Rehearsal for Horror

In the weeks before they committed mass murder at Columbine High School, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold carefully documented their fantasies, their rage, their plans. In 40 hours of videotapes they acted out and sought to justify their intentions, reciting a catalog of grievances and a litany of hatred. They did not seek vengeance against particular classmates for the humiliations they felt they had suffered. Their rancor was general. They hoped to kill 250 others at their Colorado school before killing themselves. They longed for immortality, to become known as the nation’s greatest mass murderers.

A sampling of this chilling video record has been shown to the media. Many will find that it reinforces earlier conclusions that the signs of uncontrollable rage and a bent toward violence were evident and should have been noted well before Harris and Klebold launched their killing rampage. Others may perceive only whining self-pity by privileged but maladjusted youths.

At some point psychologists should be allowed to review the full confessional record. Perhaps it will yield insights that could make possible earlier and more effective intervention into the painful and mysterious lives of other deeply troubled adolescents.

The enduring tragedy of Columbine is that 12 teenagers and a teacher died, along with their two killers, because the warning signs of simmering rage were unrecognized or ignored. The miracle of Columbine, given what Klebold and Harris planned, is that so many were spared.