thoughts on the news of the day: accountability

hmmm…..

            Seventeen days ago, Mike Haywood was hired as the new head football coach for Pittsburg.  At that time, the university called him a “"a man of character and integrity" who "will be an inspirational leader for our football team."  But this weekend, Haywood was arrested on domestic abuse charges and was relieved of his duties at Pittsburg.  Not a very good way to begin the new year.

            Now, that may seem to be an interesting piece of news, especially to Pittsburg football fans.  But what I find even more interesting is the note at the end of the article: “comments for this post have been turned off in anticipation of some predictable ugliness”.  See, on the internet many news articles give the reader an opportunity to respond to the information by commenting on it; the comments are then posted below the article for all the world to see. 

            It’s amazing how brazen and bold we have gotten now that we can say anything we want on the internet without accountability or recourse. 

            What we say, or in this case, write does matter.  Even if it is not read by a large number of people, it does have the power to create positive or negative energy.  It has the power to harm or enhance the character and reputation of another. It has the power to unleash the ugliness or the beauty in us and in the world.

            In the coming months, it will be up to the courts to say whether or not Haywood is guilty; but what we say today is up to us.

            hmmm…..