I am a reasonable, rational person--most times.
Antibullying legislation is being opposed by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, and Catholic dioceses in Minnesota?
Why you ask?
Antibullying legislation violates religious freedom!
How!
I am Catholic. I was drawn to Catholicism by virtue of peace and respect that pervades Catholic traditions.
Bullying cannot be tolerated in a civil society. It just can't. Case closed.
Antibullying is an instrument of moral, and ethical accountability, which the Catholic Church must embrace. Freedom without moral and ethical accountability is hollow at best.
Bullying is not an academic matter to me.
Bullying. Patty. Bullying. Palsy Patty. Bullying. Being tossed off the junior high bus seat. Bullying. The principal, "Just bring in the names of the bullies, and we will take care of it," Bullying. Risking a junior high school friendship-- getting the names of the bullies. Bullying. The principal, "Oh, we can't do anything." Bullying. Mimicking my bent, cerebral palsied hand. Bullying.
Forty years have passed between then and now. Yet, my visceral response to bullying is undiluted.
1974. I vowed that whatever form it might take, I would act to ensure that no other individual had to experience--endure--the pain--the stolen dignity that bullying effects on innocent human beings.
Bullies moved me to embrace the respect and peace that Catholicism exuded--the Treasure of Christ.
The Catholic Church opposes antibullying legislation in the name of religious liberty. How! Tell me how!
That is unconscionable. Absolutely unconscionable.
Being Catholic has taught me to be a Child of God. Not in the level of my maturity. Being Catholic has taught me to be a Person of God--full of unjaded wonder, untarnished awe at life that surrounds me.
Being Catholic has taught me to be a Person of God. Not in the level of my maturity. Being Catholic has taught me to be a Person of God--embracing joy, embracing God. Relinquishing temptation to be held captive to the dark skepticism and cynicism of life that surrounds me.
Antibullying legislation is not an obstacle to religious liberty. Antibullying legislation is an instrumentt of love--a staff to guide us into human decency.
Showing posts with label bullying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bullying. Show all posts
Monday, May 6, 2013
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Guns. Self-Defense. Inner Resources.
An understanding of what I do not understand regarding guns emerges as I watch the news--general crime stories involving guns--and listen to coverage of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Connecticut.
My understanding--my lack of understanding--falls into two categories. First, beliefs regarding guns as vehicles of self-defense, and secondly, is my lack of understanding regarding the facts of guns. I shall address the first category as the foundation of my reflections for this post. I need to reflect further on the second category, and how to formulate my thoughts, and questions into a forthcoming post. I can ill-afford haste.
Some individuals say they want guns for purposes of self-defense--defense of self, or of family. I do not. I could say that I do not feel comfortable in holding the gun, and in aiming it appropriately in a timely manner. Such is true, and more so today with the presence of essential tremors in my left hand--tremors aggravated when I am very nervous. So, that is true, in part. But, to a far greater degree, I cannot bring myself to act so harshly toward another human being. I just cannot do so. Further, and most importantly, I believe that stronger than any bullet I might pierce the skin of another human being are my inner resources. Gun control advocates speak of the dangers of guns being used against the owners, who purchased them for self-protection--guns being used by perpetrators of crime against gun owners. I subscribe to that belief.
I take it one step further.
Beyond the reliability of any gun, whatever the type may be, is the reliability of my inner resources. I prefer relying on my inner resources any day.
As I child, I encountered many bullies--not everyone was a bully, but, there were more than my taste. Whenever, I encountered bullies, I asked myself what I could say to stop their behaviors. I failed many times, yet, I could never bring myself to return the favor of the hurt they inflicted on me, by trying to hurt them intentionally. Although I failed many more times than I like to admit, I developed tremendous inner resources. Some have said that I am too sensitive. I resist that characterization. Insights have been given to me through that sensitivity that have given me tremendous inner resources.
We need to look at inner resources--at nurturing strong inner resources to serve us through challenges that might otherwise call for a gun. We cannot afford to overlook the treasury of inner resources
My understanding--my lack of understanding--falls into two categories. First, beliefs regarding guns as vehicles of self-defense, and secondly, is my lack of understanding regarding the facts of guns. I shall address the first category as the foundation of my reflections for this post. I need to reflect further on the second category, and how to formulate my thoughts, and questions into a forthcoming post. I can ill-afford haste.
