Thread: In a fog after a tragedy - Navarrette

In a fog after a tragedy

By Ruben Navarrette
2:00 a.m. April 8, 2009

Last week's tragedy at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, N.Y., shows us that evildoers can inflict a lot of damage on those trying to do the right thing. It also shows that many Americans are quick to try to use incidents like this to further their own agendas.

A gunman barricaded the back door of the center, which helps newcomers learn English and assimilate into society. Armed with handguns and wearing body armor, he killed 11 immigrants who were taking a citizenship class, along with a receptionist and a teacher. Four others were wounded. Then the assailant took his own life.

Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz told CBS News that Americans have become desensitized and immune to massacres because – after Columbine, Virginia Tech and other tragedies – we pretty much know what the story is about.

Not really. The truth is, we have only the foggiest idea what this story is about. Police are still trying to piece together a motive.

Of course, the fog didn't prevent people from speculating. Predictably, some were quick to make this story about gun control. And a day after the Binghamton shooting, three Pittsburgh police officers were slain by a man reportedly afraid of a potential gun ban.

But in Binghamton, however, the issue may not be about gun control. There was no unregistered assault weapon used, as has often been the case in other such shootings. Instead, the assailant had two registered handguns along with a hunting knife. Both firearms were listed on a gun permit obtained more than 10 years ago, according to Police Chief Joseph Zikuski.

Since the gunman had written a letter to a New York television station alleging harassment by police, others see this as a story about paranoia and mental illness. That may be true, but there seems to be more here than a mental breakdown.

Meanwhile, perhaps because I'm often exposed to anti-immigrant rhetoric, I naturally assumed that this was yet another “hate crimeâ€

I disagree. One of the things that makes this country great is that it keeps handholding to a minimum. Immigrants sink or swim, and that's not all bad. Living in this country, they are going to learn about excuses and entitlements soon enough. Let's not snuff out the courage, initiative and self-reliance that immigrants bring with them. Some will sink. But most will swim.

I agree to a certain extent. However, the US should not be a proving ground for these immigrants, whereby their outright or self-perceived failure ( or sinking as Ruben puts it), results in the death of innocent Americans, or in this case, those seeking to legally become Americans.

Perhaps it's high time the US re-evaluated the safe guards, if any, on how we determine who, how, and how many we allow into this country legally every year.

They also said that Wong felt people looked down on him because of his poor English skills.

He felt.....not necessarily that he was. It's tragic to loose your job in this country now and when you aren't having any luck, it's pretty much normal to blame it on something.....not the right color, too old, too young, not enough education, and why not add English to mix.....maybe it's because his English was passable, but he didn't speak Spanish....lord knows enough American citizens are turned away who don't.

[quote] I naturally assumed that this was yet another “hate crimeâ€