Colombine High
This research topic submitted by on 3/16/01.
I was wondering whether anyone thinks there might be a connection between "short man's syndrome" and the colombine
high school massacre. Apparently Eric Harris, the guy who
supposedly came up with the whole idea for the killing spree, was only about 5'7" - 5'8". Supposedly he hung around with football player types who were 6'3" - 6'5", which maybe made him feel inadequate. I know that his "partner" Dylan Klebold was 6'3", so obviously he couldn't have suffered due
to his height. But Eric Harris was the guy that "masterminded" the massacre, and also, compared to today's teenagers (who are all pretty big) he was fairly short. I know there may be no connection, but if this guy's serious problems were in any way related to his height, it should illuminate to society that trivialising the problems associated with being short is not on. I myself feel there's a terrible duality operating in people's minds - on one hand they trivialise and diminish problems short people have, but at the same time these very same people might discriminate against someone who is short without even realising it. I think "heightism" is an issue that needs to be brought up a bit more. Hey look at the all the media coverage rascism gets, and how feminists have made a difference in women's lives. Surely the media push of these two issues has helped both of the groups concerned, right?
What do people think? Maybe being extremely short and male should be looked upon as being a type of "disablility".
I mean, in general, people don't smirk at people in wheelchairs, right? Maybe if being short was viewed in a similar light it might end some of the "smirking" aswell...
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