Submitted by Dave Hodges on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 14:47.
I went to high school in Aurora, Colorado, about two miles from the scene of the Dark Night movie massacre. My late parents' home was a mile away from the scene of the crime. My immediate family and I have attended several movies at the now infamous Aurora Mall theaters. Therefore, this recent tragedy is somewhat personal for me.
A part of me wants to ignore this tragedy and go on with my life because this is so very painful to look at this event. Several families and untold numbers of friends have lost a loved one in a seemingly senseless tragedy. Someone's husband and father is not coming home tonight and someone's child won't be there to open presents next Christmas. It's extremely hard for me to write these words without being overcome by emotion.
I have struggled on whether or not I should share my personal and professional observations about the facts related to this tragedy in the media because I strongly believe that the grieving loved ones, should be prayed for, comforted and then left in peace. The last thing I want to do, or to be accused of doing, is to engage in idle speculation at the expense of the victims, their families and their friends. However, based upon my experience and training as a mental health counselor, I also know that the mental health scenario being universally painted by the mainstream media is implausible from a psychopathological frame of reference. Further, the described background of the perpetrator, James Holmes, and his insanely violent act were grossly inconsistent with regard to means, motive, personal background, professional experience and current lifestyle and living conditions necessary to have carried out this heinous act to the demonstrable degree of skill witnessed in this event.
Conspiracy theories are often the default position for people in mourning who are seeking meaningful answers on why a particular tragedy took place. It is very important not to confuse emotionality with logic and facts in cases such as the recent movie massacre tragedy. However, when the released facts related to the crime and the perpetrator don't add up, serious questions must be asked and truthful answers must be demanded!
As I was weighed my options on whether or not to write this piece, I'm all too aware that when the profound sense of loss and grieving begins to dissipate, the victims' loved ones will want truthful answers on why this tragedy took place. The lens of history clearly points to this fact as the Pat Tillman family still wants answers, thousands of 9/11 victims loved ones still want answers, and families and friends of the Oklahoma City Bombing victims still want answers and people profoundly impacted by the Columbine High School tragedy are still asking questions about why their loved ones had to die. Families and friends of the Dark Knight movie massacre victims deserve the truth and I do not believe, from the early media returns, that the real truth is going to be forthcoming. In that spirit, I add my voice to the chorus of voices in saying that the public explanations, related to this unspeakable tragedy, do not add up.
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