Some individuals say they want guns for purposes of self-defense--defense of self, or of family. I do not. I could say that I do not feel comfortable in holding the gun, and in aiming it appropriately in a timely manner. Such is true, and more so today with the presence of essential tremors in my left hand--tremors aggravated when I am very nervous. So, that is true, in part. But, to a far greater degree, I cannot bring myself to act so harshly toward another human being. I just cannot do so. Further, and most importantly, I believe that stronger than any bullet I might pierce the skin of another human being are my inner resources. Gun control advocates speak of the dangers of guns being used against the owners, who purchased them for self-protection--guns being used by perpetrators of crime against gun owners. I subscribe to that belief.
I take it one step further.
Beyond the reliability of any gun, whatever the type may be, is the reliability of my inner resources. I prefer relying on my inner resources any day.
As I child, I encountered many bullies--not everyone was a bully, but, there were more than my taste. Whenever, I encountered bullies, I asked myself what I could say to stop their behaviors. I failed many times, yet, I could never bring myself to return the favor of the hurt they inflicted on me, by trying to hurt them intentionally. Although I failed many more times than I like to admit, I developed tremendous inner resources. Some have said that I am too sensitive. I resist that characterization. Insights have been given to me through that sensitivity that have given me tremendous inner resources.
We need to look at inner resources--at nurturing strong inner resources to serve us through challenges that might otherwise call for a gun. We cannot afford to overlook the treasury of inner resources
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Verbal Abuse
Recently, I heard myself to say that verbal abuse, and sexual abuse are not the same. I abhor little. Yet, abuse of any form, I abhor--tremble away from. I cannot speak to sexual abuse from first-hand experience. I know one, maybe two individuals whose lives have been touched--violently touched--by sexual abuse. Hostility, and submissiveness, respectively, make it difficult for me to address with compassion my friends' experiences.
Hostility, and submissiveness are common responses to sexual abuse. Yet, I do not feel I may address the issue with the respect it deserves.
For those reasons, I direct my ponderings to what I do understand from life experience. Bullying. Verbal abuse.
I do not feel the piercing sting--the deep pain--inflicted by Palsy Patty, and the mimicking of my bent right arm in my face during my childhood. It was not everyone--each of my peers, or every day of my life. Yet, I never knew the moment, when the bullying would attack.
My only response was to identify the words I could speak--the explanations I could give--that would make other kids understand why I looked different.
I do not understand. Contrary to each and every belief of everyone I knew, I knew that all I needed to be given were the words--the explanations--that would make people understand. I knew that I could create the understanding that did not exist--in which kids and parents were not willing to engage.
Compounding the verbal abuse---the lack of understanding--of my peers was the attitude--the belief--of adults that bullying--verbal abuse--was nothing more than a phase kids go through. No credence was given to the notion that the self-esteem of the kid being teased was not a phase that would be outgrown. No credence was given to the notion that the nurturing of positive self-esteem was essential--the positive self-esteem of kids who were being teased. I understood. Yet, far deeper than the physical disability I had, I was disabled from enlisting the support of my parents, the parents in my neighborhood, the authority figures--principals, most teachers, and counselors--people who I thought were supposed to know better.
I do not understand quite where my conviction came from--my belief that I could nurture understanding, if only some one of these adults would give me simple, logical, reasonable, understandable words, and explanations. Nascent faith, perhaps? I do not know. All I do know, is that in eight grade, I made a commitment to myself--I did not have a sense of God, or that might be what I might call it--to dedicate myself to work toward nurturing the understanding that I did not experience. It took me years to understand--to identify--what form my missionary work might take. Writing? That seemed the most likely to me, yet, I had no notion of what my outlet would be. My self-confidence--my introversion--did not lend itself to speaking, or assuming any leadership positions.
