As a parent, I've got to believe that being a parent of a child that caused such grief for others must be much more excruciating than losing a child.
I think these folks have some serious denial. It may not have been their fault, but their son was their responsibility. They obviously failed on some level. And I resent the way they attempt to blame jocks and bullying.
Shows extreme lack of judgment.
I thought it was all the guns' fault.
I have always heard, even from fellow mental health professionals, that great parents can have a terrible son.
I have, in 57 years of watching families closely, NEVER observed it.
I have always been able to find--with enough questions, PLENTY of responsibility on the part of the parents parenting practices; lack of heart to heart caring and bonding etc.--especially the first 6-8 years of life.
Of course, parents are never very happy to realize they have been in any way responsible for a child turning out less well than the child might have turned out.
Blame seems to be a national constitutional right.
Certainly children are still responsible for their behavior. But there is a reason that 75%+ of prison populations come from horrid parenting.
I agree with the author on Klebold being responsible for his own actions, but if I were to play the blame game I would look at Hollywood and the FBI/ATF.
The doomed duo clearly copied the lobby scene from 'The Matrix' where Neo and Trinity kill all the guards and reinforcements in gravity defying style, all set to a rock beat.
The first time I viewed this scene I was very impressed, but since buying the DVD and watching it several more times I can't get over how corny and stupid it actually is. However, two teenage boys would be awestruck.
Where else could a young man find such vivid images of total control, power and murderous mayhem? The nightly news,of course.
Watching the FBI's RV/Tank tear holes in the Waco home of the Branch Davidians, followed by the fire and extermination of nearly everyone inside must of been a rush to these kids. Something to imitate if you wanted to show your power over others.
The fact that they had planted an explosive(dud) to start a fire in the kitchen and that they had originally planned to attack the school on April 19, same as Waco, but were pushed back a day due to not having the bombs and weapons ready, is evidence to support the theory that they wanted to copy their government's actions.
I disagree with this writer's statement. Yes, they loved their son, and grieve for him now. As a parent, there is nothing my children could do that would make me lose my love for them.
But loving their child, and not showing more compassion for the innocent victims, are two very different things. I would think instead of honoring their child's life and the heinous crimes he committed, they could use their time in a more positive way. Giving bleeding heart interviews to the New York Times is not the answer.
Possibly, they could reach out to other troubled teens, and use their experience to try to prevent such a horrific episode from happening again.
There go those inconvenient morals again. And how could this happen to people so much like the interviewer? BARF
The most infuriating incident, Susan said, came when somebody said, "I forgive you for what you've done." Susan insists, "I haven't done anything for which I need forgiveness."
Then, 1 sentence later......
"I think he suffered horribly before he died. For not seeing that, I will never forgive myself."
Anybody else see the contradiction.....
Kind of odd for the reporter to call them intelligent and reflective.
bump
So they can multitask their state of denial, apparently.
So. . . What? This means he's not responsible, according to the NY Times?
No wonder they like the NYT.
I would live a normal life and the piece of my heart that was my childs would die with him/her.
I would never defend his/her's actions, I would have NO RESPECT for him/her and would say so and without respect love is hollow and I would be ashamed enough to never go out of my way to acknowledge him/her in anyway. I am a father of 6 with 5 living and all over 38 years of age. I also have NO PROBLEM stating this because it is the truth.
It should also be remembered that Columbine was but one of a series of such incidents, happening not too long, for example, after a similar incident at Paducah, Kentucky.
At the time, I suggested that the most likely cause was rooted in the politically correct mindset at the time. Why? Because in stripping away children's sense of the importance of sex roles and lines of descent, they were stripping away the primal motivations for positive, purposeful conduct. While in individual cases, there may also be other factors--I am sure that there are--the basic thesis, borrowed from Robert Ruark's book on Kenya, needs to be considered: Something Of Value.
William Flax
And that line about she doesn't need forgiveness because she hasn't done anything wrong!!! What kind of Christian THINKS that way, let alone say it!!
"The New York Times", I take it that in a week or so we will find out that this guy made this story up.