Hey, I just got done reading Dave Cullen's book
Columbine, about that school shooting, its causes and aftermath. It's a freaking eye-opener, a textbook case about how mainstream media (usually cable television) creates and perpetuates myths and misinformation. In the Columbine case, the inept work of television reporters was only part of the story, as Cullen demonstrates that local politicians and law enforcement officers covered up a number of blunders, mostly pertaining to how earlier complaints to LE about one of the school shooters were ignored or underestimated. In addition, some groups knowingly spread what they knew was a false story in order to push their own agenda and that false story reverberated through the cable echo chamber.
And what do we in the public have left as "evidence" if mainstream media sources are so inaccurate, sloppy, and riddled with error and innuendo? Cullen points to the good job (relatively) done by local newspapers--which we are in danger of losing. So we might need to look to the local print sources for the best information.
Here's a link to the website of the author of the Columbine book. It's available through major retailers and as an e-book.
http://www.davecullen.com
Thanks, thanks, thanks! That is an incredible book.
Another shocker: Cullen exposes how the police actually were given numerous warnings about Klebold/Harris by concerned citizens. And they blew them off.
Even worse, LE bungled many things--and then proceeded to try and cover up their mistakes. In fact, some evidence even went "missing."
LE got an idea in their heads: nothing to it with these boys acting weird, just teenaged stuff.
Then they learned that those trying to get their attention were right.
Then they got other ideas in their head. And then they also had ego problems, territorial problems, and some bouts of just plain incompetence.
And then they tried to cover up their mistakes.
It's all in Cullen's book.
Cullens' painstaking tracking of the details, including LE actions, gives real insight into how easy it is to be lulled into thinking LE is on top of things. In fact, LE is filled with people of varying degrees of competence, varying degrees of intelligence, varying degrees of honesty, and all the human elements of ego, arrogance, fear, buddyism, personal feuds, etc.
In short, LE is just like any other profession--except they have enormous power.
Frankly, in this case, I'm afraid that LE focused on TH early on, KH & DY's statements adding to it (for awhile it seemed that LE worked for KH rather than for the public!) and set out to prove themselves right in their TH theory.
A clue to that--when LE immediately assured parents their kids were safe, nothing to worry about folks. And they said that right away. What colossal arrogance--"don't you worry your pretty little head, missy, the law is here." All ego and PR. Yes, I understand they didn't want a panic, but that statement so quickly showed their frame of mind.
Unless and until LE shows up with an 18-wheeler filled with solid provable evidence that TH did something to Kyron, I'm going to continue to believe that they targeted her early on--and wanted a quick 'n easy solution and to be heroes.
Just like at Columbine. This syndrome, for lack of a better word, is fairly common and well-known.
Understand, I am not saying that TH is innocent--but there's no facts so far to prove her guilty of anything except indulging in ill-advised, tacky, and stupid behavior. And she's not the only one in this whole mess.
The Cullen book is a must-read (also available on Kindle, which is how I read it). I'm going to add in another link to his website:
http://www.davecullen.com/columbine.htm
And, on the right, click on The Columbine Guide to view actual documents, videos, and evidence (warning: very graphic).
And, overall, this story has suffered from some very very bad, amateurish, poorly-edited (or not edited at all), personal-slant (bad!) "news" and incompetently done rumor-mongering dressed up as journalism. I've seen things published that had they crossed my desk would have gone into the circular file. Too many things that were just ego stuff for on-air reporters. Too many unattributed sources with nothing added to provide any substantiation to any claim that anyone makes (apparently). Sloppy, sloppy writing, editing, and interviewing.
All in all, the media in this case, especially local--who IMHO have the greatest responsibility to their community--have earned a D- and teeter dangerously close to an F. Warning: I'm an old-school journalist raised and trained by demanding editors who put ethics and "doing it right" before everything else, including "being first." If you're first to the BBQ with a pile of dog poop instead of steak (excuse me) it doesn't much matter that you're first.:banghead:
Ooops. Ranting here. Must stop now.
