The speculation that gunman James Holmes was bullied as a child used to try and understand his motives for firing on unsuspecting people is quite unseemly.
Firstly, there is no proof he was ever bullied.
Secondly, even if he was, it wasn’t the system that failed him – he is completely and utterly to blame for his actions. No school system, classmate or schoolyard bully caused him to act this way. As much as I abhor bullying, the victims of bullying can never use it as an excuse to justify murder.
The argument that if we knew he was bullied as a child, it would help us to understand his mind frame and motives is most irresponsible:
Many of us need to know what was going on in the mind of this man so that we can prevent this type of tragedy from repeating itself. I wondered if he was the victim of bullying since that seems to be the thread of commonality in crimes of this nature. Was James Holmes the victim of bullying and if so, how long did it go on? I’m sure that no one may care at the moment about his state of mind at that time that this horrific incident occurred. At least not until it happens again.
But still, if James Holmes was the victim of bullying, could this all have been avoided? If this were the reason for his actions, could it have been prevented if someone recognized the warning signs and took the appropriate actions? Or am I reaching too high to make sense out of the senseless? Because the simple reality is, if there were no bullying and the only signs that he exhibited is being a loner, then this makes this crime even more terrifying in its randomness. In the days to come as the citizens of Aurora pull themselves together, we will find out more about what made this man do what he did.
Click on the link to read Insensitive ‘Parent Bashers’ Take Aim at Grieving Colorado Parents
Click on the link to read Explaining the Colorado Movie Theater Shooting to Children
Topical Teaching 
Can a Teacher Be Forgiven for a Bad Joke?
August 17, 2012I love to make my students laugh. It releases some of their anxiety and makes them more comfortable with whatever activity we are are working on. I am very aware that although humour can be effective teaching tool, it can also be fraught with danger. It is so easy to unintentionally say something that will offend others.
The New York professor facing dismissal for making a joke about the Colorado movie theatre shooter made a terrible mistake. A mistake that was made infinitely worse with the fact that a student’s father was among the victims.
Whilst I don’t excuse his dreadful judgement call, I can’t help but feel that firing him would be a bit unfair. He is probably feeling sick about what he did and I am sure he never intended to offend.
Surely a genuine apology would suffice:
A United States Merchant Marine Academy professor faces dismissal for joking about the Colorado movie theater shootings in front of his students.
A student’s father was among the victims.
The New York Times says Gregory F. Sullivan has been suspended from his tenured position as humanities instructor.
The newspaper says the academy on Kings Point, Long Island, informed Sullivan on Aug. 10 that he had 10 days to contest his dismissal.
Click on the link to read Don’t Even Try to Huminise James Holmes
Click on the link to read How Can Facebook Allow James Holmes Tribute Pages?
Click on the link to read The Need to Blame Anything and Everything for the Colorado Shootings
Click on the link to read Insensitive ‘Parent Bashers’ Take Aim at Grieving Colorado Parents
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