During the major protest event in Washington, D.C. last Saturday, a group of teenage boys from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky found themselves at the center of confrontations between several groups, including Black Hebrew Israelites and Native Americans. In watching the extensive social media footage of that difficult time, it is clear that this group of high school students did not provoke the trouble that they experienced. What seems equally clear is that this group of young people were ill equipped to respond to the situations they faced at the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday.
One wonders about the wisdom of having high school youth traveling to Washington, D.C. on a weekend of multiple protests, including the one that brought them there to protest against the legality of abortion in the United States. One wonders about the role of adults from Kentucky who accompanied these boys--their chaperones, parents, teachers, and administrators. Where were they? Why do so few of these adults appear to help diffuse the situation?
I also noted the red hats with that political logo of the Trump administration: "Make America Great Again." Is this the way we make America "Great?" I wonder whether these students, many of whom are not yet old enough to vote, realize that they are being co-opted by being thrust into an adult world before they are really prepared to be there.
As I watched the footage of the various encounters in the video, I put myself there and wondered how I would have responded as a senior citizen, who has been a long-time disciple of Jesus. I think that I would have been afraid. I would have resisted by not engaging with those shouting their ideology at me. I would have walked away, not giving their anger a place to take root in me. All groups had a right to peacefully protest on Saturday. They all had a right to be there, but wisdom is evident in knowing when to engage and when to walk away. When there is no opportunity for meaningful dialogue and respect, it is time to walk away.
I applaud Elder Nathan Phillips for trying to diffuse the initial conflict, but I also believe that the group of boys did not have the maturity and background to appreciate what he was doing or sufficiently understand his heritage. It created a scene that was disrespectful and inappropriate. What are the lessons that adults must teach our children about cultural heritage and acceptance of other peoples?
And, in the end, I still believe that such protests are no place for our children to be thrust into a contentious, adult environment without preparation and adequate accompaniment by their elders. Let us pray for our children. May they be prepared well.
One wonders about the wisdom of having high school youth traveling to Washington, D.C. on a weekend of multiple protests, including the one that brought them there to protest against the legality of abortion in the United States. One wonders about the role of adults from Kentucky who accompanied these boys--their chaperones, parents, teachers, and administrators. Where were they? Why do so few of these adults appear to help diffuse the situation?
I also noted the red hats with that political logo of the Trump administration: "Make America Great Again." Is this the way we make America "Great?" I wonder whether these students, many of whom are not yet old enough to vote, realize that they are being co-opted by being thrust into an adult world before they are really prepared to be there.
As I watched the footage of the various encounters in the video, I put myself there and wondered how I would have responded as a senior citizen, who has been a long-time disciple of Jesus. I think that I would have been afraid. I would have resisted by not engaging with those shouting their ideology at me. I would have walked away, not giving their anger a place to take root in me. All groups had a right to peacefully protest on Saturday. They all had a right to be there, but wisdom is evident in knowing when to engage and when to walk away. When there is no opportunity for meaningful dialogue and respect, it is time to walk away.
I applaud Elder Nathan Phillips for trying to diffuse the initial conflict, but I also believe that the group of boys did not have the maturity and background to appreciate what he was doing or sufficiently understand his heritage. It created a scene that was disrespectful and inappropriate. What are the lessons that adults must teach our children about cultural heritage and acceptance of other peoples?
And, in the end, I still believe that such protests are no place for our children to be thrust into a contentious, adult environment without preparation and adequate accompaniment by their elders. Let us pray for our children. May they be prepared well.
