Maroon and Orange and Blue

Thoughts from a UVa grad on recent, horrific events at Virginia Tech:

I would be remiss if I did not make some kind of commentary on the events that occurred on Monday. As many of you know or felt directly, the tragedy on the campus of Virginia Tech has affected everyone, not only here in the Commonwealth, but across the country and world. I don’t know why, but it hit home even more while I was watching the Spanish language cable station here in Richmond and they had a news story about one of the victims, whose father lives in Peru. Add that to the fact Gov. Kaine watched events unfold in his attempt to return from Tokyo and one can see the far reaching effects this has had into world communities. Everyone has gone through some kind of educational institution and felt safe and secure while attending classes or freely walking through buildings, libraries, lawns or drill fields. I can only hope that this feeling continues and that such events that happened on Monday and at Columbine are isolated. Millions of students, faculty, and staff members attend or work in thousands of educational institutions around the country everyday without incident, showing that the social structure is in place. Most people are good and caring, we can only hope that those who wish to do harm to themselves and/or others will be helped before acting on violent tendencies.

Being an aspiring educator, events that occur at schools and universities, no matter what scale, weigh heavy on my mind. Educational institutions are here to foster learning and promote intellectual interaction, but also aid in social maturing and diversity. When a small few shatter that environment of fostering…things like that should not happen. The victims were as diverse as the Virginia Tech community, coming from all backgrounds and locations. Dear friends of my mine attended Virginia Tech and I know feel deeply affected by the images and stories that flash everywhere you turn. And although the storied rivalry between Tech and UVa is well documented (and I still hope that this will not suppress the spirit of competition) the tragedy has been felt by Hokies and Cavaliers alike. I, for one, cannot escape what it must have been like to be in that engineering building or dorm. But I see hope in the efforts being made across all campuses in Virginia. The victims and their families are what matter…and things like that should not happen. On this day of remembrance we should not forget the victims, not only of this tragedy but those who are dying needlessly throughout the world – 9/11, The Tsunami, earthquakes, Iraqi civilians, and the daily victims of other murders and accidents…things like that should not happen.

As for the future, I can only hope that time will heal. Wounds do form and scars take their place as a constant reminder. We will not forget but will move on. Virginia Tech will be the constant, upstanding institution is has always been. The students, faculty, staff, and alumni will forge on with the grace and respect it has always had throughout this state and country. And I can say with confidence that when Tech is ready, the University of Virginia will be there to face them in the field, on the track, and in the arenas of sport with the respect and sportsmanship we have always had toward them.
Now I hope that I may return to my regularly schedule blogging of humor (or not so humorous), commentary and social observations that you have come to know.

Armchair Traveler

**(disclaimer: this is a work of sarcasm, comments and opinions found in this post do not reflect that of the actually writer himself or any of his subsidiary affiliates [think Steve Colbert])**

Listen, I may be one of the last individuals you would find camouflage covered, cowboy hat wearing, Bon Jovi lovin’, wrapped in the red, white, and blue patriot of the U.S., but I will never complain about the benefits of being an American citizen: Unfettered access to the internet can take me to anywhere I want to go or find any information I need about any other country on Earth. 24-hour news and cable channels beaming me images via satellites from remote parts of the world that I will never have the opportunity to be shot at, mauled by a panther, or dodge poisonous darts.

Thankfully we have such great news outlets like Fox News to deliver non-bias, unfiltered, informative, factual information. How can the BBC know what information is best and most pertinent for Americans if they aren’t even in America? Who else could report the hard hitting facts on the wonderful job that the current administration is doing except those who use to work for the father of the leader of the current administration?

In my still relatively short life time, one that I should point out has not seen me live for any period of time more than 70 miles from my place of birth, I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet individuals from around the world. Why would I ever need to travel to places like France, Germany, Russia, Armenia, Hong Kong, China? I get all the authentic culture I need from my English speaking foreign friends. I know how to say “hello” and “how are you” in 7 languages, if any more than that is needed to be said then they can speak American to me.

Some people call America the world’s “Big Brother” but who else is going to watch all those countries who are trying to usurp power away from America? Imagine Klafalagastan was your little sister and she was trying to become head cheerleader at her school, Earth HS. To do this, she must establish nuclear power plants to power her stereo so she can work on her routines and heat her family’s one bedroom house during Klafalagastan’s -40 degree winters. Well big brother, feeling that little sister’s new found popularity by becoming head cheerleader would take all the attention off of him being star forward for the Earth HS basketball team, should step in and accuse little sister of enriching uranium that she will use to build weapons that could hurt rival Suzie-Jo who only wants to have her rightful spot on the squad.

And seriously, what do we have to learn from countries outside of the United States beside that they hate Americans? I mean, it’s not like the French have a unique and highly logical way of electing a president that would remove inter-party bickering and presidents winning while still losing the popular vote. The Euro doing better than the dollar? Please, like that will be the day. We are the most powerful nations in the world, other countries should be following our lead because no matter what we do, even if it is wrong, it is right, because we did it. Why would U.S. automakers look at the German engineered automobiles for durability and quality? How would we get people to buy more cars if they lasted as long as German and Japanese models? It’s called capitalism people, look it up, we invented it, we control it. Universal health care? You hippie Canadian. Mass genocide in Africa? Oh hop on the Angelina Jolie bandwagon why don’t ya. Listen, if they don’t show it on Fox and Friends then it isn’t happening, why can’t you people figure that out?

All these immigrants aren’t sneaking into this country for no reason. Obviously they see what a wonderful country this is, why can’t the rest of the world? U.S. companies are doing their part to promote American ideals by building their manufacturing plants in Taiwan and Mexico. Cheaper labor is the cry coming from all those anti-Americans out there trying to bring down the U.S. capitalism machine. It ain’t gonna work you hippie economists…all that money is coming back to America when those workers buy our overpriced, high quality electronics…that were manufactured by them, shipped to American, then shipped back for retail sale. It’s complicated but I think you see the logic. American companies wouldn’t do things for their own capitalistic benefits would they? No, of course they would look to better the entire American society so give them a break.

So the next time one of these European back-packers, or study abroad supervisors, or foreign diplomats comes and tries to convince you to “travel and see the world” tell them you have cable TV, thank you very much, and the only culture you need is the American culture.

Now sit back in your comfy la-z-boy and watch the crumble of the western world right before your half-closed eyes…unless you are watching Fox News, then everything is fine.