A message to students and faculty of Herriton Senior High, LMSD, Pennsylvania web cam s

This too, shall pass...

How do you want it to end?

I was incensed when I heard about the Blake J. Robbins v. LMSD case.  A Pennsylvania school district using a computer web cam to spy on students in the privacy of their own homes?  You knew they and their parents would be in a state of undress at times?  And none of you stopped to pause and question, "is this right?"

My anger is gone.  So, too will the international attention be gone.  The nation will focus on other problems leaving your community to fend for itself, or tear it's self apart.

What will it be?

Reconciliation begins with each person.  Is it time to admit errors and move along?  Is it time to start working on re-building trust?  Are you the future leaders of the nation?

Or is it the fate of your community to spend the next several years in destructive division?  Neighbor against neighbor, student against student, families, students, faculty that have been friends for years doing battle?  In this case, battle does not have to be overt...just leave the coals in the fire...

I personally think someone made some huge judgment errors.  Peering into the private homes of students right in front of the noses of their parents - just because they are students - was a violation of the things we hold dear in our constitution.  However...what will a continued battle do?

Which of the two evils is greater?  The trampling of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, or the shredding of the community afterwards?

I don't have the answers.  To all concerned, this too, shall pass! 

Life may be hell right now, especially for school administrators and faculty.  You will get through it.  Good things will likely come from this.  Those who are in crisis think their crisis is the worst.  You can always find some one suffering more!

The question is, will you all help each other, or will the blow-hards win?  The problem with national attention is community egos rise.  The so-called community leaders rush in looing for their chance at the limelight.  Everyone retreats to their corner.  No one can back down, heck, someone might see! 

Not enough people are willing to do what is best for the greater good, your community, your shcool, the nation.  Are they?

Solutions to problems like these come from within.  Your hearts will tell you what the solution is.  Those who ignore their hearts will grow angrier as each day passes.  They will justify their anger by driving a wedge down the spine of your wonderful community. 

Is that what you want?

Those who listen to their hearts will start forgiving, start looking for solutions, start working for unity.  Settle this suit and let's move on!

Let me give you a poem that has always hit home for me.  Perhaps it applies, perhaps not.

Amo el canto del zentzontle
Pájaro de cuatrocientas voces
Amo el color del jade
Y el enervante perfume de las flores
Pero amo más a mi hermano el hombre.

Can't read it?  Translate it.  Go to your Spanish dictionary.  It will mean more to you that way.  But if you are not willing to do that, google the first phrase and I bet you will find it in my next blog!

Dios te bendiga,

Tim