Killers' parents owe community an explanation
By Chuck Green
Denver Post Columnist
April 23 - Where were their parents?
That is a question, spoken or not, that is on the mind of anyone who
wonders how the terror that stalked the hallways of Columbine High School
could have been incubated.
It must have come, in its infancy or in its adolescence, from the home.
Yet we aren't sure.
The parents of the killers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, can help us
understand.
But so far they have been wrapped in a silent, self-imposed cloak of
seclusion, afraid to provide us with any insight.
That, more than anything in this confusing and baffling mystery, is
understandable.
If I were them, I'd have sought out a protective womb, too. I would not
want to face a battery of network microphones, or an antagonistic
prosecuting attorney, or an angry parent of a child who had been shot in the
face.
I would hide.
But I would be asking myself - repeatedly asking myself - one question:
Can something good emerge from something so evil?
The answer, clearly, is: Yes.
And you can help provide that answer.
For the moment, your silence, your grief, your embarrassment, your shame,
your sorrow, all can be understood. We can identify with all of that.
And we will give you time to console yourselves, to absorb the anguish of
friends, to receive the comfort of those who are closest to you.
But then, please talk to us.
Only you can tell us what went wrong on Tuesday - not totally, but partially.
And please - please - don't be defensive. Just give it to us straight.
Did you know what Eric and Dylan were feeling? Did you know their
frustrations? Did you know the extent of their hate? Did you know of their
obsession with guns and explosives? Did you know of their obsession with
German militarism? Had you ever reviewed their Internet activities? Did you
know of their addiction to violent video games and satanic music?
Were you in touch?
It is not shameful if you were not. That only puts you in the crowd of many
parents of teenagers who have veered, inexplicably, from the rational world.
But it doesn't excuse you from an obligation to help us understand what
happened.
These were your kids. You may have done everything possible to help
them, to stay close to them, to respect their privacy, to give them some
space.
You may have practiced so-called "tough love,'' and you may have been too
lenient. You may have turned away, not wanting to believe what you were
seeing, or you may have just thought they were going through a harmless
phase of acting out.
But we need to know.
Please - talk with us. For the others who died, and for those who might die
in the future, you owe us that much. |
