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?
Showing posts with label name-calling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label name-calling. Show all posts
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Words. Abbreviated. Language. Corrupted.
Obamacare. "Ronnie Ree gun." Pro-life. Pro-abortion. Romney-care.
I am not a fan of any of these words. Corruption of words. These four phrases are not political statements of my beliefs. Not at all.
Abbreviation of words. Corruption of language.
I value health care. I am not opposed to Obama's health care programs. "Obamacare" obliterates the reasons--the objections--people who use the phrase have. Romney-care is nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction--an attention-getting word created specifically to express objection.
Obstruction of justice. Obamacare. No, I don't mean "Obamacare" program is an obstruction of justice. Obstruction of justice? The term "Obamacare" obstructs the ability to revisit areas, which may be problematic in the execution of the statutes. If Senators, and/or Representatives want to propose any provisions to correct unintended consequences of the program, their efforts are hindered by the emotionally-explosive term, "Obamacare." O falls into the same pitfalls as does "Obamacare."
Abbreviation of language. Corruption of words.
"Ronnie Ree' gun." My elders have referred to President Ronald Reagan as, "Ronnie Ree' gun." Contrary to the pronunciation the President preferred during his political career, "Ronald Ray' gun." My sense is that he may have used the previous pronunciation during his movie career. If that is true, that does not forgive a "Ronnie Ree' gun." moniker being ascribed. Those who know me know that I am not a Ronald Reagan-apologist. I abhor name-calling.
I do not feel particularly effective in affirming my convictions. I pray my convictions will be heard without full benefit of my clearly-expressed thoughts and words.
Abbreviation of words. Corruption of language.
Pro-life. Pro-abortion. Pro-choice. Anti-choice.
Abbreviation of words. Corruption of language.
I intend no discussion of the issue of abortion. Many people on both sides of the issue are far better advocates than I could ever be, or aspire, if I were so inclined.
Life. Abortion. Choice. Respect.
Broad scope. Vast intent.
I treasure life. Abortion has never visited my door. I cannot speak from experience, or invest my precious energies in fighting for or against an issue with which I have no experience. My life has given me a well-spring of experience to which I feel called to advocate. I revere life. I value choice. I have made many choices, which are at the core of my past, current, and future life. I have deep respect for each human being I have met, know, love, and will never know.
Yet, I cannot distill my beliefs, simplify my convictions into nicknames, and slogans. My convictions exceed the tight spaces afforded by abbreviated language. My beliefs deserve more deliberation than nicknames, and abbreviated language afford.
Whatever the word, the language, or cause may be, may we abide by the treasure of life, the chalice from which our choice is poured, and the revere what respect deserves. This is my prayer.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Hope...Understanding...
My child seeks hope.
My child seeks understanding.
For a lifetime,
I have sought hope
Hope of understanding
Understanding much.
My child sought understanding.
What is cerebral palsy?
What is epilepsy?
My child sought understanding.
My child sought understanding.
How do I stop the teasing?
If you give me just the right words,
I know I can stop the teasing.
My child sought hope.
My child seeks understanding.
What can I say?
What can I do?
Give me the magic words.
My child seeks hope.
My child seeks understanding.
This was given for some reason.
Don't tell me to ignore this.
Don't tell me I must ignore a part of myself.
Don't tell me to sacrifice myself.
Is that really the secret to understanding?
I do not understand.
Is the price of your love
That other people must be wrong?
Is the cost of my love that other people are wrong?
This day, may we love freely.
In our diversity, may we all be worthy.
My child seeks understanding.
For a lifetime,
I have sought hope
Hope of understanding
Understanding much.
My child sought understanding.
What is cerebral palsy?
What is epilepsy?
My child sought understanding.
My child sought understanding.
How do I stop the teasing?
If you give me just the right words,
I know I can stop the teasing.
My child sought hope.
My child seeks understanding.
What can I say?
What can I do?
Give me the magic words.
My child seeks hope.
My child seeks understanding.
This was given for some reason.
Don't tell me to ignore this.
Don't tell me I must ignore a part of myself.
Don't tell me to sacrifice myself.
Is that really the secret to understanding?
I do not understand.
Is the price of your love
That other people must be wrong?
Is the cost of my love that other people are wrong?
This day, may we love freely.
