I was in ninth grade when that shooting took place. To be honest, I can't say it really "affected" me, at least not in any way that I could account for at the time. But I'll never forget it. And now that I'm growing up and developing this interest in youth ministry, the tragedy of it means more to me. And I believe that, after nearly 8 years, it still raises a lot of opportunity for discussion about life, God, etc. And I thought it would work well for a discussion in our youth group.So here's the deal...
Tomorrow night - or I guess that would actually be tonight since it's now past midnight - at 9:00 pm, the National Geographic Channel will air The Final Report: Columbine. I fully intend to catch this documentary. If anyone else happens to watch it as well, I think we could start a very deep discussion about it. Of course, I haven't seen it yet, so I don't know exactly what to expect. In any case, thinking back on this tragedy, learning about how it all came together, and thinking about how some of us might respond were we to face something like it - all this can open up a good discussion.
If you watch the show (or even if you don't), share your thoughts in a comment on this post. What led to it? What was wrong in these boys lives that they would do this? Do they remind you of anyone you know? How well do you remember this event? The list of questions you could ask from this are endless. Like I said, it was an event that would become a lasting memory for my generation. And the evil behind it (as well as the beauty of the love and faith that came from it) is still very relevant today.
You start the discussion after you watch the show (if you watch the show) and I will continue it with some of the thoughts I have about it. Sound good?
4 comments:
Did anybody watch it? It was more about the facts of the event than about the issues surrounding it, but it gave you a good idea of what went on and how.
If you saw it, what did you think about as you watched it? If you didn't see it, what's the first thing that comes to mind when you think back on the event?
Hopefully that should get a discussion rolling whether you watched the show or not.
I didnt get to watch it...sowwy. What are we supposed to say?
I don't guess you're supposed to say anything if you don't have anything TO say. But for those that do, what is it?
Maybe this topic seems a little random, so let me just explain some of what's been on my mind...
Like I said, I started looking into this a few weeks ago as I was thinking back on what really defined MY teenage experience (at least in a social/cultural sense). This event came to mind fairly quickly. I'm not sure if you guys really look back on it the way I do. The oldest of you would have been in, what, 5th or 6th grade? Maybe younger? (I don't care to do the math right now.) Point is, this was a major event. In some sense, I look at this event as a more defining moment than 9/11. This was, after all, specific to youth. It was like the 9/11 of teenage politics...if that's not too disrespectful.
And that's really what I want to talk about - teenage politics. What do I mean by "teenage politics"? I'm talking about those superficial customs and social ideals that make up you guy's lives - and that used to make up mine too. Do you guys know what I'm talking about? Those things that generally determine your social acceptance, etc. Most of the time, such things are based on a very shallow understanding of life. After all, you're only kids (no offense).
That shallow understanding of life is not entirely bad for young people. That's what growing up is all about. What's sad is when that understanding becomes all there is. Get it?
And that's what happened with Eric Harris and Dillon Kleybold. They failed to see past the shallow teenage politics and concluded that life wasn't worth much. If you watched the documentary, you'll know that they intended to kill themselves from the very beginning. It was always intended to be a suicide mission.
I've seen the pictures of the two of them after they'd shot themselves. It's one of the most horrifying images I've ever seen. Most prominent in the picture is Dillon, lying with his gun still in hand and a bullet hole over his right eye. His head lies in a puddle of blood, brain matter, and fragments of skull. Just above him is Eric, lying against a book shelf, also holding his gun, also with a bullet hole in his head.
When I saw that image, I looked at Dillon's face (Eric's isn't very visible) and I saw a kid. They weren't monsters. They were confused kids. Kids that could have grown into adults. Adults who could have done great things. Instead they chose to end their lives before it was even started. And they're disrespect for life led them to heartlessly take others with them. WHY? WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY?
That's what I'd like to discuss. That, and this: Why not break the mold? I suggested that teenage politics are shallow because you guys are still figuring life out. But that's not to say you can't be the exception to the rule. Maybe Columbine made my generation cynical, but it should have made us stronger. The picture I chose is a great image of two students right after they'd escaped the school. To me, it represents what I wish my generation and yours would be. It's not too late. There can be a revival in your generation. Do you agree?
And it doesn't have to start with tragedy. It can start with a small youth group in Hope, Arkansas.
I wanted to see it but then I forgot at the last minute that it was on.
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