Tomorrow we remember a tragedy—several tragedies truth be told. It was one year ago today that a lone gunman claimed the lives of 32 people and injured countless others before turning the gun on himself. The incident, the deadliest school shooting in United States history, took place on the campus of Virginia Tech, the university from which I obtained my undergraduate degree four months before the shootings. It is perhaps uncomfortable to remember such a tragic event, but it is fitting that we do nevertheless.
We would be wise not to remember this day in mere sentimental tones; we had enough of that kind of superficial response in the immediate aftermath of the shootings last year. We ought not to say this year (as some said last year), “Well, 32 people are now in heaven trying to explain to God what a Hokie is.” We ought not to compare this year (as some did last year) the murder of 32 students on a college campus with the killing of elephants for ivory. We also ought not to stand up this year (as many did last year) and scream out “Let’s go Hokies” at the top of our lungs.
The media loved these things last year, and they will likely love them this year too. But that really is too bad, for part of healing from a tragedy is examining the meaning of the tragedy. And examining the meaning of the tragedy necessarily requires us to stare at the truth even when it hurts. We can say that 32 people are in heaven trying to explain to God what a Hokie is, but the problem is that this is not true.
Therefore, exactly what we ought to do one year later is remember and reflect honestly and truthfully. We are no longer in the middle of events unfolding; we are looking back at things already unfolded. We have altered the look of our front-page in remembrance of a tragic day, and we will spend this day and several following days reflecting upon and discussing various truths related to this tragedy. We hope you will pause and reflect with us.