1978. College. A staff member asked if I was interested in serving on a campus-wide "Handicap Awareness Committee." Bingo. While people close to me did not understand my involvement, my dedication that precluded the studying I should have been doing, I knew better. I knew that if there was any hope of my making any meaningful contribution to society, I needed to work through the issues
Pervasive though my paralyzing fear was--fear that others would criticize me, and my actions--I assumed leadership of the Handicap Awareness Committee. I was driven by the knowledge that I was pursuing my missionary work. No trips to Central America for me. My missionary work was right at home.
My missionary work was being carried out. I spoke to education students at a college in South Dakota. I nurtured understanding in future teachers of the necessity of nurturing understanding, and building self-esteem. I shared the transcript of the speech I gave with parents in my neighborhood. I took the necessary risk of building understanding--of communicating to them what I had not been able to do twenty years earlier.
Palsy Patty died. No longer would she have negative, hurtful power over me. I do call upon her when communicating understanding, and compassion are my call to do.
"There goes another gimp," spoken by a coworker, who must have seen someone behind me with a walking disability, called the spirit of Palsy Patty to me in an instant. Gimp is not a word I use to describe myself. Gimp is not a word worthy of my speaking--reflective of the respect of other individuals I am called to express--to or in regard to any other human being.
Verbal abuse is not the same as sexual abuse. Yet, they do share an untenable violation of the human spirit.
Verbal abuse. Hostility. Anger. Submissiveness. Others may choose to respond in such spirit. I cannot respond in such a spirit. [In the heat of political debate, and hyperbole, name-calling of the individuals with opposite convictions is unthinkable. Yet, far too often, that seems the norm.] It is not a matter of whether I will not respond so. My will is not in question.
Verbal abuse. For a lifetime, I have been called to nurture understanding, build self-esteem, and most importantly separate actions from the individuals responsible for their commission. Verbal abuse--name calling. Physical proximity has no part in the commission of verbal abuse. I abhor the infliction of any derogatory word on the basis of different beliefs, or actions.
When I asked my father why the kids were teasing me, he said, with deep love, "There is nothing you did wrong, it is something wrong with them." Emotionally, I did not question his love. Yet, I could not reconcile how something could be wrong with the kids teasing me. Young as I was, that seemed an untenable response. An eye for an eye?
Verbal abuse. Bullying.
Thank God, bullying is finally getting its due in the United States. It has taken us until suicides rooted in sexual orientation-based situations for society to take bullying seriously. Suicides are the sad impetus to take seriously a grievous violation of the gifts of being human.
Verbal abuse. Bullying.
Whatever the subject may be, whoever the object may be, I cannot so engage. Such is my missionary work. I do so act. With Compassion. With Joy. With Resolution.
Verbal abuse. Bullying.
How do you respond? Do you erect physical boundaries? Or, is defamation limited to those human beings within your earshot?
Hostility, and submissiveness are common responses to sexual abuse. Yet, I do not feel I may address the issue with the respect it deserves.
For those reasons, I direct my ponderings to what I do understand from life experience. Bullying. Verbal abuse.
I do not feel the piercing sting--the deep pain--inflicted by Palsy Patty, and the mimicking of my bent right arm in my face during my childhood. It was not everyone--each of my peers, or every day of my life. Yet, I never knew the moment, when the bullying would attack.
My only response was to identify the words I could speak--the explanations I could give--that would make other kids understand why I looked different.
I do not understand. Contrary to each and every belief of everyone I knew, I knew that all I needed to be given were the words--the explanations--that would make people understand. I knew that I could create the understanding that did not exist--in which kids and parents were not willing to engage.
Compounding the verbal abuse---the lack of understanding--of my peers was the attitude--the belief--of adults that bullying--verbal abuse--was nothing more than a phase kids go through. No credence was given to the notion that the self-esteem of the kid being teased was not a phase that would be outgrown. No credence was given to the notion that the nurturing of positive self-esteem was essential--the positive self-esteem of kids who were being teased. I understood. Yet, far deeper than the physical disability I had, I was disabled from enlisting the support of my parents, the parents in my neighborhood, the authority figures--principals, most teachers, and counselors--people who I thought were supposed to know better.
