-Caveat Lector-
COLUMBINE "MARTYRDOM," OTHER DETAILS BEING QUESTIONED
AS OFFICIAL PROBE WINDS DOWN
The official probe into the April 20, 1999 shootings at Columbine High
School in Colorado is expected to end shortly, according a spokesman for
the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. Already, though, the
investigation may be casting doubts on some of the earlier reports about
the incident which left 14 students and a teacher dead. The two gunmen
involved in the slayings who were also Columbine students, Eric Harris and
Dylan Klebold, committed suicide after their rampage.
One finding concerns the case of Cassie Bernall, the 17-year old student
who reportedly was confronted by Klebold and was asked if she believed in
God. At least one witness claimed that the encounter took place, and that
Bernall replied "Yes" and was then shot. Since the incident, Bernall has
been described as a modern day martyr for her Christian faith. Last week,
her parents published a book about their daughter's life and death titled:
"She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall." The story of
Bernall's alleged heroism has been widely reported in the media and even
cited on the floor of the U.S. Congress.
Early coverage of the Columbine shooting, raised questions as to whether
this incident ever took place. The initial news reports were sketchy, and
there was no confirmation that any of the witnesses to the alleged
encounter were actually present in the school library where the shooting
occurred, or could have clearly seen or heard the events they so
dramatically described. Also, a note should be made of the possible
factors which were fueling the desire to believe the story of Bernall's
"martyrdom". There were serious questions about whether the media should
have printed the story of Bernall's death based on little or no evidence.
* On Friday, the Denver Rocky Mountain News noted: "Columbine shooting
victim may not have been asked whether she believed in God." Writers Dan
Luzadder and Katie Kerwin McCrimmon reported that weeks after she died,
investigators informed Bernall's parents that the "now-famous" encounter
between their daughter and Klebold may not have occurred The girl's
mother, Misty Klebold, still proceeded with publication of the book which
was printed and distributed by Plough. Nearly 300,000 copies have been
distributed to bookstores, and Associated Press notes that reorders are
now coming in.
The Rocky Mountain News story notes that despite early claims by some
students that the conversation between Klebold and Bernall occurred, "It
was discrepancies in student accounts that led police to question the
Bernall testimonial." A freshman declared that Bernall had affirmed her
belief in god, "Plain and simple." Another student, though, identified as
16-year-old Emily Wyant, "tells a different story" and was reportedly
crouched underneath a table two feet from Bernall when Dylan Klebold
opened fire. "They were the only two students studying together at the
table in the back of the library" when the shooting occurred, notes the
News.
"She (Bernall) was saying, 'Dear God. Dear God. Why is this happening?
I just want to go home," Emily said"
Sources report that more than fifty students were present in the library
at the time of the gun play. Interviews with witnesses, though, produced
mixed results. Police were able to obtain "detailed minute aspects of the
case, including who said what to whom in the school library, and
elsewhere, during the rampage." But at least one potential source of the
Bernall encounter with Klebold came from a student who "did not actually
see the individuals involved." When asked by investigators later to point
out where Klebold and Harris were at that time of the shootings, he
pointed to a table where a different student victim identified as Valeen
Schnurr, and not Cassie Bernall, had been hiding.
A variant of the Bernall martyrdom account, though, is being advanced by
Schnurr's mother, according to the News. She reportedly says that her
daughter was lying on the library floor with more than 15 bullet wound
"praying out loud, when gunman approached her and asked if she believed in
God, and she responded, 'Yes, I believe in God." Schnurr was spared and
managed to survive.
In reporting the new doubts about the Bernall slaying, Reuters news
service quoted police spokesperson Steve Davis who noted: "There just
seems to be a real question whether the dialogue (between Bernall and
Klebold) took place." He added that "The Bernalls were made aware there
seemed to be some doubt."
On Saturday, the Bernall family issued a press statement defending the
accuracy of the book about Cassie Bernall, but adding "If any of our
actions have hurt or offended someone, we sincerely apologize..."
* Equally provocative but less certain is the story which appeared last
Wednesday night on the Salon Magazine (Salon.com) web site which was
billed as an exclusive "First Glimpse into Eric Harris' Diary." According
to the Denver Post, the diary was booked into police evidence on April 20,
the day of the Columbine shooting, and allegedly seen only by the lead
investigator. "It's in the evidence vault and has been since April 20,"
said the Sheriff's Department spokesman, Steve Davis. Details of the
Harris diary had been revealed even in the first weeks after the shooting,
though, such as the claim that Harris had planned the massacre for at
least a year, and that the gunmen hoped to kill at least 500 students
before ravaging the neighborhood and then hijacking a plane and crashing
it into New York City. The Salon piece says that the author did not see
the actual diary entries, but was read excerpts by an unidentified source.
According to the Salon article, Harris and Klebold "were never part of the
Trench Coat Mafia," the affinity group identified by the media that was
allegedly known throughout Columbine for unorthodox behavior and
appearance. Indeed, after the shooting a number of schools across the
country banned the long coats and instituted dress and appearance codes
against dyed hair or unusual behavior. "They didn't target jocks,
minorities or Christians," adds the Salon story. "As investigators get
closer to producing an official report about the Columbine High School
massacres, it is already clear that much of what was reported last spring
about the motives and methods of killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold was
untrue..."
