Tapsearch Com EditorReal War Game
October 2nd 2010 23:24
By Thomas Palaima - Professor at University of Texas
about the shooting at Texas University - his account.....
Why ?
Just before 8 a.m. Tuesday, I parked on 21st
Street near the northeast corner of the Jester
dormitory and walked with a few students, faculty
and staff past the Perry-Castaņeda Library on the
University of Texas campus and toward Waggener
Hall, two buildings to the north. As Walter
Cronkite used to say, "It was a day like all
days." I delighted in the cool air, the beauty of
the overarching trees, and the sight of students
starting their days on campus.
Our normal day disappeared around 8:30. Sirens
sounded and news reached us that a gunman was
near or in the library. Violence had come into
the heart of our campus. The outcome could have
been much worse, no matter how quickly our law
enforcement officials responded.
I was listening to a superb graduate student at a
formal doctoral defense in the small Classics
seminar lounge in Waggener. We were told to stay
in the rooms we were in.
A calculus class was quickly herded in because
their classroom had big glass windows. Since I
teach seminars on war and violence and study
cases like the Virginia Tech shooting, I noticed
certain behaviors.
We learned that a gunman with an AK-47 had run
past students heading toward the PCL. He had
fired shots, but for some unknown reasons not at
them. It was soon reported that the gunman had
shot himself inside the library, but that police
were searching for a second suspect in nearby
buildings.
The students in the classroom settled into a
serious calm. Looking at them, I saw what I
should see more often: how they are in the
literal flowering of their youth and full of
magnificent human energy and vitality of mind,
soul and body. Most of them are also truly
innocent, untouched by the smallest intimation of
death.
Much later, some of us ventured out into the
halls toward the restrooms. A group of law
enforcement officers with heavy protective body
armor came through sweeping the building. They
ordered us to raise our arms and proceed back to
a classroom.
That lasted no more than 90 seconds, but it was
enough to distress one student who was seized
with uncontrollable fits of sobbing. An officer
tried to calm and comfort her and led her away
for medical treatment. The picture of her frail,
trembling form alongside his intimidating mass of
uniformed gear and helmet and his ultra-modern
weapon will stay with me. His overwhelming
concern that she get help and be protected will
stay with me also.
Later, we watched on the classroom audiovisual
screen as UT President William Powers Jr. and
Austin Mayor Lee Lefffingwell congratulated the
Austin and Travis County police and sheriff's
departments for their rapid and efficient
response. And indeed I found myself, finally
cleared to walk toward my car a bit past noon,
thanking every law enforcement officer I passed
for keeping us safe.
I also wondered what kind of society would permit
this to happen to the treasured children they
carefully nurtured for 18 years. Why is an AK-47
- or any gun for that matter - legal to buy and
use? The only reason UT was not another Virginia
Tech is that the gunman chose not to make it so.
The fastest response team in the world could have
done nothing about the first shots that were
fired with students, faculty and staff nearby. He
could have fired at people at will at any time.
We are in the odd position then of thanking the
law enforcement officials for their bravery and
remarkable response but also thanking a clearly
disturbed person for not making us pay a horrible
price for the gun laws that prevail in our
country.
Palaima is a classics professor at the University
of Texas; tpalaima@sbcglobal.net.
Share this article
Our main Ray Tapajna Chronicles sites are at Squid.me/R
Open Master Link to thousands of Tapsearch Com resources at Squid.me/q
about the shooting at Texas University - his account.....
Why ?
Just before 8 a.m. Tuesday, I parked on 21st
Street near the northeast corner of the Jester
dormitory and walked with a few students, faculty
and staff past the Perry-Castaņeda Library on the
University of Texas campus and toward Waggener
Hall, two buildings to the north. As Walter
Cronkite used to say, "It was a day like all
days." I delighted in the cool air, the beauty of
the overarching trees, and the sight of students
starting their days on campus.
Our normal day disappeared around 8:30. Sirens
sounded and news reached us that a gunman was
near or in the library. Violence had come into
the heart of our campus. The outcome could have
been much worse, no matter how quickly our law
enforcement officials responded.
I was listening to a superb graduate student at a
formal doctoral defense in the small Classics
seminar lounge in Waggener. We were told to stay
in the rooms we were in.
A calculus class was quickly herded in because
their classroom had big glass windows. Since I
teach seminars on war and violence and study
cases like the Virginia Tech shooting, I noticed
certain behaviors.
We learned that a gunman with an AK-47 had run
past students heading toward the PCL. He had
fired shots, but for some unknown reasons not at
them. It was soon reported that the gunman had
shot himself inside the library, but that police
were searching for a second suspect in nearby
buildings.
The students in the classroom settled into a
serious calm. Looking at them, I saw what I
should see more often: how they are in the
literal flowering of their youth and full of
magnificent human energy and vitality of mind,
soul and body. Most of them are also truly
innocent, untouched by the smallest intimation of
death.
Much later, some of us ventured out into the
halls toward the restrooms. A group of law
enforcement officers with heavy protective body
armor came through sweeping the building. They
ordered us to raise our arms and proceed back to
a classroom.
That lasted no more than 90 seconds, but it was
enough to distress one student who was seized
with uncontrollable fits of sobbing. An officer
tried to calm and comfort her and led her away
for medical treatment. The picture of her frail,
trembling form alongside his intimidating mass of
uniformed gear and helmet and his ultra-modern
weapon will stay with me. His overwhelming
concern that she get help and be protected will
stay with me also.
Later, we watched on the classroom audiovisual
screen as UT President William Powers Jr. and
Austin Mayor Lee Lefffingwell congratulated the
Austin and Travis County police and sheriff's
departments for their rapid and efficient
response. And indeed I found myself, finally
cleared to walk toward my car a bit past noon,
thanking every law enforcement officer I passed
for keeping us safe.
I also wondered what kind of society would permit
this to happen to the treasured children they
carefully nurtured for 18 years. Why is an AK-47
- or any gun for that matter - legal to buy and
use? The only reason UT was not another Virginia
Tech is that the gunman chose not to make it so.
The fastest response team in the world could have
done nothing about the first shots that were
fired with students, faculty and staff nearby. He
could have fired at people at will at any time.
We are in the odd position then of thanking the
law enforcement officials for their bravery and
remarkable response but also thanking a clearly
disturbed person for not making us pay a horrible
price for the gun laws that prevail in our
country.
Palaima is a classics professor at the University
of Texas; tpalaima@sbcglobal.net.
Share this article
Our main Ray Tapajna Chronicles sites are at Squid.me/R
Open Master Link to thousands of Tapsearch Com resources at Squid.me/q
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