HOKIE LAND REVISITED

It's been a couple weeks since the killings at Virgina Tech and there are several thoughts I have continuously had since the tragedy.

One: when is the United States finally going to take mental illness seriously? Too often, people with grave mental illness, which can manifest in a person's inability to cope with reality or produce violence brought on by disconnection with reality or adherence to a life lived by fantastical unreality, fall through the cracks of treatment.

Two: the Virgina Tech event also magnifies the age old debate about gun control. The shooter bought his guns and ammo with ease. The right to bare arms is a right that should be looked at immediately. Because guns exist does not mean everybody in the country should own one.

Three: The media coverage on the shootings was, of course, in today's age, over the top; symphonic soundtracks and movie style graphics included. Many interviews floated out the role of blame in the tragedy. The Va Tech administration. The Blacksburg police and sherrif's office. The truth is a small town law enforcement office did the best they could do under the circumstances. Perhaps the administration of the university could have gotten the word out to students earlier, but the truth of the matter is a killer had a gun, a mad, deluded passion and the element of surprise. There is nobody to be blame ultimately, but Seung-Hui Cho. Life is sudden, for better and for worse and many times there is no way it could have been forseen. Everybody walking the face of the earth have to deal with the truth of the fragility of existence and genuinely appreicate life itself.

Four: Seung-Hui Cho did a horrendous thing, a cowardly thing, but as we pray for his victims and there families, we should say a prayer for his family and yes, even for him. All are worthy in God's eyes; even though they may fall miles short in the eyes of their fellow human beings.

WHERE IS MR. WYATT?

"It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you..." I have to quote one of the greatest MC's of all time, Rakim, as I start this entry. Since last we talked, I've been reworking a screenplay, performing in acting showcases, watching the Virginia Tech tragedy, Democratic Presidential debate, number one; saw my Wizards swept out of the NBA playoffs and enjoyed my Bills picks of Marshawn Lynch and Paul Posluszny in the NFL draft. I also saw the article I wrote for the National Urban League's "Opportunity Journal" magazine published. In betwixt and between those events I was volunteering with "my kids" as peace 4 kids and meeting with the Los Angles Urban League's Young Professionals Public Policy Committee, of which I am a member, to plan our June event on the 10 year anniversary of Prop 209. So I've been busy indeed with business, angst and pleasure. The truth? I just haven't felt like writing.

The life of the writer is one of a blatant disregard for social connection. Sometimes the writer needs to hang, party, and bs some time away; acquiring new insights, fresh visions, and new fodder for sentences and paragraphs. Other times, the writer needs to write in a different forum and put other writing skills to use. Well, it's all here nor there at this point.

Mr. Wyatt is back. For now anyway...