Opinions vary as Colorado movie theater reopens

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By P. SOLOMON BANDA

AURORA, Colo. (AP) - The Colorado theater where 12 people were killed and dozens injured in a shooting rampage nearly six months ago reopened Thursday with a remembrance ceremony and a private screening of the fantasy film "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" for survivors - but for some Aurora victims, the pain is still too much, the idea too horrific.

Several families boycotted what they called a callous public relations ploy by the theater's owner, Cinemark. They claimed the Texas-based company didn't ask them what should happen to the theater. They said Cinemark emailed them an invitation to Thursday's reopening just two days after they struggled through Christmas without their loved ones.

"It was boilerplate Hollywood - 'Come to our movie screening,'" said Anita Busch, whose cousin, 23-year-old college student Micayla Medek, died at the theater.

But Pierce O'Farrill, who was wounded three times in the shooting, returned to the theater Thursday night and immediately walked to the back door where he remembers the gunman emerging.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130118/DA3SATFO1.html

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Workers with American Fence remove the fence from around the Century theater in Aurora, Colo., on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013. The Colorado movie theater where a gunman killed 12 people and wounded dozens of others reopens Thursday with a private ceremony for victims, first responders and officials. Theater owner Cinemark plans to temporarily reopen the entire 16-screen complex in Aurora to the public on Friday, then permanently on Jan. 25. Aurora's mayor, Steve Hogan, has said residents overwhelmingly support reclaiming what he calls "an important venue for Aurora." (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

[NYC Liberal]

1. As much as I feel for those who don't like this...

I don't think we can (or should) simply raze every building where a tragedy happens.

[JesterCS]

2. i agree. That would be like saying raze Sandy Hook.

or any other major building/landmark that was involved with a tragedy. I can sympathize, but that seems a tad irrational

[NYC Liberal]

4. I'm all for a memorial somewhere but it doesn't have to be on that site.

It can be anywhere.

[Archae]

3. What the hell should the owner do with the building?

Keep it closed down, sucking up his resources and giving no return?

Did they tear down all of Dealy Plaza in Dallas after Kennedy was killed there?

Yes, there was tragedy in that theater.
Put up in there a memorial.

But it's not "sacred" ground.

[triplepoint]

5. Why Not Convert It Into a Community Center?

With that, maybe people would know each other a bit better, and look out for each other more. I know...there's no financial profit in that activity....As it now seems, life is a blur of bad movies, shootings, and rePIGs.....and the "quickening" of it all is that geologic time is shrinking/shortening to human time as we rape and plunder the Planet into extinction. So, why not a Community Center instead of a venue for more violent, and pointless movies that you forget the title of as you exit the theater?

[Blue_Tires]

6. I bet any amount of $$$$ some ignorant asshole will show up one night

with a toy gun and/or a mask -- And have the nerve to wonder why nobody can take a "joke"