“What’s the world coming to?” This phrase is used frequently, but it seems particularly appropriate in response to the shooting deaths of at least 33 students and faculty members Monday at Virginia Tech – the largest single shooting incident in this nation’s history.

Thirty-three deaths is huge, but such numbers pale by comparison with other acts of violence taking place most every day in other countries torn by civil, political and religious conflicts. In today’s environment, human life seems to be lightly regarded.

“What is the world coming to” seems timely, appropriate and worthy of serious consideration. How long will such killing – whether on a quiet university campus, in an Iraqi business or holy place or on a London bus go – on before common sense take control. Or has it passed the place where common sense has any power or ability to alter the trend?

What can be done? Is it a lost cause?

All kinds of safety devices and screenings are employed. Radio shock jocks are gagged, gun laws are passed and profiles are checked. There are lectures about respecting diversity and church leaders calling for respect. Despite all of these and other efforts, the killing goes on. There are those who are so troubled, so angry, so sick that no security system can be devised to guarantee the safety of innocent individuals whether in a high school or university classroom, in a busy market, on an airplane or some other locale.

An alert citizenry is an essential part of any solution, but even then, there are going to be exceptions or gaps in a security system.

The ages-old question, “What is the world coming to” is likely to go unanswered. There is reason to be terribly concerned about the future and, at the same time, puzzled and frustrated at the inability to correct the dangerous drift of today’s society or alter an environment that could be influencing this slide to deadly indifference to taking human life.

This does not mean, however, that there should be any lessening of effort to hammer home common sense and be positive and optimistic about the future!