I hope so too. But we can’t tell from the photo who enthusiastically believe in white nationalism and those who regretted participating once they realized what happened.
This is not the first time people make major conclusions based upon an instant captured in a photo. A few years ago two girls took a picture in front of Auschwitz and posted it to social media. They endured horrible comments for the grave mistake of smiling in the picture, as people rushed to judgment that these two girls were happy about the events that happened there. How did people not see that it was much more likely that the family went there to learn and understand the horrors that happened there?
Again, because my kids could have made that type of mistake, I used that as a teaching lesson of the damaging effects of social media and the need to always be on guard.
@ Petra - what you’re describing at a school would sound very serious to me as a parent and I’d want to investigate and understand. Nobody has said “calm down, racism or antisemitism is OK.”
Rebellious teenage boys? Shocking!!! The same people that rebelled against “the man” back in the day, are now outraged at teenagers doing the same thing.
Isn’t it possible that the boys are doing different things? One has a fist raised. One is giving a peace sign ( or I suppose it could be a victory sign, or bunny ears). One in the front row does appear to be genuinely waving, and another in the front row has his arm bent at the elbow towards himself. So while I think some boys used the event for an inappropriate gesture, there was clearly confusion.
I’m puzzled as to how this gesture can be construed as “teen rebellion.”
It’s not the same as the middle finger.
Keep in mind that the comment on the photographer’s website was “we even got the Black kid to throw it up”.
Leaves little doubt that there was some sort of understanding between the photographer and at least some of the boys. Perhaps 'let’s see how many will be sheep and follow us if we do that". But there was definitely an intention beyond waving good bye.
I do see that beside Jordan Bluew there’s one giving the Black power fist up salute, the front row kid in a blue suit who’s not doing it, probably a handful of kids not doing it.
If they know what this meansw they’re saying they’re part of a Master race proud of a history of destruction, hatred, humiliations, and killings.
If they did it because everyone else was doing it, there’s another problem.
The journalist has received about one hundred testimonials, some with pictures, of other incidents at that school or thereabouts. The context is that it wasn’t a one-off.
I think some people are too sensitive. That is the same gesture my priest makes to bless the congregation. Same gesture the congregation makes to bless someone receiving a sacrament (first communion, confirmation, wedding, etc.)
I was probably the definition of a “rebel without a clue.” But I never wore a “blackface,” said the n-word, tried to imitate a person of Asian descent in any way, pretended to salute Hitler, etc. Speaking to kids like these, either take a middle school history class, or pay better attention, otherwise we’re doomed to repeat it.
PC Culture is the new “man” and they are rebelling against it. Just look at them, they think they are being cool and outrageous! Conservatives used be the uptight, controlling group in society, but social justice warriors have replaced them. If you want to appear “cool”, you certainly don’t align yourself with the PC scolds.
For me it’s about intent. If @threebeans thinks these boys were blessing the photographer… :-/
I don’t think these boys should be burned at the stake and I think it’s unfortunate that the unreacted photo has been released, but I do think they need to have some serious conversations with adults about how hurtful this was and about what other inappropriate words and actions they might think are funny. I also think this is a wakeup call for the school. From other social media posts it sounds like this school has not handled bias incidents well.
@tpike12 : actually, there’s currently no more conformist than saying you’re not PC. “Not PC” was rebellious in the 90s. But the “not PC” qualifier is now used everywhere.
And that salute isn’t “not being PC” or we’ve lost any sense of our values or what we fight or have fought for.
Keep in mind there’s a context - you use context to read the scene: a school where racist incidents are common place and where the comment on the photographer’s website didn’t raise eyebrows.
Kids didn’t all do the same things. But some knew what they were doing and yes it’s a big deal.
Apparently the school is finally going to do something about as is the district.
There’s going to be a discussion and I suppose consequences. It’s not just a teaching moment for the boys though.
A part of me is thinking: excuses or downplaying can lead to Pittsburgh or Kentucky or Florida.
@ucbalumnus PC Culture controls Academia, Media, Entertainment, Technology (Google, Twitter, Facebook), and the political establishment. These kids are immersed in it constantly.
For those who are replying about whether the instruction was waving, bunny ears, dim witted silliness, tom foolery, kids will be kids, etc… Please just see post #31 and mine (#51) a few up from here.
The instruction was nazi salute, fact. What the kids decided to do with that instruction can be debated, but the instruction was nazi salute.
Let’s stop making excuses for these kids. Did we do stupid things? Sure. Although I have to say I never did anything racist or purposefully insensitive to anyone. Actually was on the other side of that and taught to ignore ignorant behavior.
The other thing about this is these kids need to learn NOW about the power of social media and how these stupid actions can and might follow them around for a long time. At the very least, if these guys were friends of my kids, they would no longer be welcome in my home. They would have to prove to me they weren’t the wrong type of kids for mine to associate. I would be telling them how disappointed I was with them.Something, perhaps, their parents have failed to do.