I do not understand quite where my conviction came from--my belief that I could nurture understanding, if only some one of these adults would give me simple, logical, reasonable, understandable words, and explanations. Nascent faith, perhaps? I do not know. All I do know, is that in eight grade, I made a commitment to myself--I did not have a sense of God, or that might be what I might call it--to dedicate myself to work toward nurturing the understanding that I did not experience. It took me years to understand--to identify--what form my missionary work might take. Writing? That seemed the most likely to me, yet, I had no notion of what my outlet would be. My self-confidence--my introversion--did not lend itself to speaking, or assuming any leadership positions.
1978. College. A staff member asked if I was interested in serving on a campus-wide "Handicap Awareness Committee." Bingo. While people close to me did not understand my involvement, my dedication that precluded the studying I should have been doing, I knew better. I knew that if there was any hope of my making any meaningful contribution to society, I needed to work through the issues
Pervasive though my paralyzing fear was--fear that others would criticize me, and my actions--I assumed leadership of the Handicap Awareness Committee. I was driven by the knowledge that I was pursuing my missionary work. No trips to Central America for me. My missionary work was right at home.
My missionary work was being carried out. I spoke to education students at a college in South Dakota. I nurtured understanding in future teachers of the necessity of nurturing understanding, and building self-esteem. I shared the transcript of the speech I gave with parents in my neighborhood. I took the necessary risk of building understanding--of communicating to them what I had not been able to do twenty years earlier.
Palsy Patty died. No longer would she have negative, hurtful power over me. I do call upon her when communicating understanding, and compassion are my call to do.
"There goes another gimp," spoken by a coworker, who must have seen someone behind me with a walking disability, called the spirit of Palsy Patty to me in an instant. Gimp is not a word I use to describe myself. Gimp is not a word worthy of my speaking--reflective of the respect of other individuals I am called to express--to or in regard to any other human being.
Verbal abuse is not the same as sexual abuse. Yet, they do share an untenable violation of the human spirit.
Verbal abuse. Hostility. Anger. Submissiveness. Others may choose to respond in such spirit. I cannot respond in such a spirit. [In the heat of political debate, and hyperbole, name-calling of the individuals with opposite convictions is unthinkable. Yet, far too often, that seems the norm.] It is not a matter of whether I will not respond so. My will is not in question.
Verbal abuse. For a lifetime, I have been called to nurture understanding, build self-esteem, and most importantly separate actions from the individuals responsible for their commission. Verbal abuse--name calling. Physical proximity has no part in the commission of verbal abuse. I abhor the infliction of any derogatory word on the basis of different beliefs, or actions.
When I asked my father why the kids were teasing me, he said, with deep love, "There is nothing you did wrong, it is something wrong with them." Emotionally, I did not question his love. Yet, I could not reconcile how something could be wrong with the kids teasing me. Young as I was, that seemed an untenable response. An eye for an eye?
Verbal abuse. Bullying.
Thank God, bullying is finally getting its due in the United States. It has taken us until suicides rooted in sexual orientation-based situations for society to take bullying seriously. Suicides are the sad impetus to take seriously a grievous violation of the gifts of being human.
Verbal abuse. Bullying.
Whatever the subject may be, whoever the object may be, I cannot so engage. Such is my missionary work. I do so act. With Compassion. With Joy. With Resolution.
Verbal abuse. Bullying.
How do you respond? Do you erect physical boundaries? Or, is defamation limited to those human beings within your earshot?
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Stop Bullying: Speak Up Pledge
We all have the power to stop bullying by getting involved and performing simple actions that can make a difference in others' lives. Together we can create a community that is committed to ending bullying. So join me in taking the pledge to Stop Bullying: Speak Up today.
Stop Bullying: Speak Up pledge
http://www.facebook.com/stopbullyingspeakup
I urge you to take the Stop Bullying: Speak Up pledge today.
Whether it be with children, teens, adults--whatever the age--our words matter. It does NOT matter whether or not we know the individuals. EVERYONE deserves basic, human respect. Suicides have resulted, and self-respect damaged over feelings regarding sexual orientation, disabilities, and appearance, to name a few, that have been used as justifications for bullying. Please take this pledge.
