[Thrusher]

One of the more disturbing aspects of this has been a perception that these young men and women were “passive” and simply allowed themselves to be butchered like so many cattle. This piece states rather clearly that in fact these people reacted like a group under such duress would pretty much be expected to react. Some ran, some hid and a few put up as much fight as they could.

I agree wholeheartedly. Yes, I wish there had been a little more "Let's Roll" that day, but to call these poor kids "cowards" because they instinctively ran from a maniac with two pistols who was slaughtering their classmates left and right is just cruel.

[TalBlack]

“but to call these poor kids “cowards” because they instinctively ran from a maniac with two pistols who was slaughtering their classmates left and right is just cruel.”

Forget cruel, it is inaccurate. Running un armed from an armed attacker is smart. It forces the guys aim off and may save your life. Also, as the shooter begins to miss he becomes frustrated and his attention and awareness deteriorates, possibly giving others a chance to run or interfere in some way.

The passivity is what is being callled cowardly. It seems cruel to apply so loaded a word to people who had their lives stolen by a monster but it is descriptive of their response and it carries home the understanding that they had something worth fighting for, their lives, and they abandoned hope and so lost their future. I’m betting the nest shooter (God forbid) doesn’t get near 30 odd dead. I think this weird passivity could only have happened on our strange times, but people learn quick. “My life is worth something and I’m not letting anyone take it without a fight.” is now filtering thru the conscious or ungracious minds of millions of American right now.