It's pretty amazing, very well-written, very responsible. The rampage is not in any way made to read as an exciting event, there is certainly not any glamorizing of the two, even as villains. I'm impressed with Cullen's humanity. Of particular help is the analysis given for the "why" of the attack, and the explanation of the pathologies involved.

But most impressive are his biograpies of the survivors. This aspect is intensely moving, bringing me close to tears more than once. What brave people, students and faculty, they have been. The triumphs over an act of cruelty and chaos are inspiring. Read this book.

What a waste. And by the way, Blockbuster no longer charges late fees, hasn't for I think a couple of years. If you keep the movies past a certain date, they charge it as a purchase, but whenever you eventually return the overdue item, the charge is removed.

Agree that the selection is very limited now, though a friend with the Blockbuster version of the Netflix mail-order method is completely sastisfied.

Talk about irony.

WHY THE WOULD LOCAL NEWSPAPER COLLUDE WITH THE LOCAL SHERIFF

It's likely related to this occurring in a small community unfamiliar with major news coverage. Unlike New York, L.A., Chicago, Columbine was a small community and one very concerned about its image. You're right that this was unprofessional on the part of the police and the press, but it's understandable. The local press probably didn't want to exploit the story and the police just wanted to contain the tragedy, control it. A big mistake, but generally typical when a community unused to being the focal point of news becomes one.

Having said that, I don't think the emphasis on the "She said yes" story is surprising. People seem to miss the point of the article. It isn't a "let's tell you what happened at Columbine" piece. That's what the book is for, and theoretically it will answer all these questions. It's about asking Cullen "what's it like to deal with this material, from the beginning until now." That issue had emotional resonance for him because it made him look like a betrayer among people who had trusted him and connects with his personal links to the story. It fits what this aritcle is about, putting the emphasis on his own experience, which the book itself de-emphasizes.

Another thoughtful, intelligent letter. I always like to read what you write.

Considering the number of letters you receive, I'm complimented that you remember me.

Though sadly, I echo Bill Owen in not having been surprised/shocked by the events at the time. All my life and before there have been these events: the Tate-LaBianca murders, Guyana, Waco, that UFO suicide cult, and many schools were already having students walk through gun detectors, though I guess this was in slum neighborhoods, not white suburbs. I'd watched A Clockwork Orange and If... and Heathers, there were 60's college activists still wanted by the FBI. Why should a school massacre surprise anyone? It was dreadful, but not surprising.

I think this article is very well conducted, and if it is somewht congratulatory, I'm not sure there's anything wrong with that. I applaud Joan Walksh for being up front about her connection with Cullen and her feeligns about his work. I think it makes the interview more honest.

And, personally, I had never learned that the two boys weren't part of the Trench Coat Mafia.

If you click on the link to the earlier story—which is actually titled "Inside the Columbine Investigation" but referred to by Joan Walsh and linked by its byline "Everything you know about the Littleton killings is wrong"—you find that a girl in the room was asked the "Do you believe in God" question, answered "yes," and was shot but survived. Apparently, it was very hard for the other kids scattered about the room in hiding to be sure who was being spoken to at a given time and who answered what. Either they misidentified the person speaking, or they misremembered.

Actually, it sounds from the earlier article that it's entirely posssible that Misty Bernall was also asked the question and said yes and was killed, but just that if it happneed, it's far from verifiable—the reports are highly inconsistent because the kids were under intense stress, did not have a view or were not in hearing of all the same things, and did not remember what they did see/hear identically—and in any case, whatever they asked or she answered was not the reason they shot her (according to that article, they likely would have shot her whatever she said).