I know this will probably be forgotten by the most of the world by wednesday, but I wanted to at least remind a few people about what is becomg so commonplace in our society. Remember when YOU went to high school? Like Lennon said, (assassinated in 1980) "... imagine?". I don't think this is what he had in mind.

http://www.aol.com/mynews/specials/news/denver/home.adp

Students Return to Columbine High

The Associated Press Monday, August 16 1999 07:04 AM EDT

Students walk through Clement Park on their way to Columbine High School on Monday. Several are wearing T-shirts that say "We are Columbine." Credit: Laura Rauch, AP

LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) - Like many of her friends, 17-year-old Kim Blair has mixed feelings about returning to Columbine High School, the scene of last spring's deadly shooting rampage.

With armed guards planned for the school's entrance, dogs sniffing the grounds for explosive devices, and dozens of police officers patrolling the neighborhood, she wasn't worried about safety.

``But it's still scary ... it's creepy,'' said Miss Blair, who returns to Columbine with 2,000 other students and teachers today to kick off the new school year.

It's been four months since Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, stormed the school with guns and bombs, killing a dozen classmates and a teacher before committing suicide. Twenty-three others were injured.

Before classes begin, Principal Frank DeAngelis was to lead the students, teachers and staff in a ``take back the school'' rally. A U.S. flag that has been at half-staff since the April 20 shootings was then to be raised and the school's doors opened.

``I'm really excited to get our school back,'' said Julie McGinley, 15, who was in the cafeteria eating lunch when the shootings began.

``But I'm nervous, too,'' she said. ``All summer I've been trying to live life as normal. Being back there is going to trigger a lot of memories.''

Joshua Lapp, 16, who witnessed several of the killings, said he dreads facing the mob of cameras and reporters.

``I'd rather just be in class,'' he said.

Parents and alumni planned to shield students and teachers from the media attention by forming a human barrier along a path between a secured parking lot and the school.

The Jefferson County school district, which is imposing tight restrictions on the media, informed photographers and television crews that taking pictures of injured students was prohibited.

Inside the school, bullet and shrapnel holes have been plastered and painted over. And there's a new wall of lockers blocking the entrance to the second-floor library where 10 people died.

``That's the creepiest part of all,'' said Miss Blair. ``The library is just gone.''

In an effort to give the school a new feel, construction crews renovated its interior, painting the formerly gray walls white, green and blue and replacing carpet in the school's sprawling corridors with white tile.

``I think (the changes) will make it easier for kids who saw things,'' said Lindsey Neam, a senior. ``But for others it might make it harder, because kids just want things to be the same. They want to get back to normal.''

Security has also been tightened. Along with armed guards, the number of surveillance cameras inside the school has been increased by 16 and all students and staff must wear identification badges.

But the students will not have to pass through metal detectors or let anyone check backpacks. The nearly 30 extra police scheduled to be on hand Monday were to handle primarily traffic and crowd control.

``We heard shortly after the tragedy and from lots of people - students, staff, parents - that they didn't want their school to be turned into a fortress,'' said school district spokesman Rick Kaufman.

Two mental health counselors have joined the regular staff of six counselors, in case the return is emotionally jarring for any student or teacher. There is also a safe room in the school for anyone who needs special attention during the first week of class.

On Sunday, 19 churches in Littleton held simultaneous back-to-school services to lift lingering clouds of grief and fear.

Bart Campolo, whose Kingdomworks does inner-city mission work in Philadelphia, was one of the main speakers at the Abiding Hope Lutheran Church.

``You'd better believe that good overcomes evil or I don't know how you can go back to school,'' he said.

-- (a!!@bnet.com), August 16, 1999

Answers

Does anyone here think it's possible to FORGET Columbine...?

-- praise the Lord (pass@the.ammo), August 16, 1999.

How can one forget Columbine if they are subject to listening to CNN !!

Life's lessons are sometimes quite difficult. At some point we and the students at Columbine MUST move on with the knowledge derived.

Ray

-- Ray (ray@tottacc.com), August 16, 1999.

PTL,

To answer your question in one word "YES".

Many will never forget it but most will. How many people still remember Thurston?

-- DOC (hoping_for@the_best.com), August 16, 1999.

How about Don Scott, the Weavers, David Koresh and compatriots, etc.?
For all of you so concerned about "the children" (sob, sniff) remember that YOUR government shot down Weaver's wife and kid. Your government (Janet Rhinohaunches and Klinton and their mercenaries) murdered dozens of people, including children, at Waco.

-- A (A@AisA.com), August 16, 1999.

Without sounding like a cold hearted jerk, kids die everyday of the week, shot by friends and family.

-- O.J. (OJSimpson@jailhouse.com), August 16, 1999.

How many remember the Alamo?

-- ah ha (SickofHearing@about.columbine), August 16, 1999.

And I can't remember the last time someone held a memorial service for the Spartans at Thermopolae. Er, Thermopolis?

Thermo-polis? Heat-city?

Nevermind.

-- addicted to emotion (EMOADD@ICCT.ION), August 17, 1999.