There are very few high schools in the world that have the name recognition that Columbine High School does. Not many would want it to be sure. Columbine gained its reputation by being the site of a tragedy that changed a nation. No picture conveys this better than this 2000 photograph by George Kochaniee, Jr.
Columbine was an event that shocked all of America. Before the Columbine shooting the fear of such a massacre occurring at a school, perpetrated by unhinged individuals, simply did not exist in the minds of Americans. The shock that came with this tragedy was soon followed by outbursts of fear and anger. The horror conveyed on face of the boy pictured in this photograph is simply indescribable. Perhaps it is the look of absolute terror, like that of a weeping child, on this admittedly rough-looking male that is so shocking. Perhaps it is the tight embrace he is giving his friend, an act we don't normally expect from a teenage boy such as himself. Whatever it may be, one thing is clear - this boy has been through a nightmare beyond all nightmares.
Columbine changed this nation, perhaps more than 9/11 did. Prior to Columbine the fear of handguns was generally restricted to outright criminals, and social outcasts were not generally seen as a threat. The fear and anguish that occurred that day changed the outlook our entire culture. Today the fear of similar school shootings, like the VTU shooting a fellow student posted about, has compelled stricter laws against possession of firearms near schools, and greater focus on the subjects of bullying and alienation in our schools. It is hard to believe that America will ever recover from Columbine, just as looking at this photo, it is hard to imagine that this boy ever recovered from the shock and anguish he experienced that day.
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