For that reason, I encouraged both my daughter and son to be in their high school bands, though to my disappointment, they only stayed in their bands for two years. No more living vicariously.
I always regretted that I didn't get to attend college in the traditional way. Instead, I went to night school and worked. So, I never got to be in a college band. Even today, I can't think of too many things that would be more fun.
That's why, when I heard the story of the University of Southern Mississippi band chanting "Where's your green card?" to a Latino player on the Kansas State University basketball team, I cringed with disgust.
In my experience, being a band member was always positive, especially when it came to competition. I was taught to compete hard and be a good sport if we didn't win. What a great feeling to cheer and celebrate with my fellow band members. If any of us ever displayed such poor sportsmanship, Mr. Lindsey would have dragged us off the bleachers by our ears and stood us in the middle of the court while he scolded us with his megaphone.
Where was the band director, the drum major, while these chants occurred? Did anyone in the audience stand up and chastise the band?
Kudos to Angel Rodriguez, the basketball player who was the victim of the chanting. According to CNN:
Rodriguez did not change his expression during the chants and helped push Kansas State to victory by scoring 13 points.
"I heard it. I don't pay attention to that nonsense, especially because Puerto Rico is a commonwealth, so we don't need no type of papers," Rodriguez said Friday. "Their athletic director and personnel from their school came to apologize, and I accepted it."
Rodriguez said he realized that there are "ignorant people, and I know that is not how they want to represent their university. I've moved on already," he said. "I have a game to focus on."
I keep hoping we have "outgrown" such ugliness, but sadly, it appears not.
Jan,
ReplyDeleteIt shows how much you value the experience of being in the high school band. I played the piano, thus "competition" did not come with companions, however, my sister played for the Pride of the Sunshine- the University of Florida's Band. I was always proud and thrilled to see her perform.
It deeply saddened me when late last year another band story broke, however, this one ended in death.
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/florida-a-m-band-1262365.html
What astonishes me, maybe I'm naive or just too optiistic, is that isn't college supposed to be a place of higher education, more learning?
I hope those involved have learned something positive and it will make them better people.
Thanks,
Linda Joyce
Thanks for commenting, Linda. I didn't know you play the piano. Do you still play?
DeleteYes, that was an awful event that happened in Florida, too. How sad that something so stupid as hazing took the life of a young man.
Gosh, the Jan in the photo might be on her way to NWA Writers'. You look just the same. And your tolerance for boorishness is about the same now as it was then.
ReplyDeleteThank you, ed_quixote. You made my day. :)
DeleteYou do not seem to have aged a day since that photo. Ed_quixote is right!
ReplyDeleteI am ashamed for the human race every time I hear of things like this. On a closer to home front, I am constantly fighting to offset the influence of my son's peers on his way of thinking. I pray in the end that I've done a good job of that. People can be so narrow-minded and so cruel when faced with 'other-ness'. But when I think about it, that's not limited to human behavior and maybe it's truly a sign of our animal-based behavior.
Ha! Believe me, I've aged. :) Knowing you, Madison, you've done a good job. It's hard sometimes, when our kids' friends have so much influence. But one day, they mature, and have the foundations we have laid for them to guide them through their lives.
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