In the wake of tragic events, it’s instinctive for survivors or onlookers to seek culpability. Following the Parkland shooting, a troubling trend emerged: many, including various commentators and online trolls, shifted blame away from the actual perpetrator onto the very students who endured the horror. This misguided narrative not only lacks nuance but also reflects an alarming failure to understand the situation.
In a poignant op-ed featured in the New York Times, survivor and Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Lily Carter eloquently addresses this issue. Her piece, titled “I Attempted to Connect with Nikolas Cruz. He Still Took My Friends,” dismantles the argument that if students had shown more kindness to the shooter, the tragedy might have been avoided. Lily recounts a disturbing incident from years prior, where Cruz assaulted her in the cafeteria. Despite this, she endeavored to demonstrate compassion by tutoring him during high school, only to be met with discomforting behavior.
Lily points out the danger of the #WalkUpNotOut movement that arose during #NationalWalkoutDay, arguing it misrepresents the complexities of mental health and the responsibilities of educational institutions. “The notion that Mr. Cruz’s mental health issues could have been alleviated through greater affection from peers is a profound misunderstanding of these conditions and poses a perilous expectation on students,” she asserts.
Moreover, it’s essential to recognize that students should not be expected to place themselves at risk for the sake of someone who has exhibited aggressive behavior. “It falls upon the school administration to identify students in need of support and to provide appropriate interventions,” Lily emphasizes, highlighting the need for specialized assistance that may not be available within the same institution.
The response to her op-ed has been overwhelmingly positive on social media, as few can speak about the Parkland shooting with more authority than someone who lived through it and had a personal connection to the shooter.
We must listen when these young individuals express that the shooter was the real threat. For what reason should they be held accountable for the loss of their classmates—because they chose not to sit with a known aggressor? The issue at hand transcends the idea of simply promoting kindness; while fostering empathy is vital, it cannot be viewed as a universal remedy for such severe issues.
When someone reveals their true nature, we must take heed. I understand the emotional toll of being bullied, the fear that drives one to seek refuge in the bathroom during lunch periods, or the desperation that leads to feigning illness to escape torment. Yet, the circumstances surrounding the Parkland shooting are different. As Lily pointed out, the shooter was the bully.
A simple act of kindness or a friendly gesture would not have altered the course of events. “No level of compassion could have changed who Nikolas Cruz was or the horrific actions he took,” she states. “This narrative serves only to obscure the failures of our educational system, government, and gun regulation.”
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Summary:
Lily Carter, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, challenges the misguided notion that kindness from peers could have prevented the tragedy. In her op-ed, she reflects on her experiences with Nikolas Cruz, emphasizing that the responsibility to address mental health issues lies with school administrations, not students. The narrative surrounding the shooting should focus on systemic failures rather than placing undue blame on young survivors.