I've never been to Jefferson County in Colorado, though one does not have to travel far outside the realm of possibility to understand unspoken law concerning the social outcast. Acne. Ill-will. Social status. Jocks. The subculture of cliques controlling all the action. Parading on Main Street, claiming territorial rights, as if by birth, based on a boyfriend or a designer pair of jeans!
The fateful morning Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold embarked on what may only be termed as the deadliest massacre for an American high school, I readied notes for my next class: Language Arts. We were to read an ancient Chinese tale about a magic cricket who, when making music, kept the evil spirits helplessly at bay. It was just after 11am April 20th, 1999. Little did anyone across the country realize what was about to take place. Regardless of specific demographics, wherever you happened to be at the time, whatever you happened to be doing, who would ever be the same? Students. Parents. Grandparents. Faculty.
Strangers from as many different backgrounds forced to face each other in the dark alley of the night.
Why had this happened?
I had been living up the street from my girlfriend who later agreed to be my wife. Later that evening in April, 1999, it must have been after ten, I sprinted 7 houses down through the vague clouds of darkness with burning tears streaming down. We sat in her bedroom, my head slumped in her lap, wondering just to what depths the human animal would descend...and for what~!
I shook and shuddered like starched linen in a twister, heaving uncontrollably. 24 injured. 15 students dead including a teacher, with millions of other lives forever changed. All in less than an hour! 11:19 am - 12:08 pm.
Now whatever your stance regarding gun control and/or video games, bullying, or medication, lets agree to just one thing: every individual deserves a fair chance in society.
If we ken agree to this we may part as friends.
"Life is a candle before the wind" -Japanese proverb
Thursday, October 1, 2009
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Holly was in 7th grade. Our youth pastor's mother was the school counselor so she would talk Holly through the day but by the time she was in high school, we ended up in a doctor's office. She was lost in the crowd at high school. First we tried homeschooling for a couple of years before we found a small Christian school for her to finish out her last 2 years. It took a toll on our marriage. We left church. My ex-husband had a jail ministry, a van ministry, a missionary to Jamaica, a "call Rusty, he can fix it" ministry. I started working 7 days a week. We divorced Holly's senior year. After 5 years, I still walk with a limp. Rusty is just back on his walk with God. Holly is wonderful and TOMORROW SHE IS TAKING ME ON AN ALLMAN BROTHERS ADVENTURE to Macon, Georgia!!!!! (The only Allman I know anything about is Greg!) I'm no Angel!
ReplyDeleteToo many parents don't care about their kids, as long as they aren't bothering the parents, everything is fine.
ReplyDeleteThe signs are always there....after the fact. Good, or even average, parents see the signs before the tragedy.
Then you have the parents who refuse to take any advice on their precious. Sometimes an extra pair of eyes, without the emotional involvement, can see what's in black and white.
Yes it will be all ways one of those American changing things in the history of America and one we rather not have as would 9-11 and many more.
ReplyDeleteWe need to look out for one another now days and keep the faith.
Cheers Blood
Hi there - Thought I'd check up on my old SYMT friends. Havent been able to read the blogs very often, and seem to have trouble posting comments. Guess I just need more practice. Hope everyone is doing OK. I think of you all when I happen to change my fantasy picks each week on Fox Sports.
ReplyDeleteB, my wife spent much of her youth growing up in Littleton, CO. In fact, if her brother had gone to public school, he would have been at Columbine that day. As a teacher, I can tell you that notes, comments, threats, etc.. are all taken much more seriously by most teachers and administrators. However, I will also say that as time goes by, memories fade and exceptions happen. I found a utility tool on a kid one day (inside this tool was a 3" locking blade). I turned it in to my Assistant Principal and he suspended the kid for one day and said that to him, that was a tool, not a weapon. To me, if we can hijack airplanes with box cutters, a 3" blade is certainly a weapon, even if it looks like pliers on the outside.
ReplyDelete