In our diversity, may we all be worthy.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Civic Responsibility
More and more, as time goes on, I find myself much less ardent in my advocacy for a given cause. Although if called to label myself politically, I would describe myself as liberal, that does not suffice to describe my perspective. I am far more ardent an advocate for civility, respect, pragmatism, and civic engagement.
I am a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota. As such, I witnessed an irresponsible government shutdown. Irresponsible--the negotiation strategies employed, rather than any of the facts that resulted in the shutdown warrant irresponsible. Time elapsed. Compromise prevailed. Now, the Minnesota State government is open, and operational now. I was not affected directly. I am a friend of a state employee. I am a citizen of Minnesota. Yet, on a day-to-day basis, the shutdown did not have a short-term impact on me.
Civic responsibility. The debt ceiling negotiations. I am not an economist. I do not play one on television. I am a citizen of the United States. I am a recipient of SSDI. Neither of these elements of me may have any part in the debt ceiling negotiations. Yet, both elements lead me to reflection.
Many people are heard to say, "throw the bums out!" in relation to officeholders, who vote for a given piece of legislation, or a given political persuasion. I am not so inclined. I vote on the basis of the current needs at Election Day, and the needs I perceive for the future. I do not vote for a given political candidate as a vote against the opposing candidate. Such an approach does not give anyone the mandate he or she needs to govern. I do not engage in name-calling with regard to a given officeholder, candidate, or political movement. To do so dilutes my integrity, credibility, and influence for my convictions.
Principled pragmatism.
Typical of many college students, I was an idealist. I was a passionate advocate for issues of personal interest, knowledge, and understanding. Had life been perfect, I would have pursued paid work promoting the awareness of disabilities.
With time--with the realities of career disappointments, among other factors--I became more of a pragmatist. College ideals gave way to the need for a job, health insurance, among other things.
Recently, I have listened with disgust to the individuals engaged in the debt ceiling debate. Participants are so firmly entrenched in their principles that there is no room for compromise--for pragmatism.
Principles and pragmatism need not be diametrically opposed. In fact, they are intimates. Principles are the starting point from which negotiations regarding any debate. Yet, at the point that listening, understanding, pragmatism, and compromise are left out of the discourse, principles--however genuinely held they may be--lose their credence.
Civic Responsibility. Principles. Listening. Understanding. Listening. Pragmatism. Compromise. Principled Pragmatism. Civic Responsibility. These need not be complicated undertakings. These are worthy of celebration. When they prevail, we may inhale civility's breath.
I am a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota. As such, I witnessed an irresponsible government shutdown. Irresponsible--the negotiation strategies employed, rather than any of the facts that resulted in the shutdown warrant irresponsible. Time elapsed. Compromise prevailed. Now, the Minnesota State government is open, and operational now. I was not affected directly. I am a friend of a state employee. I am a citizen of Minnesota. Yet, on a day-to-day basis, the shutdown did not have a short-term impact on me.
Civic responsibility. The debt ceiling negotiations. I am not an economist. I do not play one on television. I am a citizen of the United States. I am a recipient of SSDI. Neither of these elements of me may have any part in the debt ceiling negotiations. Yet, both elements lead me to reflection.
Many people are heard to say, "throw the bums out!" in relation to officeholders, who vote for a given piece of legislation, or a given political persuasion. I am not so inclined. I vote on the basis of the current needs at Election Day, and the needs I perceive for the future. I do not vote for a given political candidate as a vote against the opposing candidate. Such an approach does not give anyone the mandate he or she needs to govern. I do not engage in name-calling with regard to a given officeholder, candidate, or political movement. To do so dilutes my integrity, credibility, and influence for my convictions.
Principled pragmatism.
Typical of many college students, I was an idealist. I was a passionate advocate for issues of personal interest, knowledge, and understanding. Had life been perfect, I would have pursued paid work promoting the awareness of disabilities.
With time--with the realities of career disappointments, among other factors--I became more of a pragmatist. College ideals gave way to the need for a job, health insurance, among other things.
Recently, I have listened with disgust to the individuals engaged in the debt ceiling debate. Participants are so firmly entrenched in their principles that there is no room for compromise--for pragmatism.
Principles and pragmatism need not be diametrically opposed. In fact, they are intimates. Principles are the starting point from which negotiations regarding any debate. Yet, at the point that listening, understanding, pragmatism, and compromise are left out of the discourse, principles--however genuinely held they may be--lose their credence.
