Parenting

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The Columbine Massacre, Could You Handle It If Your Child Was The Instigator?

I think that we all remember the shootings that occured at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999.  Who
could forget those horrifying images on your television screen? The confusion, the terror, the wondering?
Was anyone alive? Were bombs set off?  Who had they, whoever "they" were, killed? What's going on?

The toll of the dead was 13 that day. Toll of injured, 24. That did not include the instigators themselves.
Who knew that only two were involved in this? Who were they? What could possibly lead them to such
terror, such destruction?

The two responsible were Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris. Quite unbelievable, if you knew them...

Dylan Klebold was a normal kid, Cub Scout, involved in Drama productions at Columbine High School, and the school paper. He was always helpful and involved with both, and quite passionate about them. Until his
senior year. Interestingly, his date for the Senior Prom helped purchase the guns used in the massacre...

Eric Harris was another typical kid, was in the same group as Dylan, but had a darker side. When his 
girlfriend from the Homecoming dance broke up with him, he staged a "fake suicide", laying on the ground
with fake blood applied to his head and spread over the ground surrounding him...

Both of them worked at Blackjack Pizza, causing quite a bit of trouble while they did. They would 
occasionally set off fireworks in the back of the building, set booby-traps with explosives in the fence 
surrounding the establishment, and once set fire to a kitchen sink...

At Blackjack Pizza, they purchased another weapon from an associate of an employee and together made
the video "Rampart Range", with them firing the weapons at various targets...

To the school, they were just soon-to-be seniors, happy to be graduating, as those who thought so
believed. For over a year they had planned this shooting, and more, through their various drawings, diaries
and videos.

On April 20, 1999,  their plans went into action.


On October 10, 2009,  Susan Klebold, mother of one of the killers, released a statement. She states:

"For the rest of my life, I will be haunted by the horror and anguish Dylan caused. I cannot look at a child
in a grocery store or on the street without thinking about how my son's schoolmates spent the last
moments of their lives. Dylan changed everything I believed about myself, about God, about family and
about love." She goes on, about that morning, "I was getting dressed for work when I heard Dylan bound
down the stairs and open the front door. Wondering why he was in such a hurry when he could have
slept in for another 20 minutes, I poked my head out of the bedroom. 'Dyl'... All he said was 'Bye'...
his voice sounded sharp. I figured he was mad because he had to get up early to give someone a lift
to class. I had no idea that I had just heard his voice for the last time".




I could not imagine being the mother of someone that was responsible for this kind of massacre. Could
you?  Can you imagine this mother's sorrow, not only for her son, but for his victims? Was it the parent's
fault, or society at large? What do you think?














Sources:



"For the rest of my life, I will be haunted by the horror and anguish Dylan caused," Susan Klebold wrote. "I cannot look at a child in a grocery store or on the street without thinking about how my son's schoolmates spent the last moments of their lives. Dylan changed everything I believed about myself, about God, about family and about love."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/10/10/2009-10-10_columbine_killer_dylan_klebold_s_mom_no_inkling_son_suicidal_for_the_rest_of_my_.html#ixzz0TvkG8cLH

"For the rest of my life, I will be haunted by the horror and anguish Dylan caused," Susan Klebold wrote. "I cannot look at a child in a grocery store or on the street without thinking about how my son's schoolmates spent the last moments of their lives. Dylan changed everything I believed about myself, about God, about family and about love."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/10/10/2009-10-10_columbine_killer_dylan_klebold_s_mom_no_inkling_son_suicidal_for_the_rest_of_my_.html#ixzz0TvkG8cLH
"For the rest of my life, I will be haunted by the horror and anguish Dylan caused," Susan Klebold wrote. "I cannot look at a child in a grocery store or on the street without thinking about how my son's schoolmates spent the last moments of their lives. Dylan changed everything I believed about myself, about God, about family and about love."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/10/10/2009-10-10_columbine_killer_dylan_klebold_s_mom_no_inkling_son_suicidal_for_the_rest_of_my_.html#ixzz0TvkG8cLH
"For the rest of my life, I will be haunted by the horror and anguish Dylan caused," Susan Klebold wrote. "I cannot look at a child in a grocery store or on the street without thinking about how my son's schoolmates spent the last moments of their lives. Dylan changed everything I believed about myself, about God, about family and about love."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/10/10/2009-10-10_columbine_killer_dylan_klebold_s_mom_no_inkling_son_suicidal_for_the_rest_of_my_.html#ixzz0TvkG8cLH
"For the rest of my life, I will be haunted by the horror and anguish Dylan caused," Susan Klebold wrote. "I cannot look at a child in a grocery store or on the street without thinking about how my son's schoolmates spent the last moments of their lives. Dylan changed everything I believed about myself, about God, about family and about love."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/10/10/2009-10-10_columbine_killer_dylan_klebold_s_mom_no_inkling_son_suicidal_for_the_rest_of_my_.html#ixzz0TvkG8cLH
"For the rest of my life, I will be haunted by the horror and anguish Dylan caused," Susan Klebold wrote. "I cannot look at a child in a grocery store or on the street without thinking about how my son's schoolmates spent the last moments of their lives. Dylan changed everything I believed about myself, about God, about family and about love."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/10/10/2009-10-10_columbine_killer_dylan_klebold_s_mom_no_inkling_son_suicidal_for_the_rest_of_my_.html#ixzz0TvkG8cLH




