Much has been written about this case, and deservedly so. I
have what I believe to be a different perspective on the matter. What I want to
know about this case is why very few people are talking about the culture that
had to exist for this to happen. Let me explain.
I want to know what kind of culture exists that, when a
person is intoxicated at a party, there is no support system for that person to
be helped home or at least help to provide them transportation.
When did we lose that sense of community where extreme
behavior by a person is not cause for concern amongst friends? Or even
strangers that are in contact with this person are not alarmed and want to
help?
I do not have the whole story on the two men who came to her
aid but I am pretty sure one of them was not from America. That seems to me to
possibly be a big part of the story. What is prevalent in his culture that he
would immediately come to the aid of a person he did not know? I see article
and videos every day of people in trouble while bystanders sit and watch.
Now I want to talk about the dad. I have a daughter. She is
21 years old and a senior in college. She is an A student. I would hope that
when she is around people that ALL of them are looking out for one another with
a deep sense of community and well being. If this happened to my daughter I
would be outraged at the boy and his father.
The father’s statement reeks of entitlement. I would like to
know his background. What did he provide for his son during his youth sports
ruse in the swimming environment and home environment that set up this cause
and effect scenario? What is the dad’s background? Do they come from wealth?
What we do at Frozen Shorts is to try and change the
culture. We want people to embrace the fact that they are children and need to
be taught life lessons. The need to fail, they need to sacrifice, and they need
to understand that we are all in this together. I am not better than you. You
may be my opponent but I respect you and trust that you will play with
sportsmanship and fair competition.
His letter, his reaction, the Judge’s decision, and the
ensuing reaction are playing out all across the country, and rightly so. I
simply want to ask one last question.
How did you think this was all going to end up?
Entitlement, lack of community, the haves and the have nots,
are combined with a lack of accountability and ‘I got a raw deal so I can give
someone else a raw deal without guilt’. You have a formula for a culture that
is very unhealthy for our children’s future being promulgated and played out
every day.
Stop the tsunami.
