March 23, 2005
Did None Notice?
By now, you are familiar with the school shootings which took place at Red Lake High School in Minnesota. It almost seems as if these shootings continue an all-too familiar theme in this country: loner comes to school and shoots indiscriminantely, then kills himself.
But there were warning signs. Jeff Weise was always seen in a black trench coat, black clothing and seemed obsessed with ideas of Nazism and racial purity. He was a frequent poster to several white supremecist sites, which seems unusual given his Native American ancestory. He posted over the summer that his Indian brethren had lost a sense of racial purpose and that less than 1% of them still spoke their native language.
I know this question has been asked before and will be asked again, but didn't anyone see these actions as a cry for help? In hindsight, it's obvious that the boy was trying to identify with something, probably so he wouldn't feel so alone. Did he have unrestriced internet access? Did anyone notice what he wore EVERY DAY?
We have more Red Lakes and Columbines in our future if parents and teachers don't wake up to the realities facing them.
Posted by Matthew at March 23, 2005 07:23 AMTrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.opaquelucidity.com/movabletype/mt-tb.cgi/134
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Did None Notice?:
» phobia from phobia
phobia [Read More]
» disturbed concert ticket from disturbed concert ticket
disturbed concert ticket [Read More]
» texas holdem from texas holdem
texas holdem The substitution of the proletarian for the bourgeois state is impossible without a violent revolution. [Read More]
» adaware 60 from adaware 60
adaware 60 [Read More]
» sedu hair styles from sedu hair styles
sedu hair styles [Read More]
» alprazolam from alprazolam
alprazolam [Read More]
» adware from adware
adware [Read More]
» divorce from divorce
divorce [Read More]
» moving companies from moving companies
moving companies [Read More]
» Vicodin detox get help with your vicodin addiction. from Vicodin detox.
Vicodin detox. Detox vicodin. [Read More]
» AdultFriendFinder from AdultFriendFinder
I really enjoyed your topic and plan to share your blog with my friends! thanks for taking the time out to write your blog! If you want to learn how to get 100% free access to Adult Friend Finder check out my blog! [Read More]
He is the "youth of the nation."
It's sad that a song like that can be/is true. If you can, mentor a kid, be a big brother/big sister, and, oh yeah, take parenting SERIOUSLY!
Posted by: Troy Overton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.opaquelucidity.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at March 23, 2005 09:22 AM
Youth of the Nation -- P.O.D. (Payable On Death)
Last day of the rest of my life
I wish I would've known
Cause I didn't kiss my mama goodbye
I didn't tell her that I loved her and how much I care
Or thank my pops for all the talks
And all the wisdom he shared
Unaware, I just did what I always do
Everyday, the same routine
Before I skate off to school
But who knew that this day wasn't like the rest
Instead of taking a test
I took two to the chest
Call me blind, but I didn't see it coming
Everybody was running
But I couldn't hear nothing
Except gun blasts, it happened so fast
I don't really know this kid
Even though I sit by him in class
Maybe this kid was reaching out for love
Or maybe for a moment
He forgot who he was
Or maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged
Whatever it was
I know it's because
[chorus:]
We are, We are, the youth of the nation
Little Suzy, she was only twelve
She was given the world
With every chance to excel
Hang with the boys and hear the stories they tell
She might act kind of proud
But no respect for herself
She finds love in all the wrong places
The same situations
Just different faces
Changed up her pace since her daddy left her
Too bad he never told her
She deserved much better
Johnny boy always played the fool
He broke all the rules
So you would think he was cool
He was never really one of the guys
No matter how hard he tried
Often thought of suicide
It's kind of hard when you ain't got no friends
He put his life to an end
They might remember him then
You cross the line and there's no turning back
Told the world how he felt
With the sound of a gat
[chorus]
Who's to blame for the lives that tragedies claim
No matter what you say
It don't take away the pain
That I feel inside, I'm tired of all the lies
Don't nobody know why
It's the blind leading the blind
I guess that's the way the story goes
Will it ever make sense
Somebody's got to know
There's got to be more to life than this
There's got to be more to everything
I thought exists
at March 23, 2005 09:24 AM
Whoa there... trench coats are definite signs that a kid's a killer? Black clothing the same?
The white supremacist sites are indeed suspect, but I know a good many white racists who hardly qualify as killers or even disturbed. I understand what you're trying to say, that someone should have noticed the warning signs, but I always cringe when I hear these sorts of things cited as if they're definite pointers to this sort of behavior. Just because he was different than other kids doesn't mean that he was bad.
This sort of thing is usually avoided if parents were involved in their children's lives (this guy's dad is dead and mother in the hospital). If he was depressed, that would have shown through in many, many ways; all his differences combined would elevate him from "different" to "potentially dangerous."
Also, this sort of case makes me believe even more in a form of gun control -- not a governmental restriction on firearms, but a personal responsibility for one's own weapons. The kid in question didn't buy his gun from a store -- I'm not sure how he got it, but many other cases have featured teenagers "borrowing" their parent's or other family member's weapon. Personal responsibility for guns in one's possession is something that people in this country MUST learn if this is to stop.
Posted by: Tony at March 23, 2005 06:31 PM
You're right, Tony, in that the way a kid dresses shouldn't be used as evidence that he's a homicidal maniac. But it is part of a bigger picture. That, plus the inavailability of either parent, should've sent up warning flags.
Posted by: Matt_D at March 23, 2005 08:23 PM
This is such a tragedy. I can't believe that there wasn't any sign that there was something wrong with this kid.
I remember being picked on as a kid because I was overweight and it does hurt. It sucked to be the kid that no one wanted to hang around with. It's still painful to think about it today. I got through it but there were times when all I wanted to do was hurt people. I never acted on those feelings thankfully.
I always stress to my son to befriend those kids that seem to be left out(Or at least treat them with civility). We're all different and that's a good thing. We need to instill in our kids the value that everyone(even the fat,non name brand shoe wearing kid) is important and deserves at the very least civil treatment!
Posted by: David at March 24, 2005 06:34 AM