Thoughts on We Are Columbine

I saw the movie last night... A lot to unpack... I will give you some highlights and please let me know if you have any questions.

The movie did scratch the surface of a lot of stories. There were no political leanings or anything like that, it was really a personal story from 4 freshman. One is now a teacher and soccer coach at Columbine. He lived across the street and there was footage from his interview. It's just shocking how young everyone looks. It hits home on how young we all were Sad I mean I know I didn't go there, but I was 17 then and some of these kids were 14...

As far as the bullying comment.. Mr DeAngelis doesn't really "deny" the bullying. He says the Trench Coat Mafia was not a scary group of kids who ruled the school and he said if any kid was to be thrown into a trash can or locker there would have been something done, he said it was really exaggerated. One of the girls being interviewed was a start athlete and she said after the shootings she did try to be kinder, she asked herself if she was really nice to everyone, was she a nice person? So I think there was self reflection after.

There was a mixture of old news footage and the the people interviewed showing us exactly where they were in the school. We saw a lot of the school and they said a lot hasn't changed. During one of the interviews one of the girls discovered for the first time that one of the propane bombs was under her table. A group of students from the cafeteria ran and knocked on a strangers door to get into the house.


It is also interesting to hear that some were afraid of getting into trouble for running out of school because they were not entirely sure what was going on. Should they bring their backpacks? Would they be back for 6th period? All these questions were going through their heads.

When they went to Chatfield a couple weeks after they were given backpacks and clothes, and it was pretty much like "hey, sorry about your school shooting, here is a Tommy Hilfiger shirt"

Mr D and the teacher said this class of Freshman turned very angry. There were so many rules and restrictions that they did not feel like they had a normal high school experience. The kids also felt like they were betraying their classmates by being in the documentary and talking about it

One of the girls, her name is Amy, her boyfriend said he googled her when they first started dating and he read her FBI interview in the 11k, that made me laugh.

They talked about their lives after. One is a musician his name is Gus, one is a nurse and ones a counselor.

The person in the science room said one of his teachers came covered in blood with his shirt off. He was in there for about a minute and was looking for a first aid kid. Assuming he of course was trying to help Mr. Sanders.

I believe Gus was in the art room and they were hiding in the corner for nearly 4 hours and eventually they had to pee. So they got a trash can and the guys decided to pee in the trash and it was suggested the girls just straddle 2 chairs and squat. As Gus was pulling his pants down Swat came in and made everyone get out and Gus was still peeing...


The class of of 2002,the group that were Freshman then planned a huge food fight. They had oysters stuffed into meatballs, pies etc.. administration caught wind of it and were waiting for them outside saying they could not have a food fight and they rebeled (pun intended?)

So there is an article out there about Columbine students getting arrested for throwing a pie and swearing at cops. They just wanted a senior prank. They wanted to have fun.

Also the "We Are Columbine" chant was started years before but one of the students interviewed thought it was made up after the shooting.

Interesting to hear about it. I find it interesting that the kids wondered if they would be back in class for 6th period. Just a weird thing I guess given the hindsight. Shows just how little information the average student had to go off of.

Saying the TCM ruled the school is a different way to put that. I would not say that I agree with that statement. I wonder if that is what he truly thinks. I wonder if he even noticed those kids prior to the 20th of April

Lizpuff wrote:

Interesting to hear about it.  I find it interesting that the kids wondered if they would be back in class for 6th period.  Just a weird thing I guess given the hindsight.  Shows just how little information the average student had to go off of.

Saying the TCM ruled the school is a different way to put that.  I would not say that I agree with that statement.  I wonder if that is what he truly thinks.  I wonder if he even noticed those kids prior to the 20th of April

I don't know, because I sometime think when adults from CHS (like Mr. D and Sue even) talk about the TCM is sounds like they are just debunking the way the media sensationalized them.

I remember my mom was terrified of them and my school a thousand miles away banned trench coats.

Did they say what their opinions were on E & D before/after the shooting

Kerea2244 wrote:

Did they say what their opinions were on E & D before/after the shooting

No, They were not mentioned at all. Except for the teacher said I saw the silhouette of one of the shooters and I heard more shots being fired so I knew there were two. He saw one carrying the gun in both hands against his chest and heard rapid fire.

It's very interesting, and something I've never thought of when it was mentioned the kids never had a normal high school experience after the shooting. Did they mention any of the new restrictions?

Thanks for the write-up. It's nice to hear about the personal stories you never knew about and coming up to the 20th anniversary others may open up about it finally. I can imagine the theatre being packed, a few of them may have been former students and are perhaps now hard to recognise.

Mr D. sounds like a politician, deceptive and saying only what needs to be said to satisfy a response, even if that's not the whole truth. He says that if he saw someone being thrown in a trashcan or locker something would've been done about it, that's not the same as saying something was done about it. If I was the interviewer I would've then asked if he ever saw that happening to students and what was done on those occasions. Perhaps, Mr D would not have wanted to participate in that case. I'll have to watch it to know more, but it makes me feel Mr D knows more than he lets off.

When they say a lot hasn't changed about the school, I'm guessing they mean the building plan? Although certain areas like the cafeteria had been rebuilt and library re-located. But the school culture I believe hasn't changed much, still cliquey with disparate groups of kids who feel ignored? I can imagine, in the years following, some vain attempts were made to restore faith and order in the school, but these came across as overly controlling and some kids began to rebel feeling that their freedoms had been removed and as you say not a normal high-school experience.

That's funny about peeing, you'd think that would've been the last thing on your mind when a school shooting was occurring, making yourself vulnerable like that. Maybe the humiliation would've saved someone's life had E & D walked in on them.

