Scientology and Virginia Tech

In a flash, 32 students were dead at the hands of one of their own. Like most others who saw the reports and the terrifying pictures of SWAT teams and ambulances at Virginia Tech, I was initially dumbstruck by the attrocity and violence. I took several minutes to digest what had just happened.

Then I went into action.

As a team leader for a Scientology Volunteer Minister Disaster Response team, I knew what needed to be done and how to do it. While many people bemoaned the tragedy with questions like “Why?” and “How could this happen?”, we know the answers and know what to do when tragedy strikes.

Tragedy such as Virginia Tech goes far beyond the loss of 33 lives. An overwhelming shock such as this brings about a pervasive sense of apathy and hopelessness. So many times, while on the campus with my team, I heard people say “There’s nothing that can be done about it now. What’s done is done.”

As a Scientologist, the one thing I know is this:

Something CAN be done about it.

Can we raise the dead? No. Can we turn back time and stop the shooter? No. But we can help the many thousands of people whos lives have been shattered by this catastrophe. Thirty three people died at Virginia Tech – but tens of thousands survived. It is for the survivors that we travelled almost 3,000 miles. And it is for the survivors that we do what we do.