Corrections

The Garden Island corrects errors of fact in news stories. If you notice an error, please contact us at one of the numbers listed below. The following letter is being re-run in its entirety.

Surfacing violence

After the recent devastating loss experienced at Virginia Tech, many questions have surfaced about safety, violence, mental health and gun control. We at the YWCA of Kaua‘i have had opportunities to examine the complexities of these issues in the context of our work in the areas of domestic and sexual violence amidst the influences of race, ethnicity, class and culture.

What we experience is that powerlessness, bullying, insensitivity to race, culture and class dynamics, stereotyping, isolation, one’s self perception or self esteem mixed with unstable mental health may sometimes create a dangerous consequence that can be difficult to detect. However, our society is learning that a cry for help coming from anyone, a woman, a child, a young person, a man, must be taken seriously and resolved.

And so we suffer with all the victims, the perpetrator, their families and the communities traumatized by this along with all the young people made to fear for their safety, all victims of prior gun violence and anyone who has lost another to violence of any kind.

We also all suffer with any community who may be targeted with racism because of such a tragedy or can remember being terrified by something like this.

We look forward to and work towards a future where such an act would never occur and hope you will continue to join us in our efforts for the elimination of racism and establishment of a peaceful and safe society.

Joan Luzney

Lihu‘e