Mississippi State University students will never forget August 27, 2015, when reports of a shooter shocked the campus into a widespread panic. Though the reported shooting turned out to be false, everyone remembers the fear they experienced, and we had every right to be frightened and shaken up. That day, we were grateful for our friends, we called our family, and we learned how much our school and student body meant to us.
The "shooter," who was actually unarmed, is Fhu-Qui "Bill" Nguyen. He was a freshman computer engineering student, and he graduated high school from Madison Central. On August 27, Nguyen was suicidal, and he made a phone call that caused concern for the safety of Mississippi State students. University spokesman Sid Salter told reporters, "As an institution, we're always going to err on the side of caution." After his arrest, Nguyen withdrew from the school and checked into psychiatric care for his suicidal thoughts. As a result, Nguyen's name is now synonymous with the emotions of fear and hatred.
Mississippi State University recently agreed to allow Nguyen to return to school in the spring. Since the news of his return was released, students have been sharing their concerns. People are apprehensive, and rightfully so, especially after the news of Delta State's shooting.
However, I urge the students of Mississippi State University to show kindness and forgiveness to Bill Nguyen.
Colossians 3:12-13 says, "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."
Responding to hatred and violence with more hatred and violence only fuels the problem. We must show compassion and empathy, and we must never cast out another human being as an "other." Anyone that is "different" is still a person. They are us and we are them. We cannot understand what Nguyen was thinking or going through, but we can help to ensure that neither he nor anyone else ever feels bullied or looked down upon.
"It's not our job to play judge and jury, to determine who is worthy of our kindness and who is not. We just need to be kind, unconditionally and without ulterior motive, even—or rather, especially—when we'd prefer not to be." -Josh Radnor
If you see Nguyen on campus next semester, I hope you'll flash him a smile rather than a look of hatred or even fear. A small bit of compassion can make the biggest difference.
