Nurturing A Monster
A few weeks ago I listened as Sue Klebold made the rounds on some of the radio shows.
She was peddling her new book:
"A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy."
You probably recognize her surname.
Dylan Klebold was one of the two shooters at Columbine back in 1999.
Columbine was the first of many school shootings in this country and it was pulled off by two kids who were in a complete rage. There was an element of bullying to it. Some people blamed violent video games. The two boys wore trench coats as the planted bombs and shot and killed their fellow students and a teacher.
That shooting seems to be the starting point.
Can you imagine if it was YOUR KID!
When I heard Sue Klebold on the radio talking about the book...I wondered why she might write such a memoir.
Then I remembered that writing has always helped me make sense of things that were difficult to understand.
But still!!!
Can you imagine the grief?
I bought her book...which was written for the families of her son's victims.
About halfway through the book I became a little dismayed.
There would be no answers.
Those kids were mentally ill.
Her son hid his secret rage from his mother and father and brother.
The Klebold's were a family.
They ate dinner together.
Dad was active in their lives.
Mom nurtured and tried to love at every turn.
I believe that poor woman as she tells her story of love for her child.
I know that she was torn apart by his death, and the death of all the kids that he murdered.
But there are no answers as to why.
Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris were sick bastards.
That's the answer.
As to why they were isolated, or violated, or excommunicated...
...that could be debated all day.
But think about that Mom.
She had plans for that child.
She dreamed he would be a good man.
Three days before he shot up that school she took photos of him and his prom date.
Crazy, crazy, crazy.
Hopefully she finds some grace somewhere along the way.
She was peddling her new book:
"A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy."
You probably recognize her surname.
Dylan Klebold was one of the two shooters at Columbine back in 1999.
Columbine was the first of many school shootings in this country and it was pulled off by two kids who were in a complete rage. There was an element of bullying to it. Some people blamed violent video games. The two boys wore trench coats as the planted bombs and shot and killed their fellow students and a teacher.
That shooting seems to be the starting point.
Can you imagine if it was YOUR KID!
When I heard Sue Klebold on the radio talking about the book...I wondered why she might write such a memoir.
Then I remembered that writing has always helped me make sense of things that were difficult to understand.
But still!!!
Can you imagine the grief?
I bought her book...which was written for the families of her son's victims.
About halfway through the book I became a little dismayed.
There would be no answers.
Those kids were mentally ill.
Her son hid his secret rage from his mother and father and brother.
The Klebold's were a family.
They ate dinner together.
Dad was active in their lives.
Mom nurtured and tried to love at every turn.
I believe that poor woman as she tells her story of love for her child.
I know that she was torn apart by his death, and the death of all the kids that he murdered.
But there are no answers as to why.
Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris were sick bastards.
That's the answer.
As to why they were isolated, or violated, or excommunicated...
...that could be debated all day.
But think about that Mom.
She had plans for that child.
She dreamed he would be a good man.
Three days before he shot up that school she took photos of him and his prom date.
Crazy, crazy, crazy.
Hopefully she finds some grace somewhere along the way.
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