It might be a little late in the game to be weighing in on the ongoing battle royale swirling around the Covington Catholic High School incident in D.C., but I’m gonna do it anyway.
Much is now being made about how the media allegedly screwed up.
They’re being accused of inaccurately portraying this incident based on a single video clip of what appears to be a confrontation between students from Covington Catholic High School and Nathan Phillips, Tribal Elder of the Omaha Tribe and Vietnam Veteran.
This from The Atlantic: Stop Trusting Viral Videos
Video can capture narratives that people take as truths, offering evidence that feels incontrovertible. But the fact that those visceral certainties can so easily be called into question offers a good reason to trust video less, rather than more.
And this, also from The Atlantic in another article: I Failed the Covington Catholic Test
Why are we all so primed for outrage, and what if the thousands of words and countless hours spent on this had been directed toward something consequential?
Is there an element of truth to all this?
Dana Loesch, spokesmodel for the NRA, seems to think so:
What the #CovingtonCatholic smear proved is that many in media and predatory progressive adults will stop at nothing because of their partisan zealotry, even if it means targeting children with lies and making it to where they require police protection at school.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) January 22, 2019
So does the president:
Nick Sandmann and the students of Covington have become symbols of Fake News and how evil it can be. They have captivated the attention of the world, and I know they will use it for the good – maybe even to bring people together. It started off unpleasant, but can end in a dream!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2019
Here’s the thing, though – there are lots of folks holding fast to their perceptions regarding ‘bad behavior’ on the part of the Covington kids.
A response to Ms. Loesch from John Pavlovitz, author and pastor:
Your compassionate defense of the #Parkland students was vocal and clear.
I guess students are worth defending when it doesn't put you in the red, bless your heart.
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) January 22, 2019
Mr. Pavolovitz apparently said this with tongue planted firmly in cheek from what I can gather given Ms. Loesch’s displeasure with what the Parkland kids were trying to do to address gun violence after the massacre at their school.
Another less subtle response from Mellowcheese – this one directed at the president (the photo speaks for itself):
— Mellowcheese (@Mellowcheese1) January 22, 2019
From Father Edward Beck, CNN Religion Commentator:
My feelings about the #CovingtonBoys are unchanged since the first reporting and viewing many different videos. The boys acted inappropriately and chaperones should have intervened. And boys should not have been permitted to wear MAGA hats if they were representing the school.
— Father Edward Beck (@FrEdwardBeck) January 21, 2019
From Lisa Sharon Harper, Senior Fellow Auburn Seminary, a multi-tweet thread giving a blow-by-blow narrative:
I've been watching videos all day. I have one thing to say (in a bunch of tweets, so hold on): The videos BACK UP/STRENGTHEN Mr. Nathan Phillips' account of what happened toward the conclusion of the #IndigenousPeoplesMarch on Saturday. They also reveal how it all happened. 1/
— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) January 21, 2019
And straight from the proverbial horse’s mouth, the Diocese of Covington:
Statement Regarding Covington Catholic Incident
An excerpt from that statement:
We condemn the actions of the Covington Catholic High School students towards Nathan Phillips specifically, and Native Americans in general, Jan. 18, after the March for Life, in Washington, D.C
And on, and on, and on…right wrong or indifferent.
I’m admittedly an old fart. I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s.
The videos and analyses of what I call ‘the Covington Kids Calamity’ incident took me right back to the Civil Rights Movement.
Protesters of that era had more than a little hatred, debasement, and ridicule heaped upon them.
Apparently, given what happened in D.C., some things haven’t changed all that much over time.
Nick Sandmann issued a statement regarding his involvement in this incident via CNN. He’s the student engaged in a staredown with Nathan Phillips.
An excerpt from that statement:
The protestor (sic) everyone has seen in the video began playing his drum as he waded into the crowd, which parted for him. I did not see anyone try to block his path. He locked eyes with me and approached me, coming within inches of my face. He played his drum the entire time he was in my face.
So, who’s right and who’s wrong?
I’m thinking we should consider a lyric from an old Buffalo Springfield song:
Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong.
Bottom line is the Covington Catholic High School incident, while emotionally provocative, presents an opportunity for folks to at least discuss racial issues and injustices on a national level.
That doesn’t mean those issues will get resolved.
It doesn’t mean that any kind of consensus will be reached.
It does, however, mean that people are talking.
People are discussing.
People are at least trying to communicate with each other.
That’s the opportunity that we have before us, and we are less for it if we choose to not participate in those discussions.
We are less for it if we choose a need to win those discussions at all costs by forcing our views on others.
Keeping an open mind and open heart is what will win in the end.
Kinda kumbaya, eh?
My two cents.
- My Two Cents: School Safety….’Quick Fix’ Style - September 26, 2019
- My Two Cents: School Safety – DAMMIT! It’s Not Rocket Science….. - January 28, 2019
- My Two Cents: Kovington Kids Kalamity Double Standard…. - January 26, 2019
- My Two Cents: Weighing in on the ‘Covington Kids Calamity’ - January 22, 2019
- My Two Cents: The Illogical Logic of the NRA - January 11, 2019
- My Two Cents: School Safety Is An Enigma - January 3, 2019
- My Two Cents: ‘To Protect and To Serve’ vs the ‘Public-Duty Doctrine’ - December 22, 2018
- My Two Cents: Quiet Rooms - December 15, 2018
- My Two Cents: Stay in Your Lane Road Rage NRA Style - November 26, 2018
- My Two Cents: School Safety Hoplophile Style - November 17, 2018
