on the internet today, food for much thought on the human condition.

Bowling for Columbine might be Michael Moore's best film. The interviews with the South Park guys and Marilyn Manson come to mind (South Park is essentially supposed to be Littleton CO).

Manson points out that everyone blames the music, video games, 'dark' pop culture etc, while the whole city of Littleton is really oriented around the military-industrial complex and building giant missiles. A war had just started when Columbine happened and as Manson points out, no one is asking if the shooting was linked to the war, that would be far too risky a line of questioning to pursue. It's too difficult to address the idea that our whole society at times seems to be organized like a death cult.

Of course there are some conspiracy theories out there that speculate on the military-industrial links with the Virginia Tech shooter (I wrote one up myself) and Harris and Klebold, one of whom was raised partly on a military base (and of course someone has floated dark theories about that).

If we continue to live in a society where the kids are pumped full of SSRIs (which now, unlike in 1999, finally carry the Black Label suicide warning) and around half our social resources are dumped into a giant war apparatus, it seems all the more likely that kids will violently snap especially if they are brought up in this highly rationalized, ultimately death-oriented culture. After all, they play pretty much the same video games and music in other countries (Canada has way more guns per capita) and this kind of thing is NOT happening.

I'm looking around for more quotes on this and find that a lot of old websites about it have gone offline, something of a problem really! ... Here's a witness account of it that I think runs true in that it captures the way a traumatic event is 'spun':

To me it was just a school, like many other schools I attended. I witnessed the school shooting first hand because I was in the middle of the library at the time it happened. So rather than talking about it second hand you may want to hear a first person account. To be honest the experience still makes my adrenaline run despite it seeming more dream like in memory. I got out of class early, grabbed a slice of pizza and headed to the library, my refuge from the madness of the school grounds. Taking a seat in the middle of the library. I heard bangs about 5 minutes after my arrival triggering my curiosity. However an older lady, latter shown to be a teacher came into the library in a panic expressing that we should hide under the tables.
Despite initial amusement at something different than the norm, her conviction was commanding so I decided to do as she said. Taking cover tucked into a corner of the table I was sitting at I took my refuge. However 3 other people, 2 guys and a girl requested to join my position. Unable to deny them such access I moved over, however this exposed me to the open part of the room. My instinct was to run however in the company of others they persuaded me to stay. So the bangs continued and in time I saw those responsible.
To be honest I only saw two people, but it certainly appeared like they were talking to a third person in a way that implied involvement, can't be sure. However at the time I saw no trench coats, they were dressed in military combat gear. It appeared like the military itself had decided to wipe us out. I watched them pour numerous ammunition and explosives on a table while talking about the ways they wanted to kill people. For example one of them expressed the wish to experience killing someone with a knife. They recognized someone and told him to run.
The table next to me I heard girls crying, I watched one of them walk over to the table and undiscriminating fire an automatic weapon under the table followed by moans from the girls; then silence. They then came to my table were I awaited my inevitable death. I remember the butt of the gun coming under my table, shots being fired and when I came too, the guy to my side, called Correy I think had blood coming out of his mouth on my foot. Decided to play dead and made a run for it when they tried to set off the big bombs in the canteen.
There was a lot of bull# after the event. Without covering it all, it became clear to me that there was a clear difference between things that happen and things that are reported. For example that story about the girl saying she believed in God, her best friend who was sitting next to her when she was shot said that they just shot her. I don't know if the Columbine shooting was part of some larger conspiracy I just know it scared the # out of me. I do know that what we are shown on the media is bull#, twisted, opinionated and biased to objectives that do not serve the everyday man.
Clearly 9.11 is bull#, I don't know if columbine is also a cover up but whatever it was, it sucked. My name is Peter Ball, I got a lot of coverage during columbine in the UK, because I'm English, what #ing difference that's supposed to make. I wouldn't trust the media, what they said in my opinion is crap. I thought there was three shooters, but can't be sure. However other issues covered by media I know are bull#. If you need more first hand info my email is phoenixfire1194(at)aol.com (please don't spam me).

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Hongpong.com

It's difficult to imagine the horror of having a child who commits such a crime. It is also difficult beyond words to be a parent who loses a child, whatever the cause. I'm glad that Mrs. Klebold is making some meaning out of all this.

Columbine is one of the great horrors. It deserves careful thought. In this article, it seems that Dylan's intention to kill himself is somehow linked with his intention to kill others. That's very rare and doesn't fully explain what went on.

But if this article raises awareness in any, some, or many parents about adolescent depression and suicide, that's a very positive outcome. Good for Oprah for publishing this. (Good source on teen suicide http://tinyurl.com/qofb7)

PS I agree on "Bowling for Columbine" - a brilliant contribution.