Columbine; A True Symbol of Courage

Unlike many Americans, I spent the tenth anniversary of the Columbine catastrophe not only dealing with my own emotions, but also rumbling through numerous articles that were written by different authors around the world. Interestingly enough, everywhere I looked, I seen "memorials". However, these articles were full of hate and discontent. I say this because people are still incident focused, and full of blame. In other words, they are continuing to pick and chose which elements they want to embrace instead of acknowledging the essentials needed to learn a valuable lesson.

You see, the fact is, there are 15 sets of family members, and 15 circles of friends/associates in Littleton that lost a love one on that day. By refusing to acknowledge such, says that we far from healing. It also means that society in general is endorsing the possibility of future violence. After all, Harris and Kelbold may have been troubled murdering teens, but they were human, and anyone who has ever lost a family member knows that it does not matter how your loss happen, it matters that it hurts!

Therefore, I ask do we have the right to continue to ostracize Harris and Kelbold, or their families. Do we have the right to publicize and use the photos of these boy's mutilated bodies surrounded by their own brain matter and blood? I believe that if you say yes, you need to re-evaluate your philosophies by asking yourself: How would I feel if the shoe were on the other foot? Would I want society to shun me? NO! Oh and before you even say, "That would never happen to me." I want you to remember that the Harris and Kelbold families probably thought it could never happen to them either.

In other words, I am soliciting your attention, and asking you to do what I believe that victim Rachael Scott would have done by taking the final steps to eliminate ALL prejudice concerning Columbine. After all, forgiveness is not just a symbol of healing, It is the truest "Symbol of courage"; a symbol that we should be able to display proudly. Of course, I believe the result should include the addition of Harris and Kelbold in EVERY Columbine Memorial. After all, everyone deserves the right to mourn their loss; even the families and friends of Harris and Kelbold.