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Article: Asking violence to justify myth that it takes care of things.(the killings at Columbine High School, and the tragedies taking place in Kosovo, Yugoslavia, makes one's own family seem more vulnerable, but also more precious)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- National Catholic Reporter
- Article date:
- May 7, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 National Catholic Reporter. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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As the news from Littleton, Colo., broke, I was preparing a party for a dozen 14-year-olds on spring break My older son was instant messaging me: "Keep an eye on them."
He wanted me to keep his twin brother and sister safe. I know I can't. The parents in Kosovo and the Bronx can't either: Violence wins battles it should never even be allowed to have. We let it. And we cannot let it. We can withdraw permission from the myth that violence solves things. It doesn't. It only destroys things.
Between tears and 16-year-old paternalizing of 14-year-olds, I picked up the smelly sneakers other mothers won't be able to bear to even see. I folded the laundry, ...