Recently a Sky News report stated that “More details are emerging about Cho Seung-Hui, the student who shot dead 32 people at Virginia Tech university in America.” In a letter found in his dormitory he criticizes what he calls the rich kids on campus and goes on to say, “you caused me to do this.” It also complained about “debauchery” and “deceitful charlatans.”
In an editorial, dated September 10, 2004 (Update #160), I wrote about an attitude which often surfaces, denying personal responsibility by saying, “It’s Not My Fault.” Again, this “no fault” approach reared its very ugly head when a mass murderer blamed his innocent victims for his terrible and insane crimes.
In his letter, the mentally disturbed perpetrator of this dreadful crime complained about “debauchery” and “deceitful charlatans.” It appears very likely that he was influenced by demonic forces, if not possessed. And even though the mass murderer was the child of immigrants from South Korea, he seemed to have been fully integrated into Western society. However, the terrible and inexcusable madness of the crime prompted me to think about the issue of immigration in general.
When students from a different culture move to a new country which has different ideals, beliefs, concepts and way of life, it can be a serious problem. The same applies when immigrants pursue residency in a new country which, again, may have a totally alien way of life to that which they have been accustomed to all of their previous life. Some may integrate and accept the old premise of “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Others may find it hard, if not impossible, to assimilate into their new surroundings and hold on to their old way of life and its values, which are sacrosanct to them–and that is when real problems can emerge.
Debate can rage about allowing immigrants–especially those from Third World countries–into a different “Christian” country, but what example do they find when they enter the UK, USA, Canada and many other western nations? They are confronted with easily accessible pornography, licentious life styles, blasphemy and foul language as the norm, entertainment of the worst kind, loutish and threatening behavior to older and more vulnerable people (and to many others), lying, stealing and cheating – and so much more. Galatians 5:19-21 lists the works of the flesh which are evident, on a daily basis, in our towns and cities up and down the land. Those from cultures that are much more “conservative” have a hard time coming to terms with such “liberality.”
We can be very quick to jump on the accusatory bandwagon, but, without excusing any wrong behavior whatsoever, including the senseless killing of innocent people, we do nothing to assist people’s “righteous indignation” when our “Christian” nations provide a backdrop and environment with inherently wrong values in society “as the norm” in the first place.
As we have said so many times over the years–and it is certainly not over-emphasized by repetition–only the righteous rule of Jesus Christ at His return, together with the banishment of Satan, will provide the right environment for correct behavior – behavior that will ensure that the terrible demonically-inspired events at Virginia Tech University will not be repeated, nor the godless life style of liberal nations. But until that day, unfortunately, we will see more of the same.
