A Painful Paradox

Batman has been a staple of American youth from comic book days to Adam West's portrayal of the caped hero during my childhood.  I learned the literary term "onomatopoeia" by the use of "BOOM" and "WHAM" from the televised "Batman" series!

From the time he was a little tike, my son, Colton, has LOVED Batman.  From lunch boxes to backpacks to birthday party themes, Batman has been part of his 18 years of life.  (Little brother, Conner, always had to be Robin!) 

For weeks now, the excitement over the new Batman movie has been evident in our house.  This movie premier would be one of the final times Colton and his high school friends would hang out before going their separate ways to college.  A planned night out with buddies and a beloved youth group coach was planned, and tickets purchased weeks in advance to the midnight IMAX presentation.  Batman costumes were bought, and a great night of fun for all was almost here!

I'm sure this scene was repeated throughout the country yesterday.  In Nashville.  In Atlanta.  In San Diego.  And in Aurora.

But another scene was also repeated yesterday.  A scene of violence.  A scene of cowardice.  A scene of hatred.  A scene of terror.  A scene of fear.  A scene of contempt.  A scene of horror.  A scene of murder and mayhem.  

Twenty four hours ago, a young man was planning a horrific crime at a movie theater.  Guns were loaded.  Ammunition was bought.  Black clothing and a gas mask were readied.  A plan of immense terror was calculated in the mind of a supposedly "normal" guy.  The parents, teenagers, children, and movie workers had no idea of his plan as they stood in line last night for the midnight premier.  They laughed.  They talked.  They anxiously anticipated what they believed would be a great next three hours of their lives.  Little did they know that their excitement would soon turn to survival as they scurried for their lives away from his random bullets. 

Earlier this week, there was speculation that this movie might just break box office records of all time.  People throughout the country enjoyed the long awaited Batman sequel just a few hours ago.    My son and his friends sat in a theater in Hendersonville, Tennessee.  They sang the praises of the movie, and they walked out of the theater alive.   Other innocent people sat in Theater 9 in Aurora, Colorado, and they did not.