These days, a person could get in trouble for just standing there, smiling. It happened a week ago, and we're still talking about it.
The point is, we're a little too sensitive. If a story is out there showing how the littlest of things can set us off, it's the Covington high story.
Two people stand there, staring at each other, and next thing you know, it's a national controversy. We divide into sides and try to decide whose at fault? Or, is it the lack of chaperoning that caused it all? And, how out-of-control was the media, anyway? How irresponsible and herky jerky were they -- jumping to conclusions? It's really their fault.
Two people standing there staring at each other, and the next thing you know everybody is pointing fingers of blame every which way. Lawyers get involved. I heard a lawyer from the Native Americans being interviewed about the same time I first heard of the news story -- that quick. Then, today, I heard how Nick Sandmann's family is hiring a libel lawyer.
There were death threats, and the school closed down to protect the students.
Do we need to be this way? Do we need to say some teachers should be fired for not watching their kids more closely? Do we need to be figuring out who is most to blame, when really a whole lot of blaming and fault-finding doesn't need to be dibbied out?
The long, lost words of Rodney King come to my mind -- if you will remember him and how he tried to quiet people after rioting in Los Angeles way back in 1992. "People, I just want to say, you know, can we all just get along? Can we get along? . . . Can we stop making -- making it horrible . . . ?"
Touchy, touchy, we are, to jump each other, everyone looking for someone to blame, after a 16-year-old kid stands there -- just stands there -- smiling.
The gall of him, anyway.
Not that he's all so less sensitive than the rest of us, if his family has called a lawyer.
Forgive, but does it need to come to this? Touchy, touchy, we are.
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