In the last 24 hours or so a lot has been written & reported locally and nationally on the OU Sigma Alpha Epsilon video. I offer these random thoughts.
1. I’ve read a couple of comments from people stating the University should not take action against “Protected Speech”.
2. It’s true that we each have a right to freely express ourselves. However, “protected speech” does not “protect” us from the consequences of the actions we make…no matter how “protected” those actions may be. With “Rights” comes “Responsibilities” and with “Responsibilities” comes “Repercussions” for how we choose to use or misuse those “Rights”.
3. Leadership is not about measuring the “political fallout” prior to doing what is right.
4. Congratulations to the National Office of SAE for shutting down the OU chapter within hours of the viral video making national news. The fraternity members may have had the right to freedom of speech, but their use of that freedom reflected poorly on the private organization they represented. The national headquarters didn’t hide behind protecting the “Brothers”. Instead they chose to protect their “Brotherhood” by showing the integrity and respect they have for their organization.
5. Thank you President David Boren for your quick and clear denouncement of the actions and immediately taking control of the situation. The potential fallout in this controversy was mitigated by real executive leadership.
6. At some point, the names of these young men will make it into the public domain. They will live with the consequences of their actions for years to come. Ten years from now a simple Google search will reveal to potential employers the history of the job candidate they have in front of them. They will live with their decision on a stupid little “chant” for decades to come.
7. One of the greatest lessons that will be lost on many is that the video was shot by either a fraternity brother or a date. Always remember that the most embarrassing moments of our lives can only be recorded by those to whom we feel close. Your enemies won’t record the video, you wouldn’t let them near you when you’re behaving in a way you would never want the world to see.
8. Sometimes we find ourselves surrounded by people we like only to discover their behavior mortifies us. It’s time to make new friends.
9. There is part of me that wants to believe that this was all just some sort of sophomoric moronic attempt to be funny. It’s not. It’s sad. It’s embarrassing. It reinforces the worst in all of us.
10. It’s clear that racism exists even in 2015. There’s no doubt that things are better today than they were 50 years ago. But, on the Golden Anniversary of the March from Selma to Montgomery we should not allow the actions of 18-22 year olds to define the beliefs of an entire state. We are better than this.
11. We simply must use this embarrassment for our state to teach our children and grandchildren the value of others. The sanctity of lives…all lives. The ability to respect those different than ourselves.
12. Regardless of our Race we must take a moment from examining the actions of college students and reflect upon what is inside each of us. The parts of ourselves a video will never be able to see. Whether White, Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Asian, or any other ethnic background you may come from, racism and prejudice can exist in your heart and mind…even if you never take an action like we are discussing. In our effort to figure out why college students could possibly act this way, I hope our judgement begins with ourselves. Within each of us is the first and, many times, the only place where change can begin. In your thoughts on the actions of others, look inside yourself first.
Unanswered questions from a former OU GDI about the SAE spectacle.
1. What was the purpose of the bus trip?
2. Exactly who were the riders on the bus?
3. Was the bus trip sponsored by SAE?
4. Who made the videos?
5. Who posted the videos online and why?
6. How many participants singing on the bus were SAE members?
7. Were SAE members not participating in the singing?
8. If only a few SAE members were singing, why was the entire fraternity penalized?
9. How many jobs were eliminated when Boren bulldozed the fraternity?
I’m in no way defending the actions committed on the bus. But I think Boren is totally out of line with his ham-handed politically-correct knee-jerk reaction, which created extreme negative consequences for probably 10 times as many people who were not involved.
In spite of Mr. Brinkley’s wordy condemnation, the whole situation reeks of the stinkl of rancid hypocrisy on both sides of the bus aisle.
Too bad this reasoning does not apply to elite, wealthy, Liberals.
“2. It’s true that we each have a right to freely express ourselves. However, “protected speech” does not “protect” us from the consequences of the actions we make…no matter how “protected” those actions may be. With “Rights” comes “Responsibilities” and with “Responsibilities” comes “Repercussions” for how we choose to use or misuse those “Rights”.”
Why doesn’t his apply to Hillary? She has taken “protected speech” to a whole new level with Servergate. Simply delete anything that may be a threat to furthering a political career or legally incriminating.
“3. Leadership is not about measuring the “political fallout” prior to doing what is right.”
Hillary calculates how to avoid any “political fallout” by knowing skirting the law and then lying about it.
“8. Sometimes we find ourselves surrounded by people we like only to discover their behavior mortifies us. It’s time to make new friends.”
So, when a politician like Hillary Clinton surrounds herself with people whose behavior outrages common sense and decency and gets away with it time after time, why they heck are we focusing on a stupid kid who shot his mouth off on a bus? Those boys on the bus will have 0 effect on my life, except for wasting time on things like this, but Hillary and the Democrats want to destroy this Great Country that many people have fought and died for. Who is the real threat?