High School Massacres
As the funerals continue for the 13 people killed during a shooting rampage at Columbine High School questions come to mind. How did this happen? There are many different answers given by psychologists. So many theories about the events that it is difficult to form an opinion.
Some say the problem is guns. I believe that guns are a big society problem. I do not allow a gun in my home. However, remember that this is America where we have the right to bear arms. In the early days of the cowboys and Indians children did not pick up guns and shoot their parents, teachers or their friends. So it is not the availability of guns, its that guns fall into the hands of wrong people.
N.R.A. President, Charlton Heston, claims that schools need armed guards to insure the safety of the students. I wonder, does he want our schools to turn into armed camps? Visiting a classroom will become like visiting the state penitentiary. You would be frisked and then go through metal detectors as you enter the cafeteria or the school grounds.
Come to think of it, even armed guards can't help a shooting rampage. Columbine High School had an armed guard. Arming the staff is no answer.
Then there are those who claim that the reason that this took place was because there is no mention of G‑d in the school. Well, whose G‑d are they talking about? Recent conflicts and fights are taking place in the name of G‑d. You can be sure that the Serbian leader believes that his people are the chosen ones by G‑d. They are justified in removing ethnic Albanian Moslems from Serbia. In Ireland, a civilized country, the Catholics feel that their way is the only way to live and there is no room for the Protestant religious groups. I am sure that the Protestants feel the very opposite. And so it goes from country to country where battle lines are drawn in the name of G‑d.
So no, G‑d cannot be the only answer to this tragedy.
Some would blame the poor people that bring evil ideas to society. Now, remember, most of the school murders have taken place in middle to upper white class communities. It is not the inner city schools and the poor who produce violent youth it is our society.
Some say lets blame the parents. They should know and do something about it! Well, that doesn't always work. Parents can't always know if what is happening. Even when they do, they, may not be able to change anything. A year ago a 15-year-old Kipland P. Kinkel was charged with murdering his parents and students whilst wounding 18 other people. He came from a model home and model parents.
It has been reported that Susan Klebold, the mother of Dylan Bennett Klebold, one of the two boys who went on a murder spree, said the following, "There is no way I could have known this would happen." She claims that she had no idea of what was wrong with her son.
I feel that there may be something wrong with the Klebolds. Any parent with Jewish family ties knows that a child who yells out "Heil Hitler" whilst scoring a bowling strike has a very deep and obvious problem. Identifying with the worst world enemy of the Jewish people, Adolph Hitler, is a sure sign of a major disorder. True, the parents supported Dylan Bennett with a sharp looking BMW, living in a $500,000 home and giving him the latest computers. But that doesn't buy peace or meaning in life. It may, however, cover up a major disorder for a certain time.
Strangely enough, during the carnage Klebold's father called and offered to help. He was sure that his son had something to do with the killings.
A phenomena that has been overlooked in recent years is the lack of a religion that teaches the universal religious purpose for life.
Ever since creation, religions claim that their mission is to make the world a better place. Religions throughout the world have different ideas of what is good for the world. That may indeed be a cause for world conflict.
I think it's time to find a common denominator in all religions based on the Noachide laws.
The Jewish world Chassidic leader, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902 - 1994), stated early in the 1970s that in order for the American school system to succeed they must allow a moment of silence for religious and moral contemplation. He asked that the Noachide laws be distributed. Students would have a moment for prayer or contemplation to think about a higher purpose and meaning for life. This could be achieved through the seven divine laws that preceded the three world religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
The Almighty G‑d gave us, the children of Noah, seven divine laws by which to live by. These are the prohibition against adultery, idolatry, blasphemy, theft, murder, sexual ambiguity, acts of cruelty and last but not least the obligation of courts and justice for mankind. I believe that by observing the Noachide Laws there will be no differences between the people. Things would be different. We would not shoot somebody because it trespasses a Noachide Law. We would not commit cruelty to animals and to our fellow human beings because G‑d said so.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were truly one family. We should be compassionate, caring about the world as family members. We need to be looking for similarities among people and not differences, and working together in securing a healthy present, and be more optimistic about our future.
We would recognize the athlete for what he is, a gifted person with athletic qualities. We would give respect to those who are inclined to the world of technology and computers. Those musically inclined would be their place in society. Jocks, nerds and spacey music people would have acceptance .
A reason why Eric David Harris and Dylan Beneath Klebold killed so many people on the day of Adolph Hitler's birthday stemmed from the fact that they did not feel themselves to be important members in a world of law and order. They took matters into their own hands and destroyed the real world around them in the name of others who had done the same, like Adolph Hitler. "There is no G‑d" they claimed.
The Governor of Colorado feels that the parents should be charged with the crime as accomplices. He may have a point in looking for collective responsibility, we may all be guilty!
As a school administrator I am told to give the children space. When we are dealing with a troublesome teenager the sage advice is Let them do what they want in their rooms and garages. At least you know where they are! If you ask too much they will run away from home. If that be the case then how will ever know our kids?
Educators are instructed to keep prayer and the mention of G‑d out of the school system. It is interesting to note that during the killings almost all the kids prayed. Doesn't that tell us that we may have it all wrong.
70,000 people attending funerals is a sign that we must change the way we are doing things. As a parent and educator, I believe we must be interested in everything our children do. We should allow a moment of prayer or silence in our school system. We should not wait for a crisis to allow the students pray.