April 28, 1999

Littleton

I'm writing this because it seems like everyone else is. I open my e-mail and there's some new forward or petition or protest letter proclaiming this as another sign of Doomsday as stated in the Book of Revelation (trust me, I did receive one of these). Aside from the latter, I find it interesting how much buzz there is on the Littleton Massacre. It's not only just Dateline and 60 Minute Specials that I've noticed. Several message boards I check regularly talk about the subject. A friend has even set up a petition on his website for people to take notice. Why is Littleton rattling in everyone's heads so much? It didn't seem this way with Jonesboro or Heath High School.

Maybe this is the proverbial straw. People have had enough. No matter how hard they try, they can't get the idea out of their minds. Perhaps the picture is not as cheery, for maybe just this is the aftershock of an all-out media blitz spurned on by the notion that this occurred near a major metropolitan center like Denver and not some colloquial "hick-town" in Arkansas or Kentucky. Or maybe I've just suddenly become surrounded by people who care a lot. I just don't know.

The Littleton Massacre still shocks me, but it hasn't riled or inspired me to do anything except on that first night. Almost a week afterwards, I've even begun to forget about it. Still, I know those images and stories are haunting many minds. I don't know what makes Littleton so resonant.

For those who want to know, Jeff's webpage with the petition can be found at:
http://geocities.datacellar.net/CollegePark/Classroom/3195/petpre.html
I signed the petition, though I really don't know why I did. I just can't see the importance.

NOTE: The link is no longer active.