Customer Reviews

The Martyrs of Columbine: Faith and the Politics of Tragedy

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I read this book not too long ago and I think that it's a great book that looks into some of the controversies of Columbine(i.e. whether Rachel Scott was mentioned in the "Basement Tapes" or not, whether Cassie Bernall was asked whether she believed in God or wehther it was another person[who survived]).

From all I've learned about what happened, I'm very skeptical that the Rachel and Cassie stories are true.

I think that it's a rush to judgement to say that certain stroies are true(especially when there is evidence that suggest otherwise)and I think that the main lesson of this book is that "don't take things at face value".

I read this book after reading "She Said Yes," by the Bernall family. I simply cannot see how the public will accept much of the information that the Bernall family provides for Cassie's death. What I feel is that a religious community has entangled this issue with a social agenda. Justin Watson flatly disproves or casts doubt on claims that the media takes for granted. For that, you should read his book.

As a book, Martyrs of Columbine is very readable and thorough. Although at times, Justin Watson seems to insert his personal opinion (especially in a chapter about the media's treatment of the event), his commentary is logical and is usually quite revealing of the politics in the American religious movement.

Watson's book belongs in the collection of anyone interested in what happened at Columbine and why it happened. Rather than trying to discuss all of the issues that swirl around this event, the author concentrates on the "Do you believe in God?" stories associated with victims Cassie Bernall and Rachel Scott. More than simply trying to determine whether these stories are true - he doesn't think they are -- he examines how and why these stories took on a wider cultural and political significance. Particularly interesting is how these "martyrs" got used to advance some of the pet causes of the Religious Right, such as getting prayer back in public schools. While those who continue to believe Cassie and Rachel really were martyred will dislike Watson's conclusions, it is hard to see how they could argue with his thorough and thoughtful discussion.

I was very disapointed in the book.Basicly the writer took bits and pieces from books written by others,twisted their words and put his own spin on it.It repeats itself over and over being so repetative I had to put it down.There are good books out there written by people who were there.I suggest you take a look at those.I read many good one's but this book wasnt in that catagory.

I can not comprehend Mr. Watson's intentions in writing this book. Although I disagree with the parents of the Columbine victims who believe that more gun laws will prevent further school violence, I respect their opinion and would not dare insult them in a way that this author insults those parents with Christian beliefs.

Not once does this author offer solid evidence that the Rachel and Cassie accounts never happened. He even goes so far as to quote law that a jury must follow in defining "proof" because it is so lacking in this book that the author can only be too aware of it. He insults the victims and their families by calling into question their stories, essentially calling them liars, based only on his own speculation. With the mass of confusion in the library that day, the Cassie story will always be debated, yet again, Mr. Watson offers no new evidence. As for Rachel Scott's story: the following text is an excerpt from page 151 of No Easy Answers, The Truth Behind Death At Columbine by Brooks Brown and Rob Merritt. "After he got the breathing tube out, he (Castaldo) was crying and upset, telling me through sobs how they taunted her (Rachel Scott) and teased her about God," Castaldo's mother Connie Michalek, told the Denver Rocky Mountain News on April 21, 2000. Mr. Watson actually explores the idea that she was being less than truthful with what Richard said in the hospital that day!

It is the opinion of this reader that if an author wishes to make the accusations that he does, he should bring new and compelling evidence to the table. This book offers no new insight into the Columbine tragedy. The information he cites as evidence has been around for years, and is available to anyone with internet access or a library card.