Syndication:

From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 114
  • Habanero♥™'s Avatar
    Posted by Habanero♥™ Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:03am PDT

    "I could not imagine being the mother of someone that was responsible for this kind of massacre. Could

    you? "

    GG; Absolutely I could not imagine being in this situation. I seem to have such wonderful stable kids for the most part....but I also can't lay judgment on these boys parents.

    I have more to say in a bit!

    Report Abuse
  • Ada Shadow~Dark pearl's Avatar
    Posted by Ada Shadow~Dark pearl Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:08pm PDT

    I was only like.... 6 or 7 at that time, so I never heard of it. But... dang.

    I can only imagine on that time. Just imagine. But it's really confusing WHY they would do that if they have great lives and stuff(except for the break up, lol).

    This really is tragic. I don;t wanna see the pictures, LOL!!!

    Report Abuse
  • GirlyGirl©'s Avatar
    Posted by GirlyGirl© Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:09pm PDT

    I cannot either, Haba. Not for a single minute. But some people say "blame the parents". And these boys said that they were getting revenge for all of the girls that "dissed" them and all the people at school that "dissed" them. Was that the parent's fault? No. Not in the least.

    Report Abuse
  • GirlyGirl©'s Avatar
    Posted by GirlyGirl© Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:11pm PDT

    Ada, no pictures here. Just one of a weeping angel and the high school itself. This was one of the most brutal high school killings in the United States. I wouldn't do that to you!

    Report Abuse
  • *GoldenGirl*™'s Avatar
    Posted by *GoldenGirl*™ Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:51pm PDT

    I cant imagine no, I would never blame the parents, they had no idea what was inside thier childs head or how disturbed they were, they were hiding it well around the family. It makes you realize you cant be naive to these kinds of things happening even to what seems to be the most "normal" of children. There will always be killers and disturbed people but its not a sign they were so we know to watch out.

    Report Abuse
  • *GoldenGirl*™'s Avatar
    Posted by *GoldenGirl*™ Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:57pm PDT

    I wish suicidal people wouldnt take out others when they choose to end their own lives, its sad. But then again they arent thinking "normal" so to speak and dont care.

    Report Abuse
  • *GoldenGirl*™'s Avatar
    Posted by *GoldenGirl*™ Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:58pm PDT

    I mean sign they wear.

    Report Abuse
  • Super Abuelita's Avatar
    Posted by Super Abuelita Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:17pm PDT

    I remember this so well. I was at my daughter's school when it happened. I was in shock that it did happen.

    However, I do not blame the parents.

    Report Abuse
  • kim r's Avatar
    Posted by kim r Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:22pm PDT

    GG,

    This is deep! No I would not want to even imagine what that mother is going through. It is hard for me to blame anyone but those boys for their actions. High School is no pinic for anyone, but you can survive it. No, only them alone are responsible for their action.

    Good post GG!

    Report Abuse
  • Habanero♥™'s Avatar
    Posted by Habanero♥™ Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:51pm PDT

    This is one of the greatest tragedies of all time. It rips my heart out every anniversary.

    Some people on the news this morning expressed being put out by the comment that Dylan's Mom had made. They feel that she should have seen signs. What signs? Lids now are confining themselves to their electronic rooms and it is very difficult for parents to know 100% what they are up to.

    I still Drive my 18 year old to his soccer games as a Senior in high school. He appreciates it and I love the 5 minute conversation we have. He even sometimes comes home with me.

    I think that I would react the same way that Dylan's mom has. She couldn't possible have had an inkling.

    Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged! That is to the media and the judges!!!!

    Report Abuse
Comments 1-10 of 114

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