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April 17, 2007
'You never know what to expect out of people in situations like this'
The Virginia Tech massacre is not a tragedy. "Tragedy" is a twister wiping out a town. "Tragedy" is an earthquake, a hurricane, a car accident.
This was an act of unspeakable evil.
And sometimes, those that have experienced such evil, know how to react when confronted with it again.
Such a person became a hero on Monday, Liviu Librescu.
Caroline Merrey is one of the students who jumped.While the focus over the next several days will be to dissecting the personality of the murderer, his motives, his thoughts; accompanied by the cacophony of voices placing blame on guns and "American gun culture" (mostly in an self-serving effort not to examine their own failings), my hope is that stories of heroism such as Librescu's is not lost.It was a frightening whirlwind. An average Monday in professor Liviu Librescu’s solid mechanics class that in a blink turned from reviewing homework to the unmistakable pop of gunshots outside her Norris Hall classroom.
In the flurry of students dialing 911 on cell phones, taking cover on the floor and twisting open second story windows to escape, Merrey, 22, glanced over her shoulder before jumping.
“I just remember looking back and seeing him at the door,” the Virginia Tech senior recalled of her professor. “I don’t think I would be here if it wasn’t for him.”
By Tuesday morning, newspapers from Washington, D.C., to Jerusalem shared the story of how Librescu — a 76 year-old Holocaust survivor — blocked his classroom doorway from a gunman while his students leapt to freedom.
“It wouldn’t amaze me he would do such a thing,” fellow engineering professor Muhammad Hajj said. “He’s that kind of person, willing to take care of others, protect others.”
There are too few stories like his. "Heroism" isn't that popular, concepts of "good" and "evil" give way to "healthy" and "unhealthy". As our culture has become more Euro-phied, we have gone out of our way to teach our children to rely, not on themselves, but on government (or its agents) to take care of every need.
Including self-defense.
Liviu Librescu lived through an era of great evil as a youngster. I suspect such clear knowledge gave him a point of reference, a split second of recognition and a sure decision to act, rather than passing the responsibility off.
May his family find peace and may we all honor such a fine human being.
Update Wild Thing has more.
Technorati: Liviu Librescu, Heros, Virginia Tech,
Posted by Darleen at April 17, 2007 08:13 PM
Comments
The man was clearly mad.
A combination of madness and the easy availability of guns (especially in those worthless southern states) sure doesn't help much.
Posted by: Carl W. Goss at April 18, 2007 08:51 AM
"Liviu Librescu lived through an era of great evil as a youngster. I suspect such clear knowledge gave him a point of reference, a split second of recognition and a sure decision to act, rather than passing the responsibility off."
I'd imagine that's right. What I'm having trouble wrapping my head around is a guy who survived Hitler, but lost his life to a deranged, cowardly punk.
Professor Librescu was a giant among lesser men.
Posted by: Pablo at April 18, 2007 05:08 PM
Darleen
Thank you for bringing attention to a true hero amidst this evil. Liviu Librescu is a hero.
Posted by: Hugh at April 18, 2007 05:24 PM
The sad haunted face of Librescu comes out in his photographs.
To die in such a way.....
Your mind turns away from it.
Posted by: Carl W. Goss at April 19, 2007 12:03 PM
To die in such a way.....
Your mind turns away from it.
His didn't. There lies the difference.
Posted by: Pablo at April 19, 2007 02:13 PM