Aurora Colorado Massacre, and Respect to the Victim's Families (Editorial)

            Friday, July 20^th at 12:01A.M. was supposed to be the opening for the film “The Dark Knight Rises”, the last entry in the most recent saga of the Batman franchise. In the small city of Aurora, Colorado, a crazed, lone gun man, armed to the teeth with riot gear, bulletproof vest, and an AR 16, glock hand pistol, and Remington .44 shotgun, went into the Century 16 cinemaplex, theater 9, and opened fire on a full house packed in to see this huge summer premiere.

            This sick, deranged man, named Jim Holmes, a name that rings to the sickening tone around the world is now synonymous with evil in it’s most modern form. Though the motives were not directly understood, and this odious, though near genius intellect has commited some of the most inhumane, depraved acts a man could ever commit: he has killed men, women, and children in cold blood, some victims were no older than four months.

            This act of insidious violence, toppled on top of the many homes lost in Colorado in the past month, has been huge hits to the state where over a decade before was the epicenter of the first school shooting that brought mass media attention. How ironic, and terrible that this will also be the state where the same media attention will be placed on how we enjoy the movie theaters.

            With more than I can muster respect towards the victims, I think that this senseless mass murder killing is going to affect so much of our media, and how we as a nation relax, and entertain ourselves than we can even begin to imagine. My heart goes out to those lost by this act of violence, so disgusting, that it is still settling in for most Americans.

            I’m sure the usual suspects will pop up to remind us that video games, comic books, and television are to blame for these killings, and I continually repeal those arguments with the prime examples, such as: Jack the Ripper, H.H. Holmes, Lizzie Borden, and of course Ed Gein. Though the last entry to that list lived during a time of television, he was known to be a shut-in that had little to know stimulation from any media. Now, does this mean that this sick bastard, who supposedly claimed he was “The Joker” because his hair was painted red, which makes no sense, and may have been an inside joke with the guy, I’m sure no one is laughing. The point is, I do truly believe that if another major blockbuster movie that would’ve been released at the same time, this sick killer would’ve done the same thing that he did here, Batman or not.

            He wants to be famous, all mass murderers do, and they like to cause chaos to our everyday lives. These monsters are created due to a perfect mix of anger, psychosis , and political radicalism. The same could’ve been seen in David Berkowitz, and Charles Manson. They knew that if you acted insane, you’d not get the chair, which is how most killers sidle away from capital punishment. This devil most definitely deserves the highest penalties the justice system of Colorado can give to him, rather than have him sitting to be analysed by bullshit psychiatrist who will keep him alive long enough to write the text study, and make even more money off the victims. By-the-way, isn’t it sad that the media’s attention will be on analyzing this sick fuck for years to come, and not one shred of notice will go to the families? Again the book, television miniseries, and psychological debates will trump the need for anyone to care about the dead, who have already been forgotten and dropped off the radar.  Sorry, I just think that we’ll see Americans will surely remember the killer over the murdered, same with our own 9/11, we know KSM more than any firefighter, police officer, pilot, or even bystander killed in the 9/11 attacks than the names of brave men and women who died trying to save the lives of people in the towers, or from the aircraft debris. It’s a very American, very western perspective, put the murderer on the pedestal, bury the victim into oblivion, so why be different here? I say because we are supposed to be better.

            Sure, I play, and review many violent video games, and films, I accept they are the norm, and I do at times enjoy them myself. Yet, I do not desire to go out and cause harm to others who have never done me wrong, and I don’t plan to seek out, and obliterate my enemies. Why?  Because I’m not insane, nor do I hold myself to be better than anyone else. Sure, it sounds self-righteous, but it is because I’m simply not looking to murder people, it’s wrong, and it’s common sense. Cold blooded murder is disgraceful, and ruins families, children, mothers and fathers, husbands and wives. Let’s face it, when we recreationally play video games, it’s not something that should transfer over to the real world. When we watch an R-rated film, it should not be taken literally, and when we see violence, we should not imitate it! Adults are not impressionable children, we know the difference between right and wrong, and for those adults who do not know the difference, seek help before you wind up gunning down innocent men, women, and children!

           

            I remember when one of my favorite bands, GWAR were being questioned about their on-stage antics, though keeping in character, they tried to explain that satire was an art form, and that whoever took them seriously, was probably a very disturbed individual to begin with. It is sick bastards like this Holmes character, that makes it harder for the rest of us sane, everyday individuals to enjoy life, and the freedoms we so rightfully deserve. Though I truly feel horrible for those were murdered by this disgrace of a human being, I would never give up a right, or change a freedom that I have today to prevent it from happening again. Meaning, if I wanted to go see “The Dark Knight Rises”, which is what I am doing next week, I wouldn’t want to be told I couldn’t see it, because those people killed would never want Americans to live like that, and I believe that we honor them more by seeing the movie, rather than vilifying it, right?

           

            I would just like to finish up by saying I do feel horrible for those in Colorado, and I think most Americans feel the same, others may not care simply because they are sick individuals, or they’re too far removed from the state. I send my sincerest apologizes to the families, the victims, and I do hope that some justice if given to the families by seeing this asshole rot in jail, or maybe get shanked by a fellow inmate. He goes to trial Monday, so I’m sure we’ll get some news after that, hopefully the justice system still works, and will not protect this guy.