There was a horrible shooting at a Unitarian congregation in Knoxville on Sunday, leaving two dead and several more injured. I already mentioned this in my other blog.
As the investigation unfolds, it is being revealed that the attacker was upset over the cuts to his food stamp rations, and after reading some far-right propaganda books by the likes of Michael Savage and Bill O'Reilly, decided that the liberals were the problem. And since he couldn't kill liberal leaders, he decided to kill the voters that supported them - namely, the Unitarians.
It's ironic that this guy went on a rampage to kill the liberals, while being utterly dependent on liberal government handouts in the form of food stamps. He's no different from the Alaskans, who vote Republican because of the oil dividend, another government handout program (one that the Democrats claim credit for, at that).
The right-wing pundits who influenced the attacker, including Michelle Malkin and Mann Coulter, ought to be charged with inciting violence, thrown in jail (make sure to throw the Mann in men's jail), and forever be banned from the public radiowaves. There is a fine line between free speech and inciting violence, and the hateful rhetoric of most of these talk show hosts is nothing short of the latter.
Some thoughts are shared by DiAnne Grieser over at Silenced Majority.
Also, the advertisers to Fox News and other hate networks will need to be reminded of what they're supporting. If they can pull out, like Lowe's and Home Depot, then business continues as usual. If they blatantly and proudly keep advertising, like BMW, then it's boycott time.
Showing posts with label US politics: gun control. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US politics: gun control. Show all posts
29 July 2008
20 April 2007
More coverage of VT tragedy
I'm reading through many articles today, expressing various opinions on this senseless tragedy. All the flags at half-staff are reminding me of the tragedy again and again.
Here are some articles worth reading:
Here are some articles worth reading:
- New York Times - The likes of Rush Limbaugh are having a field day over this. The right wingers are making fools of themselves again, by vilifying their Korean buddies.
- Washington Post - A Korean-American community activist remarks on overreaction by first-generation Korean immigrants, comparing their collectivist mindsets with the more individualistic American ones. He says the Korean community is as responsible for Cho's rampage as the African-American community was for the DC area sniper attacks - not at all, in other words.
- AP - Cho's profile resembles that of other mass killers, and experts weigh in on his psychology.
- Xinhua News - China's Foreign Minister is furious that the media at first rushed to mis-identify the gunman as a Shanghai native, without confirming the details.
18 April 2007
"Let It Be Some Other Asian"
It's a cowardly way of thinking, but it was a sad truth. Asian-Americans all wished that the VT shooter would be someone other than their own ethnicity, so that the blame wouldn't lie with them.
Most non-Koreans are breathing a sigh of relief that it wasn't one of their own. Most Koreans are paranoid, after Cho Seung-Hui's nationality was revealed.
However, most Americans can't distinguish between Asian nationalities, so all Asian-Americans can expect some flak over Cho's rampage. The saddest part is that if Cho were, say, a white Briton, the British wouldn't have had to worry so much, as the backlash would simply not exist.
Andrew Lam, who has a Vietnamese background, wrote on this phenomenon.
New American Media
Most non-Koreans are breathing a sigh of relief that it wasn't one of their own. Most Koreans are paranoid, after Cho Seung-Hui's nationality was revealed.
However, most Americans can't distinguish between Asian nationalities, so all Asian-Americans can expect some flak over Cho's rampage. The saddest part is that if Cho were, say, a white Briton, the British wouldn't have had to worry so much, as the backlash would simply not exist.
Andrew Lam, who has a Vietnamese background, wrote on this phenomenon.
New American Media
Fox News...
It's been mentioned that Fox News absolved the Korean culture from any role in the Virginia Tech shootings.
Such is the sweet reward when you are the most reactionary ethnic group in America, and the only non-refugee one to support the Republicans.
If Fox were truly fair, it would've done some sensitivity reporting on the Muslims, African-Americans, and/or liberals as well.
Liberals on Daily Kos are remarking that a Fox absolution will hurt the Korean community more than it helps.
Daily Kos
Such is the sweet reward when you are the most reactionary ethnic group in America, and the only non-refugee one to support the Republicans.
If Fox were truly fair, it would've done some sensitivity reporting on the Muslims, African-Americans, and/or liberals as well.
Liberals on Daily Kos are remarking that a Fox absolution will hurt the Korean community more than it helps.
