SOCIAL IMPRESSIONS

Evolutionary biologist, David Sloan Wilson of University of Binghamton, believes that religion can have an impact on a person’s health. He sees a direct correlation between belief and happiness, productivity, and mood. For religious believers, it appears that a higher being is ingrained in their minds and eases the challenges in dealing with times of despair, disappointment, and agony. Richard Ross, University of Connecticut anthropologist, added that religion also has social benefits. It unites people and encourages them to work together and share. It provides them with a strong support system that enables them to face adversity together as a group.

Having said that, is the idea of people being happier simply due to their faith really plausible? In a Christian Science Monitor article, What place for God in Europe, it noted that a large number of Europeans are secular, and that is only increasing. According to a recent European Values Study, 21 percent of Europeans note that religion is “very important” to them. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public life found that 59 percent of Americans refer to their religion in the same manner. That is twice the number indicated in the European study. According to Wilson’s claim, one could conclude that Americans should be much happier than their European counterparts.

Organized beliefs and practices seem to provide people with a peace of mind. When a person prays for resolution to a problem, it can seem as though their burden has been transferred to a higher power. The “let go and let God” approach can ease worries, but does not stop them completely. Looking to a source outside oneself can also help feelings of loneliness subside.

When examining the fellowship aspect of Ross’ argument, it makes sense. However, a person can receive the same type of unity from one’s own personal network of friends, both social and professional. One can find similar comfort and trust in groups that are not within the same denomination or even the slightest bit religious at all.

I agree that religion does provide for a sense of inner-peace and happiness, but I don’t think more religious populations are automatically “happier” than less religious ones. There are many other factors that contribute to a person’s happiness.

Last week’s Virginia Tech massacre hit home with me since my brother is a student there. I was glued to the TV, and read almost every article I could get my hands on to learn more about what occurred on that bloody Monday. Claimed as the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, many asked why the shooter, Seung-Hui Cho, wasn’t referred to as a “terrorist” but a “mass murder.” He killed 32 people and wounded 29 others before he took his own life. I have heard many claims that if Cho was an Arab or a Muslim, he would have definitely been labeled a “terrorist.” Is that the case?

According to terrorism expert, A.P Schmid, terrorism is “an anxiety-inspiring method of repeated violent action, employed by (semi-) clandestine individual, group or state actors, for idiosyncratic, criminal or political reasons, whereby “in contrast to assassination” the direct targets of violence are not the main targets. The immediate human victims of violence are generally chosen randomly (targets of opportunity) or selectively (representative or symbolic targets) from a target population, and serve as message generators. Threat- and violence-based communication processes between terrorist (organization), (imperilled) victims, and main targets are used to manipulate the main target (audience(s)), turning it into a target of terror, a target of demands, or a target of attention, depending on whether intimidation, coercion, or propaganda is primarily sought.”

Although Cho’s actions did cause a lot of “anxiety” due to the death and injury of several innocent students, this was his first overt attempt at inflicting pain, suffering, and death upon others. Cho was not “employed” or led by anybody. His own pain and mental illness drove him to believe that his actions will make him a martyr for the unprivileged, pure and wholesome. Police officials speculate that his “criminal” actions where not politically-driven or religiously-oriented, they were a rebellious act against all those who have hurt him throughout his life.

It is very evident that Cho’s attack was deliberate and planned. Between the two attacks, Cho sent a package to NBC containing a DVD with 27 video clips, 43 still pictures with captions, one audio clip and a multi-page typewritten manifesto. This was his way of sending his message to the masses. Although the attacks were exclusively in West Ambler Johnston Hall and Norris Hall, the barrels of his guns did not discriminate when it came to taking lives. Round after round, innocent students fell to the ground leaving behind families, friends and what may have been.

The last sentence of the definition of terrorism doesn’t really apply to Cho as he did not have “threat or violent based communication” with his victims. In fact, one of Cho’s main attributes was how quiet, withdrawn, and unresponsive he was to others. Many speculate that Cho didn’t have an agenda in his attacks, he was just a bitter and disturbed person who wanted to retaliate.

After breaking down the definition, Cho only enacted elements of terrorism. He did not fulfill the descriptions of a true terrorist. Timothy McVeigh? terrorist. Osama Bin Laden? terrorist. Seung-Hui Cho? mass murderer.

My brother, Abdel Hamid Abeidoh, is a mechanical engineering senior at Virginia Tech. The following is what he wrote regarding his experiences, thoughts and feelings about the massacre.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

On Monday the 16th of 2007, a terrible tragedy struck the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. I was ready for school and waiting for the bus when it didn’t arrive, I turned around and went back home to wait for the next bus when I briefly checked my e-mail.

“A gunman is loose on campus. Stay in buildings until further notice. Stay away from all windows’ Arrived at 9:50 AM.

At this point, I was astonished, but not shocked. During the previous year, an escaped inmate had killed a police officer and was rouge on the Campus. The campus was closed down until he was caught.

As I sat down and had breakfast, a second e-mail came:

“Virginia Tech has canceled all classes. Those on campus are asked to remain where there are, lock their doors and stay away from windows. Persons off campus are asked not to come to campus.”

Then a third

“In addition to an earlier shooting today in West Ambler Johnston, there has been a multiple shooting with multiple victims in Norris Hall.

