thoughtmechanics

“Super Columbine Massacre” is the brain child of somebody who either seems to be lacking a brain, or a heart for that matter. The anonymous programmer’s identity of the video game has been outed by a friend of one of the victims of the Columbine massacre that took place on April 20, 1999. Danny Ledonne, a 24-year-old from Alamosa. Co. defended his creation, stating “I want people to walk away feeling disturbed or at least introspective. I think the ultimate purpose of the game is to promote real dialogue on the subjects of school shootings, violence, retribution, media coverage and many others.”

This is all well and good for Mr.Ledonne to state, but the reality of the situation is that the game as it is meant to be played, glorifies and promotes the scenario as it played out on that fateful day in April over 7 years ago. The video game which uses poor graphical representations, features the murderers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, going around the Columbine High School, shooting students and teachers in a typical First Person Shooter mode. Mr.Ledonne is quoted as saying that he was bullied as a high school student at the time of the massacre, and “it was empowering to see two oppressed, marginalised kids rise up”.

Joe Kechter, father of one of the victims Matt, responded “I want people to see what happened, but not acting it out in a video game”. Other parents have been outraged and called the game creator a coward for not coming forth publically before his identity was revealed.

Super Columbine Massacre is a free download released last year, and has so far seen 40,000 downloads online. No matter what the weak justification of Mr.Ledonne, the simulation of murder in any context involving real killers and real victims is completely inexcusable in my mind. Federal authorities should become involved, and shut down the web site. At the very least the game is insensitive to the survivors and friends of the victims who live in trauma from that day. It seems that no matter how horrible an act, there will be those out there who marginalize, or trivialize the innocent. It may only be a matter of time before a flight simulator allows gamers to plot and fly an ariplane into the World Trade Center.

What we need today is understanding and compassion, both for the victims and to try and prevent what happened in Colorado from occuring again at another High School. Columbine is an example of what can occur when teenage bullying goes unchecked and monitored, and it raised some serious concerns in the United States and Canada. This video is plainly in bad taste, however, and I cannot see how it raises any awareness beyond the fact that Mr.Ledonne is as twisted as the murderers themselves.

Post by Adrian MacNair
http://www.unoriginalgangster.com

A recent article from the Veterans for Common Sense website details how little progress has been made on the mental health front for deployed and deploying soldiers. Military officials pledged to improve mental health services back in 2003 after a spate of suicides touched off national interest.

In the year following that the pledge, it seemed possible that the military was doing a good job in carrying through on its promise, as the number of reported mental health problems dropped off significantly. This year, however, there has once again been a dramatic increase in the number of problems soldiers are having.

I have been an advocate of mental health screenings as part of the enlistment process for the last several years. Here in the US, we have physical fitness tests to ensure the combat viability of a person prior to allowing them to enlist, why shouldn’t we have a mental health screening process to help point out potential soldiers who may not be able to handle the stresses of a combat situation?

In an era when recruiting for the military is at a low, even with sign on bonuses of up to $40,000 (USD) cash, opponents of this idea say it won’t be cost effective, and will hinder the military’s ability to operate at sustainable levels.

Should “cost effectiveness” ever enter the discussion when we talk about the health of those we entrust to protect us?

Maybe if our government didn’t just drop $80,000 on a new bike trail for Hot Springs, Arkansas, or $800,000 for the Mammoth Lakes Bus Purchase in California we could afford to get these soldiers the help they need in dealing with the health problems accumulated from multiple deployments to high stress enviroments.

More frivolous government spending here.