Shaven Head and Mourning from Cambodia to ‎Virginia Tech‎

The connection to HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION DAY and the Virginia Tech shooting massacre will be linked forever in some peoples hearts--because they will fall on the same day every year: April 16.

Fascinatingly, a Holocaust survivor was one of the heroes who died on April 16 protecting his classroom of students from death and horrors. His name was Liviu Librescu who was born in Romani but had lived in Jerusalem. As teacher myself I honor and mourn the victims. Thank God for heroes.

Even the pro-gun lobby Fox news noted that a 76-year-old professor who survived the Holocaust was shot to death while saving his students from the Virginia Tech assailant, students said.

Fox News continued that Liviu Librescu, was an internationally respected aeronautics engineer who taught at Virginia Tech for 20 years. Fox clarified that Librescu saved the lives of several students by barricading his classroom door before he was gunned down in the massacre, according to e-mail accounts sent by students to his wife.

Later, the Fox report added a comment from the man's son, Joe: "My father blocked the doorway with his body and asked the students to flee,"


In addition, according to Fox, one Virginia Tech graduate student Philip Huffstetler stated. "We should be in such great debt to his family for the rest of our lives."

SHAVEN HEAD AS SYMBOL OF MOURNING IN WAKE OF MASSACRE

On April 17th I [Kevin Anthony Stoda, the author] personnally learned via CNN News about the Virginia Tech massacre of 32 students--and others being left with physical and mental scars for life.

I was traveling to Angkor Wat in Cambodia the day those horrible events happened on Holocaust Day. I asked my tour guide whether he thought such a rampage of death by a single shooter could occur in his homeland?

Recall that just three decades ago, this Cambodian's family had been put in prison by the Khmer Rouge and that his other family members had suffered greatly in the era known around the world as THE KILLING FIELDS.

The guide shook his head--saying NO WAY. Today, in Cambodia not even the regular policemen have access to guns. In short, as Americans try to claim that this sort of violence could happen in any land--THE LAND OF THE KILLING says no way, not possible here anymore.

When will it be impossible in the USA--my homeland?

In recognition and commemoration for these 32 victims in Virginia, on that April 17, 2007 I took a vow to shave my head for 32 days--not 33 days which would include the perpetrator with or among the victims.

I've shaved my head before for mourning and commemorative dates. Sadly most of these dates come in April each year.

April 19 commemorates the WACO catastrophe, Ruby Ridge shootings, and the OKC Bombing. April 20 is both Hitler's birthday and the date of the Colombine High School shooting massacre in Colorado. For the victoms, the shaven head in concentration camps was a symbol of shame for men and women in Auschwitz and other Holocaust sites around Europe during the 1930s and 1940s.

On the other hand, besides shame mourning or atonement is another reason for shaving one's head--as the prophet Job performed in shaving his head after he lost nearly all his family members through a devil-inspired set of catastrophes in Biblical times.

Further, as with Buddhism in Camboida, a lot of religions use the shaving of one's head as a marking of a point of renewal in one's life or commitment to one's vowas to live better.

In short, shaving one's head is a commitment or recommitment to faith.

For example, Muslim males who go to Mecca for Haj (or for Omra), and they shave their heads. In turn, in both Hinduism and Buddhists--even females who become monks--shave their heads.
I wish to both mourn the senseless murders in Virginia and ask my country to consider a renewal of its heart, soul, and mind--especially concerning guns and the right to have them.

I think it is time for Americans to reconsider the American Constitution and its wording or miswording concerning possession of weapons.

In this way, the Consitution can join concerned American law enforcement officials in making the USA a safer place.

Historically, America has been far too slow to revise its consitution at many junctions in its history. It was, for example, too slow in banning slavery [ over 65 years] and even slower [taking over 130 years] to give women political voting rights.

Cognizant of these histories of shortcomings in our BELOVED CONSTITUION, I think hunting-guns should be permitted but more regulated than now. Other weapons need to be more completely and throughly regulated

Moreover, concerning the treatment of America's poor and isolated peoples , it is high time that universal health care--including MENTAL HEALTH CARE-- be made available to all citizens immediately.

There is good reason to believe that if American law enforcement officials and America's justices had overseen the mental health care of Cheong Song-Hui in the 2005-2007 period, this crazy and disturbed killer of 32 people at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg would never have committed those infamous acts or atrocities.

God help America improve in all these areas in 2007 and beyond!!!! .