Letter to the editor
To the Editor:
I just read Marie Unruh's letter to the editor and I have a few additional things to say.
First of all I agree with Janet Post's opinion stating that Unruh has every right to share her views on whatever she sees fit. Lord knows I have exercised my right to free speech via a letter to the editor and I applaud her for doing so.
With that said, I read her letter and wondered what ANY of it had to do with Renato leaving our town. All it talked about was the accomplishments of our high school students. It said nothing of what this person went through and how cruel some kids in a small town school can be.
Unruh will never be able to convince me that PBHS has no type of bullying or kids who don't put down others. Believe me, dear, it does happen. I went to Peabody-Burns for four years. Not only does it happen to exchange students, it happens to the poor students, the disliked students, and those who are different than everyone else.
What angers me more with each passing minute that I think about this, is that a lot of people do have a "ho-hum attitude" about what happened to this young man. Nobody that I have seen has stepped up to take initiative to make sure this never happens again to another student at PBHS. I think that is the least we can do to try and make up for our actions here.
Marie, initiative can start with you. Talk to your friends, talk to the other students. When you see someone getting put down or made fun of, or treated in a way that you wouldn't want to be treated, step up and say something about it.
That's the only way this is going to stop for current students, future students, or foreign students that come to our community. I encourage all of the students to lead by example. You all have done great things to shape and expand your academic and athletic character. Maybe it's time to start shaping some social and moral character, as well. Be the cornerstone of change.
In your letter, Marie, it sounds like you believe that the things being said aren't true — like this boy is lying about what happened to him. Why would he have any reason to lie? If the alleged incidents were incorrectly and unfairly reported, then please let us know. What are the facts? I believe the only fact that really matters here is that someone made this boy feel bad enough to not want to be around us anymore, and for a town that prides itself on being warm and welcoming, I would imagine that would be a bit of a sting for a whole lot of people.
To the people who were involved in the incident, I think it is a weak and cowardly thing that you do not have the guts to admit what you did, apologize, and hope that in some way this young man would ever want to forgive you.
I wish Renato had told the school who you are, because I would wish that every time someone looked you in the eye you would know they knew what kind of person you really are.
When I was in high school I met some of the coolest, most amazing people who came as foreign exchange students, and had a blast with them. All I can say is that you all probably missed out on getting to know someone really special.
Sports, academics, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, good teachers, good students, all of that doesn't matter. What matters is the people who see there is a problem and the need to try and learn from it. Pointing fingers isn't going to change things. What's going to change things is when we all start realizing that not everyone is the same and there's nothing about us that makes us better than the person we are trying to make feel like less.
I guess I can't apologize to Renato, but what I will say is that I am sorry something like this has to happen to anyone. It makes me sorry and sad to know that he will never know the type of love, encouragement, and experiences I gained from the folks (both young and old) in Peabody.
All this young man has to remember is a group of kids who made all the students look like they felt the same way about him as the bullies.
I just hope he knows