WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1999

Starting with ourselves, instead of pointing finger

In the wake of the Colorado shootings

I cried and cried last night, thinking about the state of our nation.

When it comes down to the underlying issues, it is not about weapons, laws, or blaming other people. It is about taking responsibility for ourselves.

A line in a song by Jewel says, "We must demand more not from each other, but more from ourselves." We cannot blame others for allowing those teenagers access to weapons, and we cannot blame the parents for not noticing that their children were acting strange.

Instead, we need to rethink our lives, and what we can do to help and support the victims in Littleton, Colo.

Attempting to change other people's beliefs and the way they live is unrealistic and a waste of energy. They must do that for themselves.

But we have the power to change the ways in which we live.

This can be an unfair and dangerous world, and all we can do is live our lives to the fullest, not knowing when we will die.

I plan on being a more productive citizen by loving and being genuinely respectful of everyone, and volunteering in the community.

I will try not to be wasteful with money, time, or Earth's resources. And I will continue to be appreciative of my family, friends, and health.

Our lives are left to chance. Our lives are not guaranteed to be safe or painless. There is no reason for us to think that we are exempt from anything.

All we can do is take advantage of what we have, and make contributions in order to make this world a better place.

My heart aches for the victims of the Columbine shooting; the people who were killed, their friends and family, the community and the nation.

Nothing can completely take the pain away.

But if we were to take an honest look at ourselves, maybe we would slowly start to see a change.

- Emily Kingston

Boulder, Colorado

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