The Nation: 'Bowling for Columbine' Teaches How to Prevent Another Va. Tech Massacre

[babylonsister]

http://www.alternet.org/story/50672/

'Bowling for Columbine' Teaches How to Prevent Another Va. Tech Massacre

By John Nichols, TheNation.com. Posted April 16, 2007


Instead of applying for a gun permit in reaction to the Va Tech massacre, you'd be better off renting Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine.

There will be plenty of "rapid responses" to the gun rampage on the Virginia Tech campus, which has claimed the lives of as many as 31 students -- making it the deadliest school shotting incident in the history of the United States.

Do not doubt that the National Rifle Association is preparing its "this-had-nothing-to-do-with-guns" press release. The group has no compunctions about living up to its reputation for being beyond shame -- or education -- when it comes to peddling its spin on days when it would be better to simply remain silent. But the NRA will not be alone in responding in a self-serving manner. Many groups on all sides of issues related to guns and violence in America will be busy making their points, just as many in the media will look for one dimensional "explanations" for what the university's president, Charles Steger, has correctly described as "a tragedy... of monumental proportions."

"The university is shocked and indeed horrified," explained Steger, after it became clear that what had happened on his campus Monday was worse the carnage at Columbine High School in 1999 or at the University of Texas in 1966.

The trouble with shock and horror is that it does not often translate into contemplation, let alone serious reflection on the state of a nation in which such an incident can occur -- and, more troublingly, in which no one can suggest that the killings were unimaginable.

The first question, appropriately, is: Why did this happen?

The second question, equally appropriately, is: What should we do about it?

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[Maat]

1. Nichols hits the nail right on the head!

Teaching Americans non-violent conflict resolution, particularly American kids, would help immensely (and making that the philosophy by which we live).