Having a Blast

I was recently listening to Green Day's Dookie while doing pet sitting rounds, and Having a Blast came on. Living in a post-Columbine world, and with the recent mall shooting, I wonder what would happen if this album had been released today. Would the song have even made it on the album?

I'm taking all you down with me
Explosives duct taped to my spine
Nothings gonna change my mind

I won't listen to anyone's last words
There's nothing left for you to say
Soon you'll be dead anyway

No one here is getting out alive
This time I've really lost my mind and I don't care
So close your eyes
And kiss yourself goodbye
And think about the times you spent and what they've meant
To me it's nothing...

I'm losing all my happiness
The happiness you pinned on me
Loneliness still comforts me

My anger dwells inside of me
I'm taking it all out on you
And the shit you put me through

Do you ever think back to another time?
Does it bring you so down that you thought you lost your mind?
Do you ever want to lead a long trail of destruction
and mow down any bullshit that confronts you?
Do you ever build up all the small things in your head?
To make one problem that adds up to nothing
To me it's nothing...

But haven't we all felt this way at some point? I know when I first heard this song, I was in Elementary school, about to be in Junior High. I hated life, and myself and generally other people too. It resonated with me on my worst days, I never wanted to kill anyone, but the idea of somehow being able to take out my frustration somewhere, on someone, was cathartic.

It doesn't seem like that's ok anymore though. I remember after Columbine, my school started irrationally cracking down on the dress of the Goths especially. No black trench coats on school grounds anymore. And how many times have I heard about a child drawing a picture or writing a story, that was seen as a threat?

I guess it's just one of those catch-22's, we want to find out which kids are actually dangerous. At the same time, isn't it most likely the restrictions we've been putting more and more on our kids, etc. that has led to feelings being bottled up and exploding this way?