Police and EMS are on the scene.

Police have one shooter in custody and as part of routine police procedure, they continue to search for a second shooter.

All people in university buildings are required to stay inside until further notice.

All entrances to campus are closed.”

Then a fourth.

“Shooting at Virginia Tech / Statement by President Charles W. Steger

The university was struck today with a tragedy of monumental proportions. There were two shootings on campus. In each case, there were fatalities. The university is shocked and horrified that this would befall our campus. I want to extend my deepest, sincerest and most profound sympathies to the families of these victims which include students There are 22 confirmed deaths.”

Whilst the emails were flooding my inbox, I was informed that CNN had coverage of the issue and were giving updates. I turned the news on and then it suddenly hit me. I was looking at a building I visit multiple times a week, hearing gunshots and seeing students run for their lives. The mechanical engineering department in Randolph Hall is a building I spend much of my time in. It is 20 meters away, directly facing Norris hall. I was shocked and concerned, very concerned.

I am no stranger to violence, especially senseless violence. I am from the Middle East, specifically, a war torn region where daily there are multiple deaths and symbols of aggression. I have been around men with guns, men that stared down at me with hate. I am no stranger to violence.

However, I was half way around the world from that image; I was in the peaceful and beautiful little town of Blacksburg. For something like this to happen here, it scares me. I lower my head in humiliation as my faith in humanity decreases yet again; the ball in my throat grows with every increasing death toll.

Something like this should not happen in a place like this. People come here to nurture their minds, to expand their knowledge, to feed their interests. It is a place of honor, of academia. This is not a battlefield; there are no religious or racial divides here, physical or emotional. This is a place where logical thought processes define our success, where diplomacy and debate deal with controversial issues.

Regardless, I saw my friends break down, crying and grieving. I tried to help them, I tried to explain to them that grieving is a difficult and long process. I attempted to justify the events through social problems, through mental issues, through cultural shock. I couldn’t really, what happened here is insanity. It was a collide of so many negative events in the murderer’s life that trying to explain them to myself made me only sick.

A few days later, I was riding my bicycle with my friends when we decided to ride through campus. I approached the drill field and saw flowers, candles, memorials, notes, people crying, police everywhere and finally, I saw Norris Hall. That’s when the tragedy of what happened finally sunk in.

During the days, I received e-mails, phone calls and text messages from people I haven’t heard from in over 12 years. My family was very concerned, my friends were worried. All I could do was constantly remind them that I was OK. The fear in their hearts only helped try to make me afraid. I was fine, I was lucky. I am alive. The sense of concern somehow reached the Jordanian Embassy, evident by the phone call I received Tuesday afternoon. Previously, my attitude was that of shocked but stable. It was the events effect on the people around me that took the biggest toll on me.

Maybe I am desensitized by the war that plagues this world, or by the inhumanity I see on the news every day, or by the hate, racism and prejudice I sometimes witness, quite likely by the sense of corporate greed that somehow managed to put a price on human life. I question all of it, and luckily I was in the only place where that answer could be found. The Virginia Tech community is one of academic excellence, one of friendship, one of humanity. The people here are capable of forgiveness, of understanding. If education and understanding were the secret to a peaceful and loving world, my experience here at Virginia Tech only reinforces the hope I have for the future of this planet.

In brief:

Life is precious, and valuable. I am shocked that a massacre can happen in such a beautiful and wonderful place, yet part of me understands that violence can happen anywhere. I am sad for the people who suffered from this tragedy, yet I am strong because I can see people around me question the circumstances that caused this murderer to become a murderer. I hear from people the following words: It is insane how a little town in Blacksburg where 32 people were murdered can get more media attention than the 200+ who died in Iraq the following day.

In Blacksburg, we had one man go insane and forget the value of human life. In Iraq we have tens of thousands of men that believe that a human life has a price, and it varies based on religion, ethnic origin or the language they speak. Why is there a difference between the value for life in Iraq, and the value of life in Blacksburg?

I only hope that the men and women at Virginia Tech see this as tragic event as a reason to purge hate and discrimination from the world.

Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, has opted against firing two of his campaign bloggers who criticized the Catholic Church in their personal blogs. This decision has faced much opposition from the Catholic League, which is 350,000 members deep. Although the bloggers in question, Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan issued individual apologies, the league is still unsatisfied.

According to Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, the bloggers lambasted the church’s stance on homosexuality, and abortion and contraception, occasionally using profanities. Donohue’s main issue was that these bloggers didn’t simply offer criticism, they were disrespectful about it. Edwards apologized for the content in their blogs. He also said, “Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but that kind of intolerant language will not be permitted from anyone on my campaign, whether it’s intended as satire, humor or anything else.”

It is important to note that Donohue isn’t saying the women aren’t entitled to their First Amendment rights of free speech. What he is contending is that as a Catholic, Edwards shouldn’t have these women working for him. To illustrate an example, my friend, Terah noted, ‘As a black person, how can I stand up there and say that I represent black people when I have someone on my campaign keeping a racist blog?”

It is understandable that presidential candidates have to be extremely careful in how they represent themselves to the public. Having employees criticize Catholicism might weaken Edwards’ appearance as a devout and religious man. However, Edwards effectively played the middle by keeping these women in his campaign, but condemning their actions.