COLUMBINE MASSACRE, 1999
Just when you think it couldn't get any worse. Today's crime of the century is another horrific nightmare. And if any of you have ever watched the movie, "We Need To Talk About Kevin," you would understand where I'm coming from. Most of you reading this probably recall the incident, because it was only 14 years ago. What is so sad about this whole thing is that the massacres continue until this day. Need I remind you of Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook? And there's countless others I'm sure. But its just people killing people, not guns killing people, right? I think both issues need to be addressed, not just one.
While the article by TIME (below) gives insight into the crime, you can also go here to read the drama as it unfolded on that terrible day in 1999.
***
School shootings were already a problem before April 20, 1999. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris knew that theirs had to stand out. So they planned to make every previous incident look podunk, and they videotaped their boast so the world would know what they had set out to do. And so they turned Columbine High School into an abattoir: murdering 12 schoolmates and a teacher, wounding 24 other people and then, finally, killing themselves in a drama seen live on television. It was not quite the 250 they had hoped to kill, but it was enough to make the incident the worst school shooting in American history. This sudden eruption of violence in the middle of one of the most solidly upper middle class communities in America set off months of soul searching. Parents and school officials discussed the prevalence of violent music and video games; a similar concern arose over school sociology -- bullies, outsiders and teen goth culture. Parents asked: what are the warning signs that our children are turning out to be their own enemies? On their tapes, Klebold and Harris talk about anger management but not the expected kind. Rather, they were learning to ratchet up their anger and yet keep it secret from everyone else -- until the day they had to turn it on full blast.
***
TIME Magazine posted this article online several years ago, along with a list of 24 additional notorious crimes that I have been posting and will continue to post every Saturday on my blog. Hope you enjoy.
***
To read the previous 21 crimes - click my logo below.
1 comment:
I remember when this happened and it was unheard of and nearly unthinkable that it could occur. Now it's almost a common event in this country, it's so sad. When will these idiots learn that their ignorant fear and stubbornness is getting people killed.
Post a Comment