However, April is also a month in which some of most tragic moments of the 1990's occurred.
The 1990's was when was growing from a boy into a young man, so these incidents have left some imprints on my mind.
1) Oklahoma City bombing
On April 19, 1995, a federal building in Oklahoma has blown up due to a car bomb.
photo from Wikipedia
It was first suspected to be done by Muslim terrorists, since it was only a few years earlier when Muslim terrorist used a car bomb on the World Trade Center.
However, it turned out to committed by Timothy McVeight and Terry Nichols, 2 European-Americans whose grievances had NOTHING to do with Radical Islam.
Their grievances had more to do with the federal government's and the militaristic tactics of its many agencies including the FBI, ATF, CIA and the US Marshalls.. The most well known incidents involving federal agents in the early 1990s' inlcuded incidents at Ruby Ridge (Idaho) and at the Branch Davidian's compound in Waco, Texas.
In fact, the explosion was timed to occur at the 2 year anniversary of the Waco incident.
However, the Oklahoma City bombing targeted many innocent people who work in federal agencies that had nothing to with Ruby Ridge or Waco incidents. That incident damaged the reputation of anti-government activists out there.
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Where was I when I found out about the Oklahoma City bombing?
I was in 8th grade at the time. I was at my grandma's house early in the summer, getting ready to go to school. My grandma mentioned the incident, but she said the wrong city (she first said it was Kansas City, but it was Oklahoma City). Then I saw the news reports of the damaged buildings and the emergency crew.
I don't remember where I learned about the Ruby Ridge incident since I don't think it was taped live.
But I sure remembered the Waco incident involving the Branch Davidians. The feds had a standoff near the compound for multiple weeks, and it was big news. There were allegations of sexual abuse in the compound, however the ATF got involved over allegations of illegal weapons at the site!
The federal agents waited outside, trying to negotiate with the Branch Davidians into surrender. When that didn't work, the feds went in and there was a shootout. But really got the attention to the people watching the incident LIVE on TV was the compound going into flames.
photo from wikipedia
It has never been proven who started the fire, but that imagery was enough to anger many people against the federal government for it's perceived over-reaction.
2) Columbine shootings
On April 20, 1999, two students at a Columbine High School (Littleton, Colorado) went inside with multiple weapons and started shooting at other students and staff at the school.
Image from Wikipedia
This wasn't the first time there was a shooting at a US high school. There already had gang-shootings at inner-city high schools for years. And for the few years before Columbine, there have been other school shootings at rural schools in the US.
However, Columbine was the worst of them all, with 13 dead, 24 injured.
Also, this incident happened at an upper-class suburb whereas previous incidents involving students killing each other were usually lower-income students at urban or rural schools.
So, the Columbine incident really freaked out many parents who thought that living in upper-class suburbs would be safe for their children.
But nowhere is totally safe!
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This incident also put special attention to the issue of high school bullying.
The 2 shooters involved in the Columbine shooting have been known to be targets of bullies.
Now they got their revenge!
This was a wake-up call! Bullying isn't just a "rite of passage". The mentality now is "f*** with us for too long, you're going to get it"
ANYBODY (including myself) WHO EITHER WORK AT SCHOOLS (or EVEN JUST A PARENT) need to watch how they react to the students under them! You NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO SNAP!
Banning guns isn't the answer. Those kids could've EASILY stole a car, drive it around and run people over! And remember, in prisons (where inmates are not supposed to have weapons) people make weapons of anything!
And expecting children and teens to "just figure out how to solve problems on their own" is DANGEROUSLY NAIVE!
If they only learn to solve their problems from their peers --- GUESS WHAT? You're only preparing the kids for a PRISON environment.
That's how kids from broken homes learn to join the gangsta lifestyle!
And that's why kids who are outcasted feel "the adults don't want to help us, F*** IT, let's solve it ourselves" which led to the Columbine shooting!
This reminds me of this one Educational Assistant at one middle school I worked at. Her name was Ms Pili Sika (I'm using real names)! She actually said "if someone picks on you, just fight them and they'll leave you alone".
THAT IS SO STUPID!
This stuff of "fight the bully, he/she will stop"?
THAT STUFF HAPPENS IN MOVIES!
REAL LIFE IS NOT A MOVIE!
In real life, you start a fight with someone, winning that fight WILL NOT BE THE END!
In real life, fights are NOT one-on-one, it's you against your enemies and his/her friends, siblings, cousins, etc.
THAT is HOW GANG RIVLARIES START and ONCE IT STARTS, IT IS HARD TO STOP!
If someone is picking on you and his/her support system outnumber yours, fighting is NOT worth it! Find an adult you trust and use the legal system. If the school won't help, you could sue the school and use the blogs as your ally!
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Where was I when the Columbine shootings occurred?
I was a senior in high school when that occurred. So I was almost the same age as the killers and the victims.
As I mentioned earlier, there were other school shootings in the previous years, so when I first heard about Columbine, it didn't stand out in my mind at first. It was only after additional news reports of the death toll, and the additional controversies over bullying, gun control, gothic music, violent video games and moral values that Columbine stood out more!
I could definitely relate to the some of the anger that the shooters might have. But I NEVER wanted to put innocent people in harm's way! Plus, it's not like I hated everyone. I got along with most of my classmates.
However, like everyone else, there are fools that I don't get along with! It is UNREALISTIC to even expect anyone to get along with all their classmates! Especially in large, urban schools like mine.
But I don't need a gun to take care of them. I just waited my time, and used my words to expose the troublemakers on my blog posts (ie. http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2012/03/exposed-to-light.html). And if anyone wants to give me unsolicited "high road" advice, check out http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2012/03/either-pick-side-mediate-or-get-out-of.html before telling me anything. I never expressed any thoughts on violent revenge, I just have the nerve to just tell it like it is!
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A lot of people listen to hardcore music and play violent video games, but they don't act out those scenarios in real life! Most teens know the line between fantasy and reality!
As for music, teenagers ARE NOT MINDLESSLY listening to their favored style of music. I was a teenager during the 90's, when the rock and rap music was MORE VIOLENT than the popular stuff now! Many of us were thinking of controversial artists (like Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, etc.) and think "I like this song from them, but on this other song - they went too far"
I'm sure the same is true for fans of comedians and radio talk-show hosts! (ie. I liked it when [Chris Rock, Rush Limbaugh, etc] said this, but they went too far, when they said this)
Plus, as I mentioned in a recent post, listening to anti-police songs as a teen isn't going to make you a cop killer. In fact, I'd say THE MAJORITY of cops born between 1975 and 1990 grew up listening to anti-police songs from gangsta rappers. It is UNREALISTIC that think that cops of that age would only grow up listening to gentle music from Kenny G or Celine Dion!
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The anti-Muslim bigots have been screaming for more racial profling since 9/11.
Sure, Muslim terrorists have been causing a lot of damage.
But they had ZERO involvement with the Oklahoma City bombing nor the Columbine shooting.
And those from similar backgrounds and similar grievances as the Oklahoma bomber and the Columbine shooter ----------- what makes you think they won't hijack a plane, blow up a subway or commit more massive shootings!
Racially harrassing Middle Easterners will not prevent any of that stuff!
Sometimes, people just snap and race got nothing to do with it!
3) The LA Riots
Another April tragedy of the 1990's.
