Columbine

Columbine

Adult nonfiction
"And then...nothing. During the entire 1998-1999 school year,
not a single shooter emerged. The threat faded, and a distant
struggle took hold of the news. The slow disintegration of Yugoslovia
erupted again...The suburban menace of the school shooter had receded."
Except that it hadn't. In Colorado two teens, Eric Harris and
Dylan Klebold, spent that school year making elaborate plans for a
massacre which they hoped would dwarf previous ones in terms of body
count. Dave Cullen's Columbine, quoted above, takes readers through
their preparations, the massacre itself, and its complex aftermath.
That part, however, was not why I read the book. It promised to
help answer the questions that had been on my mind ever since
Columbine was breaking news: Why? How could two presumably
intelligent teens plan and carry out such a rampage, knowing full well
they'd be in the body count?
Eric and Dylan had left plenty of insight into their mental and
emotional states through tapes and diaries. Psychologists analyzed
their short lives and came to conclusions that strongly diverge from
the stereotypes that basically pop into people's minds--for example,
bullied kids taking revenge on jocks--when yet another school shooting
goes down.
Columbine is a very hard book to read. But it's an important
one for anyone who wants to understand school shootings and help
prevent future ones.
On a purrrsonal note, looks like we're coming up to another weekend.
It's been a nice week weather wise with moderating toward autumnal
temps and good sleeping nights. I'm still holding my own in
statistics class. I had started working on the baby afghan a half
hour every early morning. But I finished it at camp. So I once again
took up a project that actually is too big to travel. Quite awhile
ago a couple I met through Patch House (the coop I lived in two years
that was originally the home of trailblazing entomologist, Edith
Patch) were ready to throw out a quilt they'd made out of squares from
pants, a few with pockets. They were delighted to give it to me
instead. During the 33 years Eugene and I have used it tears and
holes have appeared. I'm mending it, mostly with patches taken from
no longer wearable clothes. No ecnomics involved--just pure
sentiment. As for the weekend, I think it will be a work one for me.
But you never know. (Jules)
Sentiment is good. Sentimental hoomans are good to sweet cats like
moi. (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to you, my readers. Hope you have a
safe and wonderful weekend.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway


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