A comment from an English Major and Literate-American

As a college student, I was as stunned and saddened as everyone else when I heard about the shootings at Virginia Tech. Sadness turned to fear, however, when it was announced, over and over again in the news, that Cho Seung-hui was not only an English major, but had used an extensive vocabulary in his letters, rants and other writings. As an English major completing my Masters degree, as well as a Literate-American, I became very worried that the American people might hold the entire Literate-American community responsible for the actions of this one individual, and attempt to get some payback, particularly on Cho's fellow English Majors.

Cho, in a note the FBI found in his dorm room, railed against the affluent students of his university, accusing them of "debauchery" and calling them "deceitful charlatans." I, and many of my friends in the Literate-American community, use words and phrases like these, though the majority of the American public finds such language cumbersome, intimidating, and in some cases downright threatening and offensive. Cho's use has cast such "$20 words" into a very negative, violent light, and I fear many Americans will equate Cho's with others who use such extensive vocabulary.

I urge the American public to focus on the true issue here, gun violence, and not attempt any bigoted retribution against English Majors and their Literate-American cousins. I stand by my fellow Literate-Americans in denunciation of Cho's murderous bacchanalia, and assure the American public, as the wise minister assured Solomon, that "this too shall pass."

(posted in sympathy with the Korean-American and resident alien communities, as well as the students, staff and faculty of Virginia Tech)

Edit: Welcome, readers of classics_cat's journal. Be sure to read my entire post, as well as the commentary below, (and perhaps write me an email and try to get to know who I am) before you make a decision on my worth as a human being. For those who do not read classics_cat's journal, see some opinions on this post here.

Further edit: Once again, I've been attacked by someone in a public journal, who has subsequently taken it private where I cannot defend myself. Such is the way of LiveJournal, I suppose. I printed the journal in .pdf format before it was taken private; if anyone is interested, it can be reached here. And if anyone is interested in the actual conversation we had, please contact me outside my journal.