An allegedly respectable and well known citizen was arrested very recently for allegedly subscribing to child pornography websites, soliciting male minors, and several other offenses. The list of his transgressions is long and simply disgusting. So what's new? We've heard it all before... We've seen politicians, priests, and teachers arrested for similar crimes. People in positions of authority, well liked in their communities, often responsible for well being of the very young lives they destroyed.
One thing we hear when such news surfaces is "I would have never suspected him! He was such a nice guy! I am shocked! I can't believe I have not noticed anything strange about him!" That sort of reaction assures us that the criminal was apprehended at the earliest possible time and that had anyone actually noticed anything suspicious about him, his actions would have been stopped even sooner.
Not so in this case... In addition to his high profile job, the accused coached high school basketball for years and was unquestionably well known to many people in various circles. He was no stranger to celebrities and influential politicians. In the hours following his arrest, I had an opportunity to talk with those who used to work with him or knew him privately. They discussed the details of his case, excitedly exchanging memories and overheard gossip. One thing was obvious: there was not a single person shocked to see the man arrested. On the contrary, the surprise seemed to be that the arrest came so late in his life.
For at least 15 years everyone knew something was wrong. Everyone thought he was strange. Everyone saw the signs. Everyone could name at least one young man with whom the accused had a relationship that did not seem appropriate. They went even so far as analyzing his modus operandi: he preyed on boys from single family homes, the ones with limited resources, the ones whom he could lure with gifts as expensive as cars and college tuition. He was generous with everyone so it seems, in an apparently successful attempt to quiet their conscience. In the whole discussion I heard of only one person who acted on her gut feeling and used her authority to limit the accused's access to vulnerable youth. The rest spoke of him with disgust but still seemed to be under the spell of his personality and wealth.
Naively, I was expecting the troops to rally behind the justice system and lining up to volunteer the vast amounts of information they all possess. Wrong again! As soon as they heard of the arrest, they contacted as many of the past acquaintances of the accused as they could remember, and with an incomprehensible to me effort in solidarity, warned them not to say anything to the media or the authorities.
Did I mention they are all in the business of educating the youth?
Friday, December 5, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The change has come to America, or has it?
The first Black president of the United States has just been elected. Great! Although, I was surprised to find out that to some people the change so frequently spoken of during the campaign was to be unanimous with a disappearance of any racial tension in this country upon Obama's victory. Not so fast...
I attended a high school basketball game last night. On one side an all Black team (let's call it Team X), on the other a team with only one Black player and all-White coaching staff (Team Y). Team X dominated throughout the game allowing Team Y only a few chances to tie. All was well until the last 4 seconds of the game. Team Y had possession of the ball and with a 3 point disadvantage the players were hoping to tie the score. But Team X would have none of it. Their forward stole the ball right out of the hands of the player attempting a basket. In a fit of anger the player grabbed him with both hands and threw him on the floor right to the feet of Team Y's bench. One of the coaches kicked him in the side. A fight broke out immediately but was quickly stopped by the security on site. Stunned spectators would not return to their seats for a while and the referees tried to decide if the game could continue. It did... and Team X won.
Interestingly enough, the coach who kicked the young man did not even try to deny it, but called it an accident instead. Later, apparently worried about the consequences of a possible write-up, he found the player on the school bus and apologized. Small comfort to all of us who watched a young Black man being thrown to the ground by one White man and kicked while down by another. Those kind of images were supposed to be a part of history by now, shown on black and white film to contrast the progress America has made since the 60's.
Last spring I witnessed a similarly disturbing scene at another high school basketball game, where batteries were thrown at the cheerleading squad of an all Black team. While the Home fans yelled out derogatory comments and held up green pieces of paper with "Go home Julio" written on it their teaching staff showed no reaction.
Maybe it's still early. Maybe the change will really come on January 20th and we'll be able to tell our Black youth that not only each of them can now potentially become a president of the United Sates but that from now on they will be safe from disrespect at a public event attended by those who are supposed to educate and protect them.
I attended a high school basketball game last night. On one side an all Black team (let's call it Team X), on the other a team with only one Black player and all-White coaching staff (Team Y). Team X dominated throughout the game allowing Team Y only a few chances to tie. All was well until the last 4 seconds of the game. Team Y had possession of the ball and with a 3 point disadvantage the players were hoping to tie the score. But Team X would have none of it. Their forward stole the ball right out of the hands of the player attempting a basket. In a fit of anger the player grabbed him with both hands and threw him on the floor right to the feet of Team Y's bench. One of the coaches kicked him in the side. A fight broke out immediately but was quickly stopped by the security on site. Stunned spectators would not return to their seats for a while and the referees tried to decide if the game could continue. It did... and Team X won.
Interestingly enough, the coach who kicked the young man did not even try to deny it, but called it an accident instead. Later, apparently worried about the consequences of a possible write-up, he found the player on the school bus and apologized. Small comfort to all of us who watched a young Black man being thrown to the ground by one White man and kicked while down by another. Those kind of images were supposed to be a part of history by now, shown on black and white film to contrast the progress America has made since the 60's.
Last spring I witnessed a similarly disturbing scene at another high school basketball game, where batteries were thrown at the cheerleading squad of an all Black team. While the Home fans yelled out derogatory comments and held up green pieces of paper with "Go home Julio" written on it their teaching staff showed no reaction.
Maybe it's still early. Maybe the change will really come on January 20th and we'll be able to tell our Black youth that not only each of them can now potentially become a president of the United Sates but that from now on they will be safe from disrespect at a public event attended by those who are supposed to educate and protect them.
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