Daily Kos
17 April 2007
Virginia Tech shooting update
Word is trickling in from the tragedy. News reports have identified the shooter as Cho Seung-Hui, a Korean immigrant living in Virginia since 1992.
Now, don't tell me the Koreans are soaking up everything reactionary from America, from its Dominionist Christianity to homophobia to tax evasion/greed to, now, gun culture. It's bad enough that they have already contributed so much to the reactionary politics themselves, in the form of Reverend Moon and the Unification Church. Given that the Korean culture has been demonstrated, here in Los Angeles and elsewhere, to be a deadly one, in the form of the numerous family murder-suicides, perhaps we shouldn't be so surprised at what happened at Virginia Tech yesterday, sad and shocking as it may be.
South Korea will send some diplomats to the US in order to investigate and apologize. They better have apologies for the actions of the Unification Church and its destruction of American democracy, as well.
South Korea's government has also asked people not to "stir up racial prejudice or confrontation" over this. However, it is in no position to make such requests, given that the Koreans have advocated extermination of entire classes of law-abiding American citizens, and South Korea is one of the most racist societies in the world.
And the most sickening thing? While Republicans in Congress displayed a picture of 9/11 lead hijacker Mohammed Atta to make a case for tightening immigration, they will probably never use a picture of Cho to do the same, given how much help they get from the Korean community. Talk about double standards! Already, W and McCain are busy coddling the Korean gun owners.
Back to Virginia Tech, the names of the dead have not been released, though two are now known to be professors, one Asian Indian and one Romanian. This makeup is testament to the diversity of the population makeup on US college campuses, one that demonstrates American schools' quality and attraction to scholars worldwide. But if the W cabal keeps its anti-academic policies up, this will be history too.
MSNBC
Now, don't tell me the Koreans are soaking up everything reactionary from America, from its Dominionist Christianity to homophobia to tax evasion/greed to, now, gun culture. It's bad enough that they have already contributed so much to the reactionary politics themselves, in the form of Reverend Moon and the Unification Church. Given that the Korean culture has been demonstrated, here in Los Angeles and elsewhere, to be a deadly one, in the form of the numerous family murder-suicides, perhaps we shouldn't be so surprised at what happened at Virginia Tech yesterday, sad and shocking as it may be.
South Korea will send some diplomats to the US in order to investigate and apologize. They better have apologies for the actions of the Unification Church and its destruction of American democracy, as well.
South Korea's government has also asked people not to "stir up racial prejudice or confrontation" over this. However, it is in no position to make such requests, given that the Koreans have advocated extermination of entire classes of law-abiding American citizens, and South Korea is one of the most racist societies in the world.
And the most sickening thing? While Republicans in Congress displayed a picture of 9/11 lead hijacker Mohammed Atta to make a case for tightening immigration, they will probably never use a picture of Cho to do the same, given how much help they get from the Korean community. Talk about double standards! Already, W and McCain are busy coddling the Korean gun owners.
Back to Virginia Tech, the names of the dead have not been released, though two are now known to be professors, one Asian Indian and one Romanian. This makeup is testament to the diversity of the population makeup on US college campuses, one that demonstrates American schools' quality and attraction to scholars worldwide. But if the W cabal keeps its anti-academic policies up, this will be history too.
MSNBC
16 April 2007
Two newsworthy items
First, a tragedy at the Virginia Tech campus, where a gunman killed 32 plus himself. This was the worst school shooting in US history. The saddest tragedy: W was still pandering to NRA first, before offering his condolences. Reasonable safety regulations are needed for guns, and we need to watch what kinds of people get their hands on them.
May the victims rest in peace.
BBC
Second, a longtime (159 years to be exact, counting his ancestors) Republican in Northern California's Yolo County, Pete McCloskey, joined the Democrats, citing extremism by the likes of Gingrich, Robertson, and Falwell. I hope he finds the Democratic Party to be a better, more relevant home, than I, another Republican who switched to the Democrats (then left), did.
Daily Kos
May the victims rest in peace.
BBC
Second, a longtime (159 years to be exact, counting his ancestors) Republican in Northern California's Yolo County, Pete McCloskey, joined the Democrats, citing extremism by the likes of Gingrich, Robertson, and Falwell. I hope he finds the Democratic Party to be a better, more relevant home, than I, another Republican who switched to the Democrats (then left), did.
Daily Kos
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