Letters to the Editor

Posted on Oct. 29, 2007, at 12:00 a.m.

I have a few things to say about Jeremy Levine’s article in the Oct. 18th issue of The Maine Campus, titled “School shootings show shortcomings of American society.” I first want to say that I agree with the title. School violence certainly suggests that something is wrong. I also agree that “[reaching] out to those who feel insignificant and hopeless” will help reduce all forms of violence.

However, the way in which Levine starts the article seems to contradict his ultimate point. He indicates that Asa H. Coon, the Cleveland shooter, was “dressed in all black” and “proudly displaying a Marilyn Manson concert T-shirt.” These details are unnecessary, especially since Levine wants people to be “accepted by others.” Isolating people because of their differences will not lead to acceptance; it will lead to intolerance, which will in turn lead to violence.

This also looks like an attempt, possibly an accidental one, to paint Goths as killers, which is another painfully inaccurate stereotype propagated since Columbine. I would first like to indicate that anyone can be a killer. Most violence in school is actually enacted by mainstream people. The second thing I would like to state is that anyone can dress in all black, but doing so does not make someone Gothic. Also, Marilyn Manson is a shock rocker and has little to do with the authentic Goth scene; 14-year-old children generally have little grasp on anything, let alone on a highly complex subculture.

I felt that these corrections were necessary because the key to building a better society is education.

Andrew Maxcy is a senior English major.

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