Koreans should not feel guilty for Cho Seung-hui’s actions simply because they share his nationality or race. To feel guilty for his actions would be to accept the vicious doctrine of collectivism.
Collectivism holds that only groups truly exist, such as races, nationalities, economic classes, tribes, etc. Individuals, this view holds, are not fully real and are merely interlocked parts of the group, powerless to think and act independently.
Only groups think and act, according to collectivism. This means that an individual's actions are not his or her own, but are the actions of a group.
Collectivism is false because it is based upon a flawed view of human nature. By contrast, individualism _ the opposite of collectivism _ is true.
It recognizes that each person is, in fact, an individual and not simply a feeble part of a group. Individualism recognizes that each person has free will, his own mind and the capacity to think and act independently.
This means that each person is ultimately self-responsible and the master of his or her own destiny.
Whatever greatness or horror an individual may achieve is ultimately his doing _ and his alone. Others who by chance share his race, nationality, etc. do not deserve to take part in the credit or blame.
Individualism, therefore, demands that Cho's ghastly act belongs to Cho _ and not to Koreans.
Nick Robinson
Executive Director
Western Culture Global, Dallas, Texas