Centerfield

A Reminder as Coda to the Virginia Tech Massacre

In the wake of the tragic execution of innocents at Virginia Tech by a deranged loner, John Silber reminds us of certain realities that need some form of accepting in a free world. Sometimes we forget that tragedy is inevitable:

AMERICANS BELIEVE that for every problem there is a solution. If we think and work hard enough, we believe we can solve every problem. Of course, we also live with the obdurate presence of contingency and uncertainty. We know that too, for we believe in Murphy's Law.

But we rarely confront the absurdity of believing both. While the solution mystique is only an act of faith, contingency is a fact we prefer to deny....

...We cannot eliminate contingency from life. If we turn society into an armed camp and universities into virtual prisons, there will still be risks. Yes, we should repeal the Buckley Amendment. We should permit persons who are seriously mentally ill to be confined without requiring ironclad proof that they pose an immediate danger. We should restrict the sale of firearms, to the extent possible, to criminals and the mentally ill. But no matter how many laws are passed, they will never remove all contingency from life. Our peace of mind will not be attained by belief in the solution mystique but by having the courage to accept contingency and tragic loss as an unavoidable aspect of human existence.

Be sure to scarf and digest the entire enchilada, amigos.