The Vindictive Few

Small communities breed hatred; the vindictive few boil with resentment, and they plan. I speak of school shootings. A few weeks ago, National Public Radio aired a program analyzing the subject and the factors that create them.

It is true, one of the professors says, they happen in small suburban schools. The shooting is usually publicized in some way, and the shooter is almost always condemned by the majority of society.

The shooter is usually lonely, as was the case with virginia tech. He sits in the back of the school with his lunch strung over his arm, and his ratty torn jacket strewn over his shoulder. He sits on the curb, staring at the brick wall in front of him with intent eyes--and slowly places food in his mouth. After classes he goes back to his dorm and locks the door.

The shooter is always ostracised. He trips, faceplanting on cold tile. They laugh, strutting in polo shirts. The other kids carry on with their lives, ignorant of him. When he's not bullied, he is ignored. Still, regardless of the callousness of cliques and high school culture, he would never think of joining the crowd.

And as he puts the gun to her head, as she kneels at his feet. He asks her, in an almost calm sort of voice, "Do you believe in god?"

There is no God.

* * *

Just think, imagine if you will, how delicious their deaths are. And remember that it feels good to kill, when you are vindictive.