bomb threat note was found.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Burninator

That show was done to be funny, not represent an accurate account of Americans intelligence. I am sure there were people who correctly identified the geography questions, but that doesn't make a funny news segment. Canadians do the same thing with the Rick Mercer and his show Talking to Americans. Heck Americans do it to themselves with a segment on the Jay Leno Show, Jaywalking.

I don't remember the name of the show, its origins, or its purpose, however I it seemed to be filmed as a news segment rather than a comedy. I was simply flipping through channels while I lived in New Zealand.

Regardless, Transplant was saying how many people would be aware of the Korean War, but I think that might be harder to find, especially given it was completely overshadowed by the end of World War II and the emerging bipolar focus at the time. That was my point.

[transplant99]

Regardless, Transplant was saying how many people would be aware of the Korean War, but I think that might be harder to find, especially given it was completely overshadowed by the end of World War II

WWII ended in 1945, the UN/US involvement in Korea began in 1950.

Americans are quite aware of both I assure you.

Some details coming out about this gunman...

News reports also said that he may have been taking medication for depression, that he was becoming increasingly violent and erratic, and that he left a note in his dorm in which he railed against "rich kids," "debauchery" and "deceitful charlatans" on campus

One of his creative writing professors also has stated that she referred him for counselling as his writings became more and more violent and bizarre.

The Chicago Tribune reported on its Web site that he left a note in his dorm room that included a rambling list of grievances. Citing unidentified sources, the Tribune said he had recently shown troubling signs, including setting a fire in a dorm room and stalking some women.
ABC, citing law enforcement sources, reported that the note, several pages long, explains Cho's actions and says, "You caused me to do this."

Sounds like the stereo-typical loner who has been building rage inside for a long time and finally just exploded in a hail of bullets and terror.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by fotze

Why doesn't society absolutly skewer a guy like this after their demise. Publish exaggerated stories on how much of a loser the guy was, how useless his parents were, terrible pictures of their zitfaced life. Publish pictures of him naked with a small weiner on the front pages of every newspaper. If there are no pictures make some up. Make it clear that every person who goes out like this will absolutely be humiliated after death, ten times moreso than when living.

Just brainstorming.....

LOL...I think?

Any media attention this guy gets is doing him a favour, especially knowing he was leaving greivance notes. I think that would almost inspire other lunatics out there who are attention-depraved and looking to make their mark on society. Somehow it's counter-productive to the healing process.

[nmhen]

1. I'm an American. A naturalized American, native SOUTH Korean. (This means, among other things, that I can not be President of the United States, because I am not a natural-born citizen of the US. Me and Ahnold.) If I get any backlash about this nutjob because of how I look I'll let you know.

2. As much as I'd like to think otherwise, I fear the great majority of Americans today have no idea about the history of our relationship (militarily or otherwise) with the Koreas. I mean, the great majority of Americans can't name all 50 states in the country, tell you who George Washington was, or why he was important, or discuss any of the Amendments to the Constitution with anything approaching lucidity (much less accuracy).

Sad, but true.

There is no real emphasis on embracing our history, glorious or otherwise, from anything more than a grade school perspective. And, being the great melting pot, or salad bowl or whatever BS politically correct phrase we're using today, there are more cultures (with their own respective histories) fighting for attention than ever.

Now, I would never want to see us close our borders to preserve some insane aspect of "nationality" as some of my more jingoistic brothers and sisters in this great country would counsel.

But I have to respectfully disagree that any but a small (and dwindling) percentage of Americans can tell you anything about the statehood between Korea (North or South) and the USA.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by nmhen

1. I'm an American. A naturalized American, native SOUTH Korean. (This means, among other things, that I can not be President of the United States, because I am not a natural-born citizen of the US. Me and Ahnold.) If I get any backlash about this nutjob because of how I look I'll let you know.

2. As much as I'd like to think otherwise, I fear the great majority of Americans today have no idea about the history of our relationship (militarily or otherwise) with the Koreas. I mean, the great majority of Americans can't name all 50 states in the country, tell you who George Washington was, or why he was important, or discuss any of the Amendments to the Constitution with anything approaching lucidity (much less accuracy).

Sad, but true.

There is no real emphasis on embracing our history, glorious or otherwise, from anything more than a grade school perspective. And, being the great melting pot, or salad bowl or whatever BS politically correct phrase we're using today, there are more cultures (with their own respective histories) fighting for attention than ever.

Now, I would never want to see us close our borders to preserve some insane aspect of "nationality" as some of my more jingoistic brothers and sisters in this great country would counsel.

But I have to respectfully disagree that any but a small (and dwindling) percentage of Americans can tell you anything about the statehood between Korea (North or South) and the USA.

He wrote this, I assume? If so, then wow. Just wow. He sounds bitter about the ignorance between national relations, and on the part of Americans in general (in this case, with regards to the Koreas). That's very unfortunate. However, it sort of echoes what I said earlier in this thread about average people not knowing about political and international issues...

[nmhen]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

He wrote this, I assume? If so, then wow. Just wow. He sounds bitter about the ignorance between national relations, and on the part of Americans in general (in this case, with regards to the Koreas). That's very unfortunate. However, it sort of echoes what I said earlier in this thread about average people not knowing about political and international issues...

sorry...should have been more clear.

That was all me. I wrote that. I've never even been to Blacksburg.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I don't remember the name of the show, its origins, or its purpose, however I it seemed to be filmed as a news segment rather than a comedy. I was simply flipping through channels while I lived in New Zealand.

The news isn't always fair and balanced. I think I've seen the same segment on the internet and it was presented as more of a comedy piece not as actual news. A television stations is probably the last people I would trust to conduct an actual study on society. The news is more interested in getting people to watch than presenting something worth while. Anyways.

This whole incident will played 24/7 on CNN because that is what will draw in the ratings. Unfortunately it will probably incite more copy cats or "inspire" other people in similar psychological situations to do the same thing.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by nmhen

sorry...should have been more clear.

That was all me. I wrote that. I've never even been to Blacksburg.

Oh sorry, it really came across as something he wrote. A bit of a mix-up. I was wondering why he would write something so internationally focused and rational thinking. What you wrote was an interesting read, and something I completely agree with. Not many Americans, or North Americans for that matter are fully aware of the relationship between the Koreas and the US, within the context of their history. It definitely takes a backseat to the US' interests in the Middle East these days, even with a belligerent Kim Jong-Il running the show over there...

Good post.

[WinnipegJets]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Anyways, I really hope this doesn't turn into a race issue. I don't think it will to a large extent, but it will certainly come up in debate about the rights of permanent aliens such as the guman in question.

I doubt it will turn into a race issue, as East Asians have a fairly good standing in North America. I'm just glad it wasn't another Muslim pissed off at America. That would have definitely turned into a ethnic issue.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

The media should be turning their attention on the victims in my opinion. At the columbine shootings, I don't think I know a single name of the victims, but I know the name of the murderers. It's a shame.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by WinnipegJets

I doubt it will turn into a race issue, as East Asians have a fairly good standing in North America. I'm just glad it wasn't another Muslim pissed off at America. That would have definitely turned into a ethnic issue.

agree 100%

[transplant99]

Looks like the lonnies have come out...many "threats" today.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070417/...ty_bomb_threat