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From ordinary high school students to terrorist attackers: How did their secret plans develop?
On April 20, 1999, a shooting incident occurred at Columbine High School in Colorado that shocked the entire country. The attack was carried out by two high school students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who killed 12 students and a teacher, and 24 others. Injuried. The media sensation and moral panic caused by the incident made "Columbine" synonymous with school shootings. The story of this pair of friends goes from ordinary teenage life to a tragic path. It is thought-provoking to see how their plan was gradually developed.
Early LifeHarris and Klebold grew up in very different backgrounds. Harris was born in Kansas in 1981 to parents who moved frequently due to his father's Air Force work. He seemed to be enjoying his time in Michigan, playing minor league baseball and having a decent social circle at school. Klebold was born in Colorado that same year and had a relatively normal childhood. As they met in seventh grade, their friendship gradually deepened and they became inseparable good friends.
According to their diaries and videos, Harris and Klebold began planning the attack in May 1998, almost a year in advance. How did this preparation process gradually evolve into their final plan?
Psychological and behavioral changes
In a personality analysis of Harris and Klebold, police said Harris had psychopathic traits, displaying narcissism, unlimited aggression and a lack of empathy. Klebold, by contrast, was seen as an angry, depressed person. Despite these labels, neither man appeared to have received a formal mental illness diagnosis prior to the attack.
Behind social motivations
Many media outlets have analyzed multiple factors, including bullying, interpersonal relationships, mental illness, and racial discrimination, as motivations for the attacks. However, it remains unclear which factor played a key role. Today, Harris and Klebold are pop culture icons. Many future attackers even used them as inspiration, if not using their actions to express sentiments, which makes it impossible not to think about the changes in the mentality of this society.
"Their story is not only a tragedy, but also a profound reflection on the mental health of contemporary society."
Betrayal and hatred
As their lives became increasingly isolated, their friendship began to deteriorate. According to Klebold's mother, Harris's anger and Klebold's self-destructive personality intertwined, ultimately leading to a desperate friendship. However, Harris also has many friends in his social circle, which adds a lot of complexity to his motives. The emotions reflected in their diaries and videos make people feel their despair towards the world.
From planning to implementation
They began making explosives, collecting weapons, and even committed criminal activities to obtain funds. In the film "Hire Killers," their behavior seems to become a rehearsal, showing their attraction to violence and their disgust with the status quo of society. Even in the face of many warnings and their own psychological entanglements, their final plan still developed in the determined direction.
Social Reflection
The Columbine incident has left an indelible mark in history. As time goes by, society has become more concerned about mental health, family relationships and youth culture. The repeated school shootings have caused people to rethink how to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
How much warning significance does this have for today's society? How many more "Columbine"s will happen in the future?