The two gunmen are described as "equal-opportunity haters, railing against
minorities and whites, praising Hitler's 'final solution' -- and then
ranting against racism." The Salon piece also suggests a close knowledge
of the official Littleton probe, including the fact that police have
analyzed more than 10,000 pieces of evidence, tracked 4,000 leads and
conducted "several thousand interviews with over 2,000 people."
"The biggest myth" about Columbine, says Salon, had to do with who the two
gunmen were targeting. "Jocks, African-Americans and Christians have been
widely described as their chief targets. Not a scrap of evidence supports
that conclusion..." Investigator Kate Battan reportedly found that the
earlier claims that student athletes were targeted by Klebold and Harris
was based on the story that the gunmen demanded "All jocks stand up!"
upon entering the library.
"But it never happened, multiple sources confirmed..."
And what about the Cassie Bernall account? Salon reports that
"cooperative sources quickly clammed up when questioned" about the Bernall
martyrdom. "This is just too sensitive," reported a key source.
Investigators reportedly also believe that if there is a "martyr" story
from Columbine, it would more likely involve Valeen Schnurr. One source
reported that the exact circumstances -- who said what and where -- "may
never be crystal clear," and that even if clear, "investigators clearly
don't intend to tell."
"They cite the tense political climate around the story in this heavily
evangelical community, as well as the potential embarrassment to Cassie's
family, uniformly describing the Bernalls as since victims who may have
been misinformed 'through no malicious intent.' "
* None of this has attenuated the charged religious and emotional climate
around the April 20, 1999 slayings. One clear sign of this is the
continued "battle of symbols" over crosses and memorials to the Littleton
victims, and the wider debate over violence, youth rebellion and values.
Last week, for instance, 21 Century Toys of Alameda, California announced
that it was remaking its popular "Modern Villain" action figure which
happened to sport an objectionable trench coat. A woman triggered a tidal
wave of negative publicity when she contacted the media and the giant
Sears retailing company to complain, saying that her two younger sons had
spotted the gun toting doll in the company's 1999 Christmas gift catalogue
and described it as a "Trench Coat Mafia doll." At considerable expense,
the toy firm is reworking its action doll and removing the offending coat.
Another symbol is the "Healing bear," a cuddly stuffed animal that
originated in Oklahoma City after the 1995 bombing of the federal center.
It was later sent to a high school in Pennsylvania after several students
were killed in the crash of TWA flight 800. The bear then found its way
to Columbine High School after the April 20 shooting, and recently had
been sent down to the church in Ft. Worth, Texas, where a gunman had
opened fire on a youth prayer service. "Each time the bear is sent to a
new place," notes the Denver Post, "a note of hope is pinned to it."
Back at Columbine, there is still bitter division over the status of
crosses and memorial trees. On Sunday, family and friends of two of the
slain Littleton students chopped down two of 15 trees which had recently
been planted by the local West Bowles Community Church. The families
contended that only 13 of the victims should be honored, not the two
killers -- Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold -- who committed suicide after
their gun rampage. The father of one of the victims told the Denver Post,
"The Bible tells us that if someone sins against us, then rebuke them.
If they repent, forgive them. Klebold and Harris didn't repent to
anyone..."
Before heading off to the tree cutting, picketers assembled outside the
church with signs reading "Unrepentant murderers honored here" and "No
rest for the wicked." Demonstrators then proceeded to a newly planted
area of trees on the west side of the church building, where parent Brian
Rohrbough nailed a sign with each victims name to 13 of the trees. Signs
on the two remaining trees read: "Unrepentant murderer." As another
demonstrator sawed down the trees, cheers of "Praise Jesus!" and Praise
be to God!" erupted from the small crowd.
* The real impact of Columbine, though, is felt on a larger scale. Across
the country, students have returned to schools in the midst of a
heightened climate of fear, complete with body searches, metal detectors,
surveillance cameras and harsh disciplinary policies which even punish
youngsters for off-campus behavior, sans the benefit of a trial. The head
of the American Civil Liberties Union describes this as part of a
"Fortress America" mentality, and reports a sharp increases in the number
of school-related complaints from concerned parents and students who
charge that their individual freedoms are being violated. Political
hopefuls have already tapped into the more authoritarian side of the
"Columbine spirit," calling for public prayer and a greater role for
religious groups in manipulating the American psyche. Both Vice President
Al Gore and GOP front runner George W. Bush have proposed a "partnership"
between government and faith-based groups in solving "the problems of
America." And there is the renewed spirit of aggressive proselytizing
inside of America's schools and elsewhere, as youngsters become the
adolescent foot soldiers in a growing culture war pitting religion against
secularism.
Many discover inspiration in the story of Cassie Bernall and her
martyrdom. That it might not have actually happened does not seem to
matter. Right or wrong, it is their holy truth.
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