Expedite necessary action. First, press http://www.facebook.com/stopbullyingspeakup. Second, press the Take the Pledge icon. Third, add your name. Fourth, press the Like button. Identify yourself as a teen or an adult. Share the Stop Bullying: Speak Up pledge with your friends.
Further action may be taken, if you so choose. First, you may add a Comment to your Pledge Signature. You may join groups of others concerned. Other options are offered on the Stop Bullying: Speak Up Facebook page.
Most powerful are the words you speak--the words you tolerate. Actions you take--actions you tolerate matter as well.
Stop Bullying: Speak Up pledge
http://www.facebook.com/stopbullyingspeakup
I urge you to take the Stop Bullying: Speak Up pledge today.
Whether it be with children, teens, adults--whatever the age--our words matter. It does NOT matter whether or not we know the individuals. EVERYONE deserves basic, human respect. Suicides have resulted, and self-respect damaged over feelings regarding sexual orientation, disabilities, and appearance, to name a few, that have been used as justifications for bullying. Please take this pledge.
Expedite necessary action. First, press http://www.facebook.com/stopbullyingspeakup. Second, press the Take the Pledge icon. Third, add your name. Fourth, press the Like button. Identify yourself as a teen or an adult. Share the Stop Bullying: Speak Up pledge with your friends.
Further action may be taken, if you so choose. First, you may add a Comment to your Pledge Signature. You may join groups of others concerned. Other options are offered on the Stop Bullying: Speak Up Facebook page.
Most powerful are the words you speak--the words you tolerate. Actions you take--actions you tolerate matter as well.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Stolen Dignity
WHY ARE THE KIDS
TEASING ME?
This is a question first asked in first grade. The question remains with me today, not as a fixation
on long-forgotten people, tangible pain, or specific places. No,
the sting of “Why are the kids
teasing me?” and specific words, phrases, or actions was removed many years ago by writing
about the question, and the insights the question has given me.
The factual basis of the question was my bent right arm, and
wrist, and limping right leg. My early
understanding of the question was centered on the facts. Yet, although I sought concrete facts from
family, dissatisfaction with the answers given to me led me through a journey
that I understood only in its necessity.
My dissatisfaction was not my expression of doubt—doubt of
love my family had for me. I had, nor do I have
any doubt. They loved, and love me. My dissatisfaction was threefold. First, the logic of ignoring the teasing. Second, saying that something was wrong with the bullies was no better
than my feeling that something was wrong with
me. No one profited from that
approach. Finally, the cowardice of
school administrators not to address
specific names involving teasing that I reported is unconscionable to this day.
“Why are the kids teasing
me” was a question that offered me a nascent understanding of “stolen dignity.”
The understanding, response, and inaction regarding teasing
was my invitation into a lifelong journey.
“Stolen dignity” is not
a word that appears in the Oxford Dictionary, http://oxforddictionaries.com/ .
It is a word that takes a lifetime to understand. Yet, pursuit of its meaning is worthy of our
earnest endeavors.
Comprehending “stolen
dignity” must begin with “dignity.” The Oxford Dictionary defines “dignity” http://oxforddictionaries.com/ as, the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect: the dignity of labour; [count noun] a high rank or position: he promised dignities to the nobles in return
for his rival's murder. 2 a composed or
serious manner or style: he bowed with
great dignity. A sense of pride in
oneself; self-respect: it was beneath
his dignity to shout.
“Stolen” is
defined by the Oxford Dictionary http://oxforddictionaries.com/ as an adjective. The dictionary’s definition speaks of ideas,
rather than people, although I think it is plausible to insert “individuals” in the place of “ideas.”
Oxford defined “stolen” as
dishonestly pass off (another person‘s ideas) as one’s own.
Dignity is not a human
quality that is earned, nor is it possible without life experience. Dignity
is a gift. Stolen dignity is an experience, which is not earned. Similarly,
it is not possible without life experience.
Yet, while dignity is a
lifelong process, stolen dignity may
be given in an instant—in a moment
shorter than is possible to measure by any mechanism.
Stolen dignity is not a condition that is outgrown. Stolen dignity may be inflicted with a piercing knife any time from birth until death do us
part.