Civic Responsibility. Principles. Listening. Understanding. Listening. Pragmatism. Compromise. Principled Pragmatism. Civic Responsibility. These need not be complicated undertakings. These are worthy of celebration. When they prevail, we may inhale civility's breath.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Preconceptions
Have you ever challenged your preconceptions, when you hear yourself speaking out against the views of someone? When you hear of geographic places you have never traveled, are you aware of your preconceptions regarding the place, and the people who live there?
I pride myself on being an open-minded person. I pride myself on being sensitive to other people, and deliberate in my thought--not rash in making conclusions. At the same time, I would like to think I am a humble person. How is that for a contradiction in terms--prideful, and humble. I was about to say that I am not proud of being prideful:) I guess that means a friend was right. You are not "Perfect Patty," you are human.
OK. I offer these thoughts as a pretext by which to understand my offering today.
I have been writing this blog since September 2010. Initially, people reading my blog were from the United States. No one from other countries was reading my blog. I was excited that anyone was reading my thoughts. However, as time passed, I became greedy. I harbored grandiose expectations of reaching people from other countries in the world. I didn't have a particular country in mind, I just wanted for my ideas to travel beyond the borders of the United States. My expectations have never been to rally supporters for a particular political, or religious ideology. My life is guided by political, and religious principles, yet, winning converts to my personal beliefs for the sake of winning over the largest number of converts was never my goal.
As time progressed, I did break the barrier, if you will, of the American borders. I started to recognize preconceptions I had, when I learned of the different countries my blog reached via online search engines.
I feel very fortunate regarding exposure to people of other countries. As a child, our family participated in a foreign exchange program through which social workers from nations throughout the world visited social service agencies in the Twin Cities. Over the years, we hosted a man from Denmark, a man from Italy, a South Korea, and a woman from Austria. Travel was a passion. I have postcards from other family members, who traveled to England, France, Poland, and the Soviet Union. I have enjoyed seeing Austria, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, and very brief moments in Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. I say that not to brag. Rather, I say that to portray the subtle foundation upon which I imagine my preconceptions are based.
Upon learning that my blog had been read in Denmark, images of Knut--our Danish exchange participant--came to mind. Upon learning my blog had reached Russia, I was transported back to family postcards, and phone calls from the Soviet Union. You get the idea. My preconceptions were rooted in associations with Russia, and experiences in European countries.
Since September, 2010, I have wondered about South America. My blog entries had been read by at least one person in Europe, in Russia, in New Zealand, and in Africa. The South Pole exceeds my aspirations. Yet, no one from South America.
Today, someone did--someone from Peru. [Be assured, I know nothing more than countries, tallies of hits within those countries, and the time when someone in the world read my blog. So there is no reason to be concerned about privacy.]
Touching Peru--someone within Peru--led me to question my preconceptions regarding Peru. My only personal association with South America was a family member's Caribbean cruise that touched Venezuela. But, I knew little of South America.
My sense of South America, of what people in South America were like, as though a single profile could be, is based upon coverage regarding South America, and South American people. I am being very deliberate about saying South American people, because, I thought I was being open-minded by drawing one single profile.
Given that, let me offer fleeting impressions. Rio de Janeiro. Mardi Gras. 2016 Olympics. Venezuela. 1973. OPEC. Oil. Colombia. Drug trafficking. Brazil. Brasilia. Modern society. Chile. Andes Mountains. Rescued miners. Paraguay, Uruguay. Nothing. I know they exist. But, nothing. What other countries in South America have I forgotten. A Google search. Bolivia. Coffee. Ecuador. You've got me. French Guiana. Guyana. I was thinking Africa. But, I was confusing Guiana, and Guyana with the African nation of Guinea.
Peru. Mountains. Remote villages. Farmers.
I am not proclaiming that my impressions are accurate. That is just the point. Am I open to the notion--am I willing to admit--that my preconceptions may be inaccurate? Am I open to--interested in--challenging my preconceptions? Am I interested in correcting gross inaccuracies in my preconceptions?
I am not saying that it is humanly possible to disspel all preconceptions we have. Preconceptions are an essential starting point in our daily lives. We need to have some basis to take any actions in our daily lives. But, the danger of preconceptions in our lives--in our world--is when we are not willing to challenge our preconceptions, and correct inaccurate preconceptions that we become aware of.
