Perusing the news today (leisurely, as I am one of those "millionaire high school teachers" on vacation this week) I was somewhat struck on how no one has mentioned the anniversary of the Columbine tragedy today (at least on MSNBC anyway). Maybe it's an editorial choice or maybe it has become "old news"...I don't know. Just wanted to make sure this tragedy isn't completely forgotten here on DKos.
I am writing this basically extemporaneously, so please forgive the structure of this diary.
It's hard to believe that it's been 12 years since this tragedy took place. Thankfully our school was on vacation then as it is now. I've been teaching and coaching at the same high school in various guises for 16 years now. We had a "killing" take place at our school in 1994. It was more of a death due to a fight (fatal stabbing) than the calculated plan of Harris and Klebold but of course it was a tragedy non-the-less. I started at the school a year after but the school had sadly become attuned to the fact that tragedy could occur even in our hallowed halls.
Not really sure what I want to impart here other than to mark the tragedy and keep it in our collective consciousness so that it may never happen again, wishful thinking perhaps. I recently read David Cullen's Columbine and was actually struck by what little has been actually learned on the "why" this happened which makes it all the more chilling. It's a tremendously written and well researched account but it does leave the reader cold in that it really has no "answers." One of the answers is obviously better gun control laws in this country but I'm not holding my breath on that one.
I hope everyone has a safe and pleasant April 20th...and take a moment to reflect on (or pray) for the victims of this tragedy.