Stolen dignity is not an irreversible sentence. Fervor is the requisite spirit, which must energize
all efforts to extinguish the root causes of stolen dignity. Fervor underlies ever word I write.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Zoomer Chronicles: Leaving Home
Zoomer is having problems leaving home. I remember having problems leaving home as a child....going to camp....college....embarrassing to admit. St. Paul was a half a world away from Golden Valley after all....well, OK, so maybe just half an hour by car.
Zoomer is OK once she gets out of the door, but, it is getting out of the door that is proving challenging--leaving home.
Hmmm....So, how can I pull her out of her shell, and have the door close behind her, so she will not chicken out and wheel back inside? Hmmm....
Aha! I've got it! This should do the trick. An elastic therapy band secured by a fabric "door anchor." Let's try....Buckle up, Patty, its the law. OK. Cell phone in my purse for safety. Bright orange flag topping Zoomer for safety.
Ready? OK. Tie the elastic band with two knots. Put one small knot behind the door anchor. Put the fabric door anchor around the doorknob. Tie the other end of the elastic band into a knotleaving a much bigger opening to insert my right hand loosely.
OK. Ready. Set. Go. It works!
Or, so it did for several weeks:) Yesterday, the Yellow-Banded Bully took Zoomer and me for a ride. He snapped on us. I was not hurt.
I really AM careful. I swear, I am. The Bully wouldn't DARE hurt me.
But, the Yellow-Banded Bully DID get herself stuck arm-in-arm with Zoomer. I have yet to determine whether it was just an accident, or whether it was a premeditated act of the Yellow-Banded Bully. He may be a bully but, he will not Bully me.
I'll show him. You thought you were the only show in town? Well, you've got another thing coming, let me tell you, Yellow-Banded Bully. I have here Orange-Banded Butler fully dressed with the same door anchor. But, my Orange-Banded Butler will serve me differently. He will stand--or hang--at attention on the doorknob. He will await the reach of the Ready Reacher to close the door behind Zoomer.
The Orange-Banded Butler, and Ready Reacher will not let Zoomer, and me chicken out. The Butler, and the Reacher are banded together ready to see that Zoomer and me dare the streets.
Now that we are leaving home, where shall we go? What shall we do?
Zoomer is OK once she gets out of the door, but, it is getting out of the door that is proving challenging--leaving home.
Hmmm....So, how can I pull her out of her shell, and have the door close behind her, so she will not chicken out and wheel back inside? Hmmm....
Aha! I've got it! This should do the trick. An elastic therapy band secured by a fabric "door anchor." Let's try....Buckle up, Patty, its the law. OK. Cell phone in my purse for safety. Bright orange flag topping Zoomer for safety.
Ready? OK. Tie the elastic band with two knots. Put one small knot behind the door anchor. Put the fabric door anchor around the doorknob. Tie the other end of the elastic band into a knotleaving a much bigger opening to insert my right hand loosely.
OK. Ready. Set. Go. It works!
Or, so it did for several weeks:) Yesterday, the Yellow-Banded Bully took Zoomer and me for a ride. He snapped on us. I was not hurt.
I really AM careful. I swear, I am. The Bully wouldn't DARE hurt me.
But, the Yellow-Banded Bully DID get herself stuck arm-in-arm with Zoomer. I have yet to determine whether it was just an accident, or whether it was a premeditated act of the Yellow-Banded Bully. He may be a bully but, he will not Bully me.
I'll show him. You thought you were the only show in town? Well, you've got another thing coming, let me tell you, Yellow-Banded Bully. I have here Orange-Banded Butler fully dressed with the same door anchor. But, my Orange-Banded Butler will serve me differently. He will stand--or hang--at attention on the doorknob. He will await the reach of the Ready Reacher to close the door behind Zoomer.
The Orange-Banded Butler, and Ready Reacher will not let Zoomer, and me chicken out. The Butler, and the Reacher are banded together ready to see that Zoomer and me dare the streets.
Now that we are leaving home, where shall we go? What shall we do?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Right Questions...Proper Fines...Rehabilitation...
I confess that I am not a huge sports fan. I listen for human profiles--human insights--within sports.
