A narrative on society
April 28, 1999

The year was 1996. The month was July. I was living in the small town of Graniteville, SC. Graniteville is located about 10 miles outside of Augusta, GA. The whole world’s attention was focused on a city only about 100 miles away. The 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA. Suddenly the world was stunned! Shocked to find out that there had been a bombing at the Olympics! Every network and TV station interrupted broadcasting to give live coverage of this disastrous atrocity. "Who would do such a thing? And why?" they all asked. I sat glued to the TV screen until the wee hours of the morning, actually fell asleep on the couch, watching, waiting for the answers to the questions that they (the media) implanted in my head. The answers never came.

During the first hours of coverage much information came as to the type of bomb used (a pipe bomb) and also as to injuries and damage. The most interesting information to me was the heroic story of a security officer that was credited with saving many lives by discovering the bomb and then clearing the area. This however was not to last. The same new media the built him up also destroyed him at the first sign that the authorities were questioning his story about the bombing. To this date I am not aware of anyone ever being charged for this crime.

During the days and weeks that followed the internet was brought to much scrutiny as the media exploited the fact that you could find information on the internet to build pipe bombs similar to the ones used in the bombing. Now I thought that this was rather ridiculous. After all, what is the Internet, other than a huge library? Do you think that if you looked hard enough you could find the same or similar info at the public library?

Two weeks after the bombing I made the 100 mile drive to Atlanta. I wanted to see the Olympic Park. I wanted to see the Brick that I proudly purchased in support of the event to be engraved and laid in the walkway for all to see in the years to come. To visit the memorial for the people that were killed and injured in the bombing, and yes, to a certain extent, to satisfy my own curiosity.

What I found was an outpouring of flowers, cards, notes and posters lining the hillside next to where the bomb had exploded. They offered prayers, hopes and dreams to the victims and the families of the victims in this nightmare. I added my little piece of good will to the memorial and realized that until this time, it had not been real. It was a very somber experience indeed.

Now, almost 3 years later, and almost exactly 2 weeks to the minute after the birth of my first child, another atrocity. Again within 100 miles of where I live. But this time it was a school. Innocent children, while doing their daily learning and preparation for life, had that very life taken from them. Again within minutes, the media was all over the situation. Live report ran non-stop into the evening. Some stations did not even break for commercials. Students hiding from the gunmen from within the school were calling from their cell phones and having live telephone interviews with local news anchors. We received, via our televisions, live, up-to the minute reports of the horror that was going on inside this school. Scared and shaky voices over cell phones, crying young faces on the TV. How could we not feel their pain? What could possibly cause 2 teens to turn on their peers in such a violent manner?

In the past week since this truly tragic situation, we have been bombarded with blame. Everything from the parents, to the video game DOOM. Now once again, the media is attacking the Internet for having the information. Attacking Movies, which show violence. Attacking video games for being violent. Attacking parents for not being aware. Attacking the schools for not providing safety. Attacking everyone and anything that could have the remotest connection to the situation. They can not attack the attackers. They are dead!

Ok, let’s be real here for a minute. The Internet? This media has an abundance of information, but nothing that cannot be found anywhere else. Movies? Sure they are violent, but anyone with half a head on their shoulders also knows that they are not real. In fact, fake would be a better word, and besides, when is the last time you watched a cartoon, such as Tom & Jerry? Now that is violence too. Video Games? Well I have played DOOM to a fair extent as have many friends and family. We have not snapped and gone violently crazy. Parents? Well as a new parent I cannot say much here for lack of experience, but I know I love my daughter, and will do my best to raise her proper. But these days, let’s be honest, how many homes can afford to have a parent home with the kids? Schools? Well they are schools, not prisons, and they are very safe at that. For instance, an Airliner goes down, many people are hurt and killed, headlines are made, people are afraid to fly, but it is still the safest form of transportation.

Last night, I took a drive again. I visited the memorial for those that were killed. Myself, along with what appeared to be thousands of other people walked by the hundreds of flowers, posters, notes, candles and stuffed animals that were left here in loving memory of the innocent victims of this Crime against humanity. This time I must say it was not only somber, but also sobering. With all the people present, there was silence. So silent you could probably have heard a pin drop. There were messages of Love. Messages of Hope. Messages of Sorrow. Messages of Grief. And, the question of Why?

