Letter to the Editor

Logic vs. emotion

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Dear Editor,

There are basically two methods by which people may deal with the challenges that life puts before them: logically, or emotionally.

For the emotional types, the appropriate response to a situation like the Virginia Tech massacre is a moment of silence, candlelight vigils, and the wearing of ribbons and school colors. It allows them to FEEL better about the situation, and hopefully to soothe the hearts of others.

For the logical types, the appropriate response is to examine what might be done to prevent or deter recurrences, and then to act upon the findings of that examination. This allows them to DO something (albeit no less vicariously) about the situation, and hopefully to stimulate the minds of others.

The superiority or inferiority of either mindset is wholly subjective and situation-driven. To illustrate this, imagine a purely logical nurse or a purely emotional engineer. Neither would be or could be effective.

I wasn't there, Mr. Hendricks, at Virginia Tech last Monday morning, to stand for those victims in the manner that would matter to me, as you are now doing in the manner which matters to you. My way of dealing with the loss is to stand for those who yet remain vulnerable, in the hope that there need be no MORE candlelight vigils, moments of silence, or the wearing of yet another set of colors.

Owen J. McPhillips

McCook

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