Some say our society is too “PC,” or politically correct. For example, if someone says something that “may offend” someone, it has to be changed immediately and an apology has to be written and given within the next hour. I would have to agree with that statement. Our society is turning the next generation into people who have to hide around the corner from something that is harmless, or from a fear that is not real. A specific example comes from the wide world of sports. Recently, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association suggested schools in the state of Wisconsin to refrain from hurting students' feeling and make sure to play by the moral rules.
As I wanted to sound off on this incredibly insane rule change for high school, a man known as Scott Van Pelt already did so. In his segment of his show, “One Big Thing,” on ESPN, Van Pelt is in shock from what the school board has suggested to these fans. His first reaction is, “Are you for real, Wisconsin? Is this a joke?” He names a couple of chants that were suggested to be banned from the fan’s chants during the game, such as “Airball” and “Scoreboard.” He continues by stating, “[These are not] profane chants, not off-colored chants. The horror of 'Airball' and 'Scoreboard,'” he says as he looks shocked and puts his hand over his mouth. This new suggestion that the school board thought would make a difference and have a positive effect on these kids is doing the complete opposite. Why strip them of their creativity or their voice during a sporting event which they are energized, excited for, and emotionally involved in? This restriction on a part of the game that fans love and look forward to is absurd.
Van Pelt took the issue outside of the gym or field, and into reality. “Stop trying to protect the kids from a boogey man that just doesn't exist.” This is exactly what the school board is creating, a fear of the student’s creativity and speech that they should be welcomed to explore and express. Van Pelt says, who cares if someone shouts, “Airball?” It is supposed to be humorous because of what happened. You are going to tell me that if the opposing team shoots an airball, the kid who just shot one as well is not going to laugh a little bit? Of course not! A huge blocked shot, an insane buzzer beater, or a goofy airball are just parts of the game that happen and create a reaction from the crowd. Especially when a team is ahead in the game, the fans might yell, “Scoreboard,” which was a phrase suggested by the scholastic board to ban. All of these chants are part of the game, so keep it that way.
Well, scholastic board, life has a scoreboard, and sometimes life might be yelling it right at you. Banning such phrases is not going to protect the kids, it is only going to keep them knowing what reality is and how it feels when it hits you right in the face. Van Pelt ended his segment by saying, “Protect kids from real harm at all cost. Shielding them from things that aren't harmful makes them feeble and weak-minded, and they're not, they can handle it, so let them.” That doesn't sound like a bad way to end this article, either.
