I do not even remember why I really ordered that book. I think it was because I did some research about teenagers being violant towards other teenagers. Its a sad history, that when you think about teenager violence, you kind of have to think about the Columbine Massacar. So I started to do some more research and found the book "No easy answers" by Brooks Brown. The guy that survived Columbine because one of the killers asked him to leave. In front of the school.
It was a bit disturbing to read that story. I had the image most of us had after the shooting in a highschool. How can teenagers shot students in a school? How could they do something that wrong and cruel?
Reading the book and realising that the kids turning into murders also were kids. They were not born that way. Neither did music ruin them. Nor did their parents. To understand why they did what they did, you should read the book. Don´t get me wrong. I do not say it was okay or forgiveable at all. I just say that it is so easy to talk about it like "Bad boys did bad things." I just think its not that easy.
I go back in my mind. I was in school on April 20th in 1999. It was one of my last days in school. Maybe I just was there for a visit anyway. I was preparing my A-level. And I know the shape of the school by heart. I know I was thinking about how the people could be walking into the building, shooting my friends. Killing the people I went to school with. And that was a weird feeling. Looking around your friends, thinking who might be the potential killer. But you can´t tell. Because they do not act different. They are not the weirdos we think they are. They are like you and me. They get helpless and hopeless. And the way the society is walking, I highly doubt they will get any real help anywhere out there.
The way the youth is going, its pretty scary. At least here in Germany. And judging by the news around the world, it does not look different anywhere else around the globe. I hated it when people told me "Back then times were better..." but at the moment, I am close to say it myself. When I was in school, people were different. We had hopes and dreams, plans and a future. Even the ones that were lazy asses had plans. And they did not include grabbing a gun and shooting kids. But then again, Columbine happened in the year graduated. So that was my generation, right?
To all the people that might wonder what happened to the kids back there and some of the kids in the past years. Germany or America. Back then or now. Maybe reading that book will help to understand a little bit. As I said, no way to accept what they did. Because that is something I would never be able to do. But when you look a bit closer, you might be able to understand that we all might be able to help a bit to change that.
No easy answers. by Brooks Brown.
I would like to say "Enjoy" but you won´t. For sure you´ll not be able to put the book away, but you´ll never enjoy it.
2 comments:
well, here in denver, they still feel the pain from columbine. littelton, the place where the highschool is, is near denver and some people still talk about it. that is something we realised here. i think some of them should read the book you talked about, because they do not seem to understand. or they do not want to understand. the pain of something like this happening in their little world right outside of denver is a scary thought, me thinks. we even passed the town of littleton twice. i wonder if i shall ask if they would stop there. i know it is weird, but i would like to see the school.
but my dear miss gibson... great blog entry!
Thanks for the flowers, as we say in Germany! ;-)
But really, the book is amazing!
And now I started reading "Freedom Writers" so be prepared. I bet I´ll tell you more about it!
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