April 21, 2017 02:25 PM UTC

How Not to Remember a Tragic Event

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• by: Colorado Pols

You’re probably aware that yesterday was April 20, a day that has become something of a quirky holiday around the world because of the popularity of marijuana (click here for more about how 4/20 became associated with marijuana use).

For many Colorado residents, however, April 20 is a somber reminder of a different sort: The anniversary of the Columbine High School Shooting in 1999. It has been 18 years since the Columbine tragedy, in which 13 students and a teacher were killed by two fellow students (we won’t repeat the names of the killers here), the aftermath of which played out on live television across the globe.

It is not unusual, nor improper, for political figures to recognize the anniversary of the Columbine shootings. But it is possible to mark the tragedy in an inappropriate manner, which is exactly what George Brauchler’s campaign for governor did on Thursday. Take a look at this oddly-branded “remembrance”:

Why on earth would you put your campaign logo onto a “Never Forget” image like this? Never Forget: Brought to you by George Brauchler for Governor! The best thing you can say about this image is that it is incredibly tacky, which is not a good look for anybody, let alone a candidate for statewide office.

This isn’t a huge issue by any means, but it’s worth pointing out that there is a right way and a wrong way to do this sort of thing. This Tweet from Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Jefferson County) — who is also a candidate for governor — is simple, straightforward, and completely devoid of campaign imagery. It’s not rocket surgery.