As I drove home last night I thought about that question. Why? So, Now I say to everyone. What is the reason why? Who do we blame? These two boys were like you and me. Excellent students, intelligent, college bound kids. So what made them snap? What would make them plan an attack on their peers for over a year and with so much intricacy? We may never know for certain, as they are no longer here to speak for themselves. We do know that they were oppressed. Picked on by their peers to the extent that they had bottles and rock thrown at them from cars that would go by. They were called names, and poked fun at. I consider this oppression. They were not allowed to be themselves without ridicule and hate thrown at them. Is this bad?

Well lets look at oppression. We are now, as a nation, and in alliance with 18 other nations conducting a war against oppression and "crimes against humanity" half way around the world. Opps, we blew up a trainload of civilian refugees. The very same people that we are trying to protect. Well... that's ok. This is war! People are going to die! It is inevitable. What message are we sending? The news media (are they everywhere?) gives us up to the minute reports on the atrocities that are happening there as well. We think that we know whom to blame. The leadership of course, yet we bomb the civilians and then call it war. Is this fair? Is it righteous? I hate to see the oppression. I hate to see the killing. I sit here and wonder why can't we all just get along.

We all tend to love those closest to us, but what about those that are different. Are they not people too? Do they not deserve the right to be individuals themselves? To be able to live happily, comfortably, and without the fear of being cast-out or oppressed? Why do we have the need to conform others to our beliefs? Convert them to our way of life? Why must we feel superior? Why must we use violence to impose our ways on others? This is an everyday occurrence everywhere. Is it simply our animalistic past coming to haunt our civilized present?

Most animal species tend to work in groups, or packs. For us humans I suppose we could call these Cliches, Clubs, Organizations, Nations, etc. etc. etc. The theory is the same. For animals these packs most always have a leader, usually gaining his position by a show of strength. If another comes along and challenges the leader, a fight will generally be the result, often to the death.

So as we sit and listen to argument after argument as to whom is at fault, and discussion after discussion as to what we can do to prevent this from happening again, maybe we should realize that violence has always been around. It was here before TV, Games and even school. It is found in wild nature, not just civilization. It is a part of our animal instinct, maybe a part that will never be removed.

So who is to blame? Quite possibly we all are! I would venture to say that any of us could be capable of the same action given the needed trigger. Harm my precious daughter or my wife I love so dear and see if I don’t loose my cool. So I think that society as a whole could really be blamed. We all turned the other cheek while these kids were persecuted at a school where they should have been having the best time of their lives, and I am sure that they are not the only kids that are being treated this way in America. We are all guilty of loving the violent movies, games, news, etc. If we didn’t buy, it would not be profitable for them to make.

So my conclusion is simply this. I do not believe that we can eliminate violence in this society, only minimize it. Rather than try to blame, we should all except the responsibly of the task at hand and work together to minimize.

Most, if not all, religions teach us to love on another. The Bible (where my beliefs reside) shows many instances of overlooking ridicule and hatred so as to love everyone as we love ourselves. I think that is a start. Also I believe that we need to ensure that our children do just that, love themselves. We can not allow others to ridicule them to the extent that they feel worthless, unloved and unnecessary. We must be certain that they are aware of how much they are loved and that they are an important part of this world. But most of all I think that we should stop subscribing to evil. By this I mean that we should not dwell on bad news. When was the last time you turned on the evening news and heard a bunch of news that left you happy? There are many people doing many great things! Let’s report on them. Let’s reward them. Let’s give them the acknowledgment they deserve and be sure they know that we appreciate those great things that they do.

The battle between good and evil has always existed in all societies and even within the animal kingdom. It was in existence when God cast Lucifer out of heaven. Our duty is to make sure that we reside within the parameters of good, and with God’s help instill that sense into our fellow man (and woman). We need to pray for those with an evil heart so that God might touch their lives and show them that love is more powerful than hatred.

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