I pray that when I am inaccurate in preconceptions, that the individual who becomes aware of those inaccuracies will call me on it, and correct my understandings, so that I may live with greater integrity. I invite you to submit yourself to that same standard. But, I respect you more than to make complying with that standard as a litmus test for my respect of you.
I pride myself on being an open-minded person. I pride myself on being sensitive to other people, and deliberate in my thought--not rash in making conclusions. At the same time, I would like to think I am a humble person. How is that for a contradiction in terms--prideful, and humble. I was about to say that I am not proud of being prideful:) I guess that means a friend was right. You are not "Perfect Patty," you are human.
OK. I offer these thoughts as a pretext by which to understand my offering today.
I have been writing this blog since September 2010. Initially, people reading my blog were from the United States. No one from other countries was reading my blog. I was excited that anyone was reading my thoughts. However, as time passed, I became greedy. I harbored grandiose expectations of reaching people from other countries in the world. I didn't have a particular country in mind, I just wanted for my ideas to travel beyond the borders of the United States. My expectations have never been to rally supporters for a particular political, or religious ideology. My life is guided by political, and religious principles, yet, winning converts to my personal beliefs for the sake of winning over the largest number of converts was never my goal.
As time progressed, I did break the barrier, if you will, of the American borders. I started to recognize preconceptions I had, when I learned of the different countries my blog reached via online search engines.
I feel very fortunate regarding exposure to people of other countries. As a child, our family participated in a foreign exchange program through which social workers from nations throughout the world visited social service agencies in the Twin Cities. Over the years, we hosted a man from Denmark, a man from Italy, a South Korea, and a woman from Austria. Travel was a passion. I have postcards from other family members, who traveled to England, France, Poland, and the Soviet Union. I have enjoyed seeing Austria, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, and very brief moments in Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. I say that not to brag. Rather, I say that to portray the subtle foundation upon which I imagine my preconceptions are based.
Upon learning that my blog had been read in Denmark, images of Knut--our Danish exchange participant--came to mind. Upon learning my blog had reached Russia, I was transported back to family postcards, and phone calls from the Soviet Union. You get the idea. My preconceptions were rooted in associations with Russia, and experiences in European countries.
Since September, 2010, I have wondered about South America. My blog entries had been read by at least one person in Europe, in Russia, in New Zealand, and in Africa. The South Pole exceeds my aspirations. Yet, no one from South America.
Today, someone did--someone from Peru. [Be assured, I know nothing more than countries, tallies of hits within those countries, and the time when someone in the world read my blog. So there is no reason to be concerned about privacy.]
Touching Peru--someone within Peru--led me to question my preconceptions regarding Peru. My only personal association with South America was a family member's Caribbean cruise that touched Venezuela. But, I knew little of South America.
My sense of South America, of what people in South America were like, as though a single profile could be, is based upon coverage regarding South America, and South American people. I am being very deliberate about saying South American people, because, I thought I was being open-minded by drawing one single profile.
Given that, let me offer fleeting impressions. Rio de Janeiro. Mardi Gras. 2016 Olympics. Venezuela. 1973. OPEC. Oil. Colombia. Drug trafficking. Brazil. Brasilia. Modern society. Chile. Andes Mountains. Rescued miners. Paraguay, Uruguay. Nothing. I know they exist. But, nothing. What other countries in South America have I forgotten. A Google search. Bolivia. Coffee. Ecuador. You've got me. French Guiana. Guyana. I was thinking Africa. But, I was confusing Guiana, and Guyana with the African nation of Guinea.
Peru. Mountains. Remote villages. Farmers.
I am not proclaiming that my impressions are accurate. That is just the point. Am I open to the notion--am I willing to admit--that my preconceptions may be inaccurate? Am I open to--interested in--challenging my preconceptions? Am I interested in correcting gross inaccuracies in my preconceptions?
I am not saying that it is humanly possible to disspel all preconceptions we have. Preconceptions are an essential starting point in our daily lives. We need to have some basis to take any actions in our daily lives. But, the danger of preconceptions in our lives--in our world--is when we are not willing to challenge our preconceptions, and correct inaccurate preconceptions that we become aware of.
I pray that when I am inaccurate in preconceptions, that the individual who becomes aware of those inaccuracies will call me on it, and correct my understandings, so that I may live with greater integrity. I invite you to submit yourself to that same standard. But, I respect you more than to make complying with that standard as a litmus test for my respect of you.
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.
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