You Can't Right a Wrong, With Another Wrong

Rules are not something created to irritate people. They are there to help individuals, groups, communities - "D" all of the above - live and work together harmoniously and hopefully safely. They are meant to be enforced. 

But, what happens when they are bent a bit? Or, maybe even just scrapped all together? 

Recently, some rules were changed by a school board making it possible for a high school wrestler to participate in a state tournament. 

No, it was not Ulysses - it was the school board in Newton, Kans.

Evidently, the young man was videotaped vaping. And said habit, is (or was) against the rules not only at the Newton school, but also through the Kansas State High School Activities Association.

Interestingly enough, the video was done apparently a few months earlier. An "ex-girlfriend" saved the video and did not send it to anyone until right before the young man was supposed to compete at state. 

Timing?  It has been questioned when the video was released and the motive behind it. But there is one truth which cannot, and should not, be ignored - the young man did break the rules.

According to the young man's father, who spoke at a school board meeting packed with concerned parents and citizens, if the video had surfaced when it happened his son would have already been punished and reinstated in time to compete at state. Providing of course he wasn't caught breaking it or yet another rule again.

He apparently felt it was a calculated move by the "ex" and her "mother" to "ruin" the young man's dream of competing at state. 

As an outsider looking in, I can see where it is very possible this young lady was upset over a break up. There is a lesson to be learned from this for young  (and old) men and women everywhere - be careful who you enter into a relationship with. 

We don't know - maybe there was a good reason she was upset. Or maybe things just didn't go her way. 

As for mom, and speaking as a mom, I wouldn't be happy if my child was upset and hurt because some boy broke her heart. However, it could have been a good thing they broke up. After all, maybe they were getting too serious, too quickly. 

If the hurt was from something more harmful then take the correct steps to address it. Vindictiveness doesn't ever solve anything and shows the true character of the one who was harmed may not be so far off from the one who caused said harm to begin with.

As for the young man. You knew the rules. You knew it was wrong. You chose to do it anyway. And, if you knew you were being filmed, you chose to be reckless about your bad decision. 

The father of the young man? Well, what can I say, he loves his child. However, even a parent needs to be more open minded and prepared for the idea little Johnnie or Jane isn't always going to make the right decision and it would be best to expect them to take ownership if their decision rather than make excuses for it. And how about being concerned? According to Johns Hopkins - "there has been an outbreak of lung injuries and deaths" associated with vaping.

Newton school board? What on earth were you thinking? You made a rule change to accommodate ONE student. What about all the others who were unable to participate because they didn't attend enough practices? Those who couldn't participate because they had missed too much school, had failing grades? Students who were facing disciplinary action for breaking other rules? 

Changing the rules for ONE should not be done unless there are extreme extenuating circumstances. Feeling sorry for them because a spurned girlfriend decided to get even is not good enough. The action you took was not in the best interests of any of those involved. You can't wrong a right with another wrong.