How do you put into perspective, let alone words, the feelings that the events of April 20, have caused? All of a sudden, all those things that I thought were important in life are on hold. Watching movies, sports scores, even surfing through the ocean of information on the Net, it all seems inconsequential, in comparison to the sheer madness, and true horror, of the events in Littleton, Colorado.

I heard a caller to a radio show today, who commented that this was one of the worst days in American History. I would have to concur along the lines of what I can recall in my time and place in that history. The bombing in Oklahoma City, and this, both rank up there in the sheer magnitude of horror, and senselessness. The question that remains, and will linger, long after the dust settles, is why.

What in the world would drive these kids to do something like this? The excuses, and stories trickling out so far, seem to highlight some already existent holes in society today. It was stated that the students were the members of a gang, Satan-worshipping, "Goth music and wardrobe" etc, who were celebrating the birthday of Hitler. I won't go into, or criticize anyone for what they choose to listen to, or believe, this is America after all. It does not mean that I, in any way, shape or form, condone or agree with these beliefs. I do not. Hitler was a bad person, who used his incredible intelligence and powers of manipulation, in the most evil of ways. Why anyone would look up to, admire, or aspire to be like him is well beyond my realm of comprehension. However, these children found something, and grabbed hold of it. That is a serious problem, but it is my opinion, it’s not the only one. I believe that this all could've easily been prevented through love, and attentiveness.

People often ask me why I say that I weep for the future of America, well, take a look around and I dare you to ask me again with a straight face. At least five times, in the past three years, students have taken out aggressions, anger, indifference, or loneliness, via violence against fellow students and teachers. I cannot EVER, remember anything even remotely close to this when I grew up, and no people I'm not talking ages ago either, this is 13 years ago when I was in High School. Have times degraded that much, and that quickly? Somewhere along the way, these kids got into the mindset that the way to overcome differences, or deficiencies in life, is through violence, rather than mediation. Where do I put the blame for this? On the kids, yes a little bit...everyone is responsible for their own actions, but look deeper, these are children for goodness sakes! Until they are 18, and away, they are your children dear parents, and you must understand that. Listen to them, talk to them, talk WITH them, do things with them, take an interest in their activities. Gangs usually arise out of a group of people, with a common interest, who feel that they have no other form of bonding or togetherness, so they end up in the gang. This can be prevented through better parenting. I cannot stress that enough. I read a quote once, you have to have a license to drive, but anyone can be a parent. There should be classes, rules, or something, to ensure that people are ready, willing, and able to handle the responsibilities of having a life, a being, under your influence and control. Parents must realize that everything they do, and don't do, has an effect on their children. It is sad, and if we're not careful, we could implode ourselves, without any other outside help

Also to blame, is society itself. We show that the way to deal with problems is to shoot first, and ask questions later. When did communication break down as a form of negotiation and resoultion? The power of words, both spoken, and written, can be amazing, when given the chance, but we've shown our children, through the government, through television, and through all-to-real video games, that violence is okay, it's cool, because you can just push reset or rewind, or change the channel.

Newsflash everyone, life doesn't have a reset button. You only get one quarter, one life; there are no mulligans, no do overs. Life is not a game, it's not a Bruce Willis movie where the coolest guys have the biggest guns and kill the most people who anger him. Open your eyes America; don’t think it doesn’t apply to you, because it does. Don’t think because you don’t live in a small town, or in the South, or in a poor neighborhood, that it can’t happen. Those lines of thinking are the basis for the same kind of racism that fueled the evil demons inside the children. The parents did nothing to quell these flames, but rather fanned by their ignorance and inattentiveness. This happened to "good" kids, in an upper middle class neighborhood, in a metropolitan area of a Western state. It can happen to you, unless you take off the blinders and pay attention.