Harris blog
Observations …
I don’t know, but after making several visits to Columbine and the Littleton area, I feel a need to share what I saw, felt, and observed. First of all, it is my personal feeling that the bullying atmosphere at Columbine High School is still alive and well. Some of you might remember from some earlier posts two incidents of bullying behavior that I personally observed while on campus, after hours. Both Iincidentsooccurred after school at around 5:00-5:30. One incident I observed was about three “jocks” sitting on a bench outside of the school laughing, pointing, and talking about a slightly overweight female student with two-toned hair, and the other incident occurred at around the same time on a different day. I was driving through the parking lot at Columbine. There were two parents parked in front of the school waiting on their kids I suppose, as a soccer game was going on. I just drove by, but both parents physically pulled out and to the side Iin an attempt to block my car!! I assumed that they thought I was trying to “cut” in line inorder to pick up a student. Anyway, after a brief “stand-off, I just drove around them and went on my way.
Perhaps it is my background as a teacher, (retired), at a school where bullying was rampant and the administration also turned a blind eye to the situation that causes me to be overly sensitive to this phenomenon, but conversely, it is my opinion that I am more “aware” of it because of my background as a former teacher. I noticed on the marquee outside the school on the two or three occasions that I was at Columbine tended to post only athetic events. For example, on one occasion, game times for three different games were posted, and on another occasion, the notation read, “Vote for your school royalty” which is a reference I am assuming to the Homecoming Court? Sounds eerily familiar to the celebration of the “jock culture” that existed in Eric’s and Dylan’s day.
One incident that I did not mention was when I was driving up into the beautiful, rather secluded area wher Dylan’s parents still reside. There is only a two-laned road going up there, which makes passing difficult. When I reached the turn-off onto Dylan’s street, a guy who had been behind me, drove up alongside my car, made direct eye contact with me, and shot me his middle finger!!?? Okay, I am from a huge city, and am not easily shocked by rudeness on the roads, but there was something rather deliberate and insidious in this grown man’s actions; especially making eye contact with me made it feel very personal.
In conclusion, I wish to reiterate that these are only my personal reflections and opinions. These are simply some Iincidents that may very well have been isolated. However, that being said, for what it’s worth, I feel that the atmosphere that was so pervasive during Eric and Dylan’s time of bullying and the elitism of the “jock culture” still is alive and well at Columbine High School. Nothing can ever condone what Eric and Dylan did that horrible day in April of 1999. Nobody deserved to die that day. The horror of that the tragic results of that day are all too real as I visited the thirteen crosses at Ollinger Gardens, and the Columbine Memorial at Clement Park. However, I feel the question, “Has anything changed to prevent another incident from happening at Columbine?” is certainly a question that is left wide open in this observer’s opinion.
As I was driving away from Columbine on my last visit to campus, I saw a tall, lanky young man wearing a black trenchcoat walking home from Columbine. The weather outside was a very pleasant 79 degrees, so why a trenchcoat? I got goosebumps after seeing this young man. I even looked behind me in order to look at him again. His face was rigid and angry, as he stared straight ahead of him. Has this community learned anything from the tragic events of April 1999, or not? I certainly feel that it is a legitimate question, and one that still needs to be addressed.
(sent by Mary :) how the trench coat guy part was like wow. i wonder what those people think when they see anyone with a trench coat, especially near Columbine)
theartofmadeline
2087
stormborns
prguitarman
areudirty
janainaart