OPINION: Teenage errors should not be compounded by grownups

There is a disturbing trend of hypersensitivity and censorship in our nation as evidenced once again by the incident in Polson articulated in the Saturday, Oct. 1, Daily Inter Lake article.

A few — three?! — students wore T-shirts that were not only distasteful, but in some cases just plain false. All one has to do is look at history to see all the stupid and arrogant things the “white man” has done, and is still doing, to see we’re no “superior race.” We’re as flawed and sinful as they come and don’t worry ... we’ll get ours in due time!

The reaction of the administration I felt was admirable and appropriate and to say they “should have done more to prevent it from happening” is both unrealistic and unfair. No way can a school administration possibly anticipate every dumb thing a teenager can do. The possibilities are as numerous as there are teenagers, evidenced by the actions of these several students. And, with social media, things are “out there” before anyone can stop them. It’s just the nature of the beast today.

Let’s also be careful not to ascribe too much credence to these individuals even having a clue as to what they were doing and/or the extent of the consequences. And consequences there should be. The guilty parties should be dealt with, educated in a constructive way and hopefully learn from their mistakes.

But let’s be careful not to make more of something than it was intended to be and to create even more division in a world already on the brink. We all need to “give up the right to be offended” (Craig Groeschel’s book, “Altar Ego”). We need to be “slow to speak and slow to anger ... for the anger of man does not work the will of God.” And what is the will of God? “Love your neighbor.” And, who is my neighbor? Everyone.

How about we focus on the positive actions of the 99.9 percent of students who didn’t wear the offensive shirts and “who stood up against this conduct?” Are we going to start censoring wearing certain colors now? And do Native Americans have a patent on braids? Everything in society has the potential to be used for good or for evil and/or to be perceived one way or another. No one has the power to control another’s perception. That is up to the individual. So can we try to give one another the benefit of the doubt and not be so quick to judge? After all, who among us is without fault?

The “quickness” of people to be offended is becoming both epidemic and a very dangerous and slippery slope. “The Fighting Sioux” (former University of North Dakota athletic teams) was intended to be a name to be lifted up in honor to be a source of pride for the student body. But somebody decided it could be offensive so spoiled it for everyone, white and Native American alike. Football player Josh Norman, cornerback for the Washington Redskins, cost his team 15 yards for making the gesture of shooting a bow and arrow after making a touchdown. It was a symbol of victory. All kinds of people hunt with bows and arrows and when they make a kill, it’s a victory. But everything is under scrutiny now for fear of possibly offending someone. That is an individual choice that no one has any control over, and if we continue down this road we are heading right into the den of censorship.

“United we stand. Divided we fall.” The USA is still the greatest nation on earth but it is a house of cards and when it falls “great will be its fall.” And, no one wins when that happens. To those who are frustrated with race relations, politics and any number of things plaguing our nation right now, disrespecting our nation and our flag isn’t helping. If you can have a better life outside our nation, then by all means go. The adage, “America: Love it (serve it, make it a better place) or leave it,” still holds. As do John Kennedy’s words, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

Let’s be part of the solution. The solution is not in the hands of the government, it is in the hands of each and every one of us. We all need to submit to God and to one another; “Count all men better than yourself.” What a different world this would be.

Berg is a resident of Bigfork.