Entry FeedToday marks the 10th Anniversary of the Columbine School Massacre.
Today my thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims and their families.
Most of us can easily go back to the day and remember the fear, the terror and the shock. A few years later I attended a conference in Denver. I actually stayed at a hotel in Columbine; it is like a suburb of Denver. During my visit I noticed that then, even years later, the name Columbine was whispered, sending chills up the spine.
Recently I read Wally Lamb's latest novel (work of fiction) titled, The Hour I First Believed. The main character is a teacher who works at Columbine High School, he is visiting a sick aunt out of town during the attack. His wife, however, was the school nurse and present. An amazing read.
A few weeks ago I wrote a post about bullying (I pulled it down wanted to rewrite it to be more eloquent). Specifically I wrote about shock at a local incident involving a child who brought weapons to school. This grade seven student claimed to have been bullied for years, but there was no evidence. My shock came from the community's response - not outrage at this child, but sympathy for this boy as a victim. I had mothers from the school insist to me that this was a "non-event" and they were upset by the police charging this child and issuing a press release.
I know many schools now have new policies to deal with bullying; but they also have new lockdown policies. My kids learned in JK where to hide in their classrooms. Sad, isn't it?
Police have also changed policies based on Columbine; now they enter as soon as they arrive, putting themselves in increased danger but trying to have fewer civilian casualties.
When Columbine happened 10 years ago, I wasn't a mother. My perspective on the shooting was that of the students. Now, as I mother, I see the event from so many angles. I don't want my child to be bullied. I don't want my child to be a bully. I want them to be safe when they go to school. I want them to grow up happy and healthy.
So much was lost to so many 10 years ago. Let's keep Columbine and all of the victims of all of the school shootings in our thoughts and prayers tonight. Light a candle and remember.