I also strongly disagree that Cho wasn't born evil. I firmly believe that everyone is born with evil tendencies. There's no other way to explain how the world is the way it is as far as I can see. If such a nature were not innate within us at birth to some degree, the world would generally be a much better place in my mind. Though was he corrupt enough to murder thirty-two people on the day he was born? No, nobody is born in a state like that, not even Hitler. That's obvious nonsense. However, somewhere along the way I believe that Cho chose to be the person he became. While his environment influenced him to become murderer, without the possibility of evil desires in his heart those influences could not have worked. Choice and intent is the key.
Seriously, what was he trying to do? What was he ultimately accomplishing in his own mind? You want me to identify with his problems?
This young man was truly pathetic. He was a coward worthy of ridicule. Seriously, the best he could do in life is murder a room full of people and then commit suicide? I actually have more respect for a murderous dictator like Hitler if that's the case. At least Hitler lived it up and ran an entire country before killing himself. His body count was a lot more impressive as well. I guess Cho just didn't have the ambition or the brains to accomplish anything on that level though.
Was Cho a human being like you and me? Yes, obviously. Do I understand him and can I relate to his desires? Again, obviously, but it is by that very measure, the one he actually chose for himself, that I now say he was a pathetic loser. The more I try to follow his reasoning the more I hate his guts for being an absolute failure in realizing his own goals and mindset. If life is ultimately about the things he claimed to value, then his attempt to act in accordance with those principles fell laughably short. In other words, he should be mocked by his own standards.
I don't like a lot of the viewpoints we have today in our modern world. Should all violence be equally evil in our minds? Is there no such thing as justice?
If you want to truly have sympathy for Cho and mourn the good guy he could have been, then I implore you to condemn him as an evil person. Don't disrespect the God-given nobility he was born with by apologizing and making excuses for what he did. He's a human being and all human beings have the power to make choices. It is our free decisions that define who we are more than anything else! Please don't throw that truth away for our sickly, modern psychology. I'd rather be a cave man and understand what it truly means to be a man than listen to this sophisticated foolishness.
Our freedom is a frightening thing in more ways than one. It is on that basis that I feel sad for Cho and sad for the many people who died by his hand. It is also on that basis that I shudder and fear what any of us could become in the right circumstances. Cho was a twisted human being precisely because he was twisted by himself in the end. While the actions of others contribute to that fact, nobody else can ultimately be blamed for the blame that is ultimately his own. To give any degree of weight to his depressed thoughts or hopeless mindset will only allow the evil nature of this tragedy to win and multiply if you ask me. It's a sick thing and should be responded to properly.
All of that said though, I'd once again like to state that I hope Cho was mentally damaged to a degree, and to the extent that such a state contributed to his actions I cannot blame him in a moral sense. At best we can hope that people like that will be met with the love and care needed to overcome their difficulties. I totally agree with InfoDroid that people should have done more. People could have been his friend and helped him. I also agree that many people mistreated Cho during his life but at the same time I believe that they should be held accountable for their actions as well.
Otherwise, to go back to pure philosophy, I don't believe that people possess any indestructible bits of goodness. If there is anything about people that is true, we are limited in every way and cannot rely upon ourselves ultimately. Life is messy and I believe that everything about us can be corrupted. In every way we must to rely on things outside of ourselves in order to get through life. Does that then mean we can ever become totally corrupt or totally evil? No, we always have goodness that can't ever be totally compromised. But, compromise is compromise and I firmly believe some people can reach a stage where they're beyond help.
Also, I agree that the original Star Wars trilogy had a great ending with the repentance and salvation of Vader. I really liked that ending before George Lucas destroyed it. According to his own words concerning the prequels and the latest editions, Vader dies and the old (supposedly good) Anakin is resurrected. Pretty pathetic and empty now. :\