On Monsters

After the horrific events at Virginia Tech this week, Citizen Phil asks the question on his blog today, what made the Viriginia Tech murderer act as he did?

My answer is simple: No matter what the circumstances, some people are born to be monsters and most people are not. Furthermore, I believe that one's environment has little to do with it. Many of the greatest talents in history rose from humble and/or squalid beginnings, while some of the greatest monsters in history had well-to-do backgrounds. Despite the clamor from the counseling industry about how we can work with these folks, there are some people who are simply born that way, and no amount of counseling or emotional wallowing will change them.

Who can explain a mass-murderer like Josef Stalin? Or Adolf Hitler, Robert Mugabe, Saddam Hussein, Mao Tse-tung, and Charles Manson? Who can understand the Zodiac Killer or the Son of Sam? One cannot, save to say, "This person is evil." I believe that is all we can say about this monster as well. Maybe he was pushed over the edge by his failed romantic relationship, but being dumped by a woman, or even finding her with another man should not so destroy one that they start shooting at innocent people. If it does, then that person was not a normal, adjusted individual to begin with.

All we can offer our sympathy and pray for his victims. As Citizen Phil so aptly puts it in regard to the victims of this deranged murderer, "There but for the grace of God go I." Hat tip to TownHall.com.