This week, National Basketball Association [NBA] player, Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for uttering a racial slur at a referee. NBA President David Stern imposed the fine to convey that the NBA was a family-friendly form of entertainment that would not endorse such behavior--such attitudes. Criticism has been made regarding the amount of the fine in proportion to the player's annual salary.
I pose a different question regarding the offense, and its corresponding fine. What impact would the imposition of fines have if they required community service relevant to the offense? Adjustments to the ratio of the fine to the offender's income should be implicit in sentencing standards, or fines assignments standards.
Community service seems like an easy way out--a soft sentence to impose. Yet, it does not need to be, if properly imposed--properly administered.
In the justice system, sentencing is supposed to be commensurate with the proven crime. Unanimous agreement does not exist regarding the definition of commensurate. However, that is no excuse for pursuing a definition.
What might commensurate community service be? First, it must be based on positive actions to lessen the occurrence of relevant offenses, in this case, hate speech. Second, three groups must be identified.
First, to what group, or organization is the offender accountable. Is it a sports team? Is it a professional association? Is it some other institution?
Second, who were the people incriminated? Children? Colleagues? Adults? Others?
Third, to whom is the offender a role model? Children? Parents? Pet owners? Teachers? Religious leaders? Others?
Fourth, what might some commensurate community service be for an athlete?
Speaking to fans at games at a pre-determined time within the game, and for a specified time period--once in each city played during the season? Speaking to recruits during the training season for the sport involved?
These are just two ideas. I am not beholden to them. My intent is to spur thought.
In the U.S. judicial system, there are federal sentencing guidelines, which have been established to ensure consistency, and definitions of commensurate. It seems that other organizations might take a cue from the U.S. judicial system.
Kobe Bryant is not the first, nor the last athlete to engage in hate speech. His offense can be a teaching moment for everyone--the news spotlight is on, and it is up to us to use it.
This week, National Basketball Association [NBA] player, Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for uttering a racial slur at a referee. NBA President David Stern imposed the fine to convey that the NBA was a family-friendly form of entertainment that would not endorse such behavior--such attitudes. Criticism has been made regarding the amount of the fine in proportion to the player's annual salary.
I pose a different question regarding the offense, and its corresponding fine. What impact would the imposition of fines have if they required community service relevant to the offense? Adjustments to the ratio of the fine to the offender's income should be implicit in sentencing standards, or fines assignments standards.
Community service seems like an easy way out--a soft sentence to impose. Yet, it does not need to be, if properly imposed--properly administered.
In the justice system, sentencing is supposed to be commensurate with the proven crime. Unanimous agreement does not exist regarding the definition of commensurate. However, that is no excuse for pursuing a definition.
What might commensurate community service be? First, it must be based on positive actions to lessen the occurrence of relevant offenses, in this case, hate speech. Second, three groups must be identified.
First, to what group, or organization is the offender accountable. Is it a sports team? Is it a professional association? Is it some other institution?
Second, who were the people incriminated? Children? Colleagues? Adults? Others?
Third, to whom is the offender a role model? Children? Parents? Pet owners? Teachers? Religious leaders? Others?
Fourth, what might some commensurate community service be for an athlete?
Speaking to fans at games at a pre-determined time within the game, and for a specified time period--once in each city played during the season? Speaking to recruits during the training season for the sport involved?
These are just two ideas. I am not beholden to them. My intent is to spur thought.
In the U.S. judicial system, there are federal sentencing guidelines, which have been established to ensure consistency, and definitions of commensurate. It seems that other organizations might take a cue from the U.S. judicial system.
Kobe Bryant is not the first, nor the last athlete to engage in hate speech. His offense can be a teaching moment for everyone--the news spotlight is on, and it is up to us to use it.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Hate Speech
In recent weeks, bullying, and other abhorrent expressions of disrespect. I am compelled to offer a different perspective to hate speech.
Every instance of hate speech is a call to individuals and society to examine the response that will eliminate the source of hatred - a response that reflects the values of society toward each individual and group. Instances of hate speech cannot be dismissed as affecting only individuals or small groups - hate speech affects the integrity with which everyone in society lives. We have a responsibility to convey moral outrage, and engage in declarative acts of living that make clear that hate speech is not acceptable.
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