I have been reading Bryce’s Journal. For those who don’t know of Bryce Carter, he is a Virginia Tech student who live-blogged the events of that horrible day when Cho Seung-Hui opened fire on campus. I’m saddened for Bryce and the many others affected by the massacre, and saddened for those accusing him of exploitation.
   Bloggers want and choose to share, for the most part. That is all. I think some are envious of Bryce for the media attention he gained by being on campus during the shooting. It’s worth quoting his words (original emphasis):

I want to declare that I am offended that people are allowing this to become a political debate. People are dead. My friends could be dead. Forget bickering about trivia. Now is not the time or the place. It is the media’s job to report to the public these stories. Take it as you wish. I’m not the media. I’m just me.

   Most bloggers hear you, Bryce. We know what it is like to want to share, and then have some get the wrong end of the stick. Blogging is seldom about ego or offence, but a plain desire to tell a personal story. It is human to wish to share—one would have thought more would understand.
   And since the wounds of April 16 have not yet healed for most of us, it’s worthwhile reading Bryce’s words. I’m reminded of events such as July 7 and 9-11, and how mass murders will keep creeping up in the news till we, as a people, change how we behave.
   The comments to my Va. Tech post make interesting reading, especially the third one by X: THC. As Bryce records at his blog, there is a lot of emotion now among the Hokies, and among Americans in general. People are reaching out to one another. The worst imaginable tragedy at the polytechnic has given way to some of the best, most generous human traits.
   The trick is to keep our caring nature going. A friend of mine was a waiter and noted how people were nice to him for a fortnight after 9-11. After that, his customers became bastards again.
   I hope this does not recur. We need to change how we are—and this massacre reminds us of how we let one of our own fellow human beings commit such unspeakable acts. Posted by Jack Yan, 08:13  permalink

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