Wednesday, Jul 9, 2008
Columbine "coverup"
BY DAVE CULLEN
(04/21/00)
After reading the various accounts of the events at Columbine High School and speaking with several of my friends who are SWAT team members from other cities, I can only conclude that the officers who were present at Columbine are cowards and should be fired. They fall into two categories: those who failed to go in and confront the gunmen and save lives -- and were too cowardly to do so -- and those who wanted to go in and tried, but were prevented by their supervisors and have not reported their cowardice.
Having defended my life in a liquor store robbery -- and faced down and shot and killed the two armed robbers -- I can say that any officer armed with a shotgun or submachine gun who felt too scared to go in and confront the gunmen in the school should be ashamed to call themselves a police officer and should start flipping burgers or painting houses. I just hope that the police in my city are not complete cowards like those who stood around for three hours while children were shot and killed and a teacher bled to death.
-- Christopher White
Do we, as a society, think we are doing good to bring charges against law enforcement on their attempt to bring order to the chaos of Columbine? We only hurt ourselves when we turn the resources of law enforcement to defending themselves instead of preparing for the next chaotic scene they will have to enter. Law enforcement is not responsible for this situation and how dare we second-guess their responsibilities and tasks that day.
-- Jim Berry
Living in shimmering
disequilibrium
BY FRED BRANFMAN
(04/22/00)
Putting aside the fact that Wilson and Branfman offer nothing to indicate the "degradation of the environment over the last 30 years" and expect the reader to take their words on faith, I fear their call for a spiritual approach. When Wilson asks for a spiritual approach, he is necessarily demanding an abandonment of reason, the only faculty mankind has for dealing with the world around him. If the environment is to be made sacred, all other considerations are eliminated.
Despite Wilson's belief that Earth is the only home that humans may ever have, he should begin to search for another home for the human beings who are foolish enough to follow him. His new spirituality is a philosophy that is not designed for life on this Earth.
-- Edward Roberts
Profound thanks for the Earth Day interview with E.O. Wilson. I've observed the occasion with a spring walk along Medicine Lake and e-mailing the piece to sundry friends.
-- David Seppa
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