Did they say if/when this will be available to watch outside of the theatre?

macks_ant86 wrote:

Thanks for the write-up.  It's nice to hear about the personal stories you never knew about and coming up to the 20th anniversary others may open up about it finally. I can imagine the theatre being packed, a few of them may have been former students and are perhaps now hard to recognise.

Mr D. sounds like a politician, deceptive and saying only what needs to be said to satisfy a response, even if that's not the whole truth. He says that if he saw someone being thrown in a trashcan or locker something would've been done about it, that's not the same as saying something was done about it. If I was the interviewer I would've then asked if he ever saw that happening to students and what was done on those occasions. Perhaps, Mr D would not have wanted to participate in that case. I'll have to watch it to know more, but it makes me feel Mr D knows more than he lets off.

When they say a lot hasn't changed about the school, I'm guessing they mean the building plan? Although certain areas like the cafeteria had been rebuilt and library re-located. But the school culture I believe hasn't changed much, still cliquey with disparate groups of kids who feel ignored? I can imagine, in the years following, some vain attempts were made to restore faith and order in the school, but these came across as overly controlling and some kids began to rebel feeling that their freedoms had been removed and as you say not a normal high-school experience.

That's funny about peeing, you'd think that would've been the last thing on your mind when a school shooting was occurring, making yourself vulnerable like that. Maybe the humiliation would've saved someone's life had E & D walked in on them.

Did they say if/when this will be available to watch outside of the theatre?  







 

Hi! No one said anything about a wide release. However it’s been doing really well at the festivals so I imagine it will be open to a wide audience one day.

I think you’re really on the right path with the way you describe Mr. D. I think you hit the nail on the head.

The layout is still pretty similar and even some of the furniture hasn’t changed. A lot of the classrooms look the same. Except with more updated technology

Could you imagine if they were trying to pee while E and D were wandering the halls looking into the rooms...it would certainly make Columbine unique.

Screamingophelia wrote:

macks_ant86 wrote:

Thanks for the write-up.  It's nice to hear about the personal stories you never knew about and coming up to the 20th anniversary others may open up about it finally. I can imagine the theatre being packed, a few of them may have been former students and are perhaps now hard to recognise.

Mr D. sounds like a politician, deceptive and saying only what needs to be said to satisfy a response, even if that's not the whole truth. He says that if he saw someone being thrown in a trashcan or locker something would've been done about it, that's not the same as saying something was done about it. If I was the interviewer I would've then asked if he ever saw that happening to students and what was done on those occasions. Perhaps, Mr D would not have wanted to participate in that case. I'll have to watch it to know more, but it makes me feel Mr D knows more than he lets off.

When they say a lot hasn't changed about the school, I'm guessing they mean the building plan? Although certain areas like the cafeteria had been rebuilt and library re-located. But the school culture I believe hasn't changed much, still cliquey with disparate groups of kids who feel ignored? I can imagine, in the years following, some vain attempts were made to restore faith and order in the school, but these came across as overly controlling and some kids began to rebel feeling that their freedoms had been removed and as you say not a normal high-school experience.

That's funny about peeing, you'd think that would've been the last thing on your mind when a school shooting was occurring, making yourself vulnerable like that. Maybe the humiliation would've saved someone's life had E & D walked in on them.

Did they say if/when this will be available to watch outside of the theatre?  







 

Hi! No one said anything about a wide release. However it’s been doing really well at the festivals so I imagine it will be open to a wide audience one day.

I think you’re really on the right path with the way you describe Mr. D. I think you hit the nail on the head.

The layout is still pretty similar  and even some of the furniture hasn’t changed. A lot of the classrooms look the same. Except with more updated technology

Could you imagine if they were trying to pee while E and D were wandering the halls looking into the rooms...it would certainly make Columbine unique.

lmao

Kerea2244 wrote:

Screamingophelia wrote:

macks_ant86 wrote:

Thanks for the write-up.  It's nice to hear about the personal stories you never knew about and coming up to the 20th anniversary others may open up about it finally. I can imagine the theatre being packed, a few of them may have been former students and are perhaps now hard to recognise.

Mr D. sounds like a politician, deceptive and saying only what needs to be said to satisfy a response, even if that's not the whole truth. He says that if he saw someone being thrown in a trashcan or locker something would've been done about it, that's not the same as saying something was done about it. If I was the interviewer I would've then asked if he ever saw that happening to students and what was done on those occasions. Perhaps, Mr D would not have wanted to participate in that case. I'll have to watch it to know more, but it makes me feel Mr D knows more than he lets off.

When they say a lot hasn't changed about the school, I'm guessing they mean the building plan? Although certain areas like the cafeteria had been rebuilt and library re-located. But the school culture I believe hasn't changed much, still cliquey with disparate groups of kids who feel ignored? I can imagine, in the years following, some vain attempts were made to restore faith and order in the school, but these came across as overly controlling and some kids began to rebel feeling that their freedoms had been removed and as you say not a normal high-school experience.

That's funny about peeing, you'd think that would've been the last thing on your mind when a school shooting was occurring, making yourself vulnerable like that. Maybe the humiliation would've saved someone's life had E & D walked in on them.

Did they say if/when this will be available to watch outside of the theatre?  







 

Hi! No one said anything about a wide release. However it’s been doing really well at the festivals so I imagine it will be open to a wide audience one day.

I think you’re really on the right path with the way you describe Mr. D. I think you hit the nail on the head.

The layout is still pretty similar  and even some of the furniture hasn’t changed. A lot of the classrooms look the same. Except with more updated technology

Could you imagine if they were trying to pee while E and D were wandering the halls looking into the rooms...it would certainly make Columbine unique.

lmao

Great this is all I can think of now. What would happen....