Enshrining Columbine
Every so often something comes along that just sends me through the roof. The most recent example of this was in the news today, when they said that the person responsible for a school shooting in December got his inspiration from the Columbine shootings of last year. And there are things to get inspiration from in that whole mess. Look at the nearly-endless press coverage. Look at all of the leaks from the local authorities and look at where the information and pictures of those leaks end up...on the national news. The killers at Columbine have become symbols, martyrs for young people who feel they are on the outside of teen society looking in. If the situation can't be rectified to their satisfaction, well, there's always that "final solution". Let me give you my opinion on all of this, after all, that's why you clicked on the link to this editorial, but before I do so, let me make it crystal clear exactly what these people who say to themselves "I want to do it just like Columbine" are actually thinking about. When you think about what happened at Columbine, what any sane individual would come away thinking is, "What an incredible cop-out." After all, look what happened. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked into school, execute between 15 and 20 unarmed schoolmates, and then they take their own lives. I may be 32 years old, but even when I was a teen, one of the worst things that could happen is that you could be seen as someone who copped-out. I doubt this has changed, and in some cases, this is a good thing. Here's the hard advice. If you are a young "rebel", or if you are on the outside looking in and you are comtemplating that big bold statement that will blaze your name into the national consciousness for years, just remember...it's a cop-out, and you are not only foolish, but you are as Papa Titus likes to say, "a wussy". However, if you decide that yes, the Columbine Method is how you want to exit this world, I doubt I or anyone else can stop you. But before you make that decision to carry out your vengeance on the world, let me make a small suggestion. First, realize two things. One: You need serious professional help. If you have the guts to seek out that help, do so. If the help doesn't work, you can always pick up the gun during the next school year. I'm sure your life of pure Hell won't change by then, especially if you don't make the effort to give it a chance. The next thing: Harris and Klebold had the whole operation wrong. If you want to go out in a blaze of glory, if you decide that professional help simply isn't going to work, if you've given up on this world, and this life, here's what you do. You simply turn the barrel of the gun to yourself, put the business end in your mouth, and pull the trigger. As Denis Leary said, "Make sure you get your whole head in front of the barrel." Because that was the end step in the master plan that the diabolic duo of Columbine came up with. In the end, it was a plan by two wussy loser cop-outs who couldn't hack being in the world they were in. I hope that if you are considering suicide or something akin to Columbine that you stop and reconsider. And perhaps you should consider the following: I don't know you right now. If you happen to live in the Rocky Mountain region, there is a chance we may meet. If you live in Wyoming, there is a greater chance, and if you live in Casper, we may have seen each other. There is the possibility that we have had a face-to-face talk. However, I don't have to know you to see potential in each and every one of you. Even those people that don't get along with me. I figure once they, and once you grow up, you will find something that interests you and you'll make a career of it. And I think you'll succeed. When I look at teens today, I don't see a single failure. Why? Because you all have untapped potential. Because you haven't failed yet. If you do, you'll be the first to know, but then the idea is to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go again! And you know what? I'll be out here in Internet-land rooting for you, backing you all the way. And I may not even know you. But I have faith, and I expect that you are bright individuals who will succeed. Don't prove me wrong. Don't be Eric Harris. Don't be Dylan Klebold. Do NOT cop-out. I probably have offended people with some of my comments, and this time, I make no apologies. I am angry at Columbine, and at the non-stop coverage that the press have given the deeds of two losers. I am also necrophobic, afraid of death. So, doing something that has the effect that you check out, to me, is the height of stupidity. Artemis (comments welcome - please email me at lunahq7@yahoo.com and I will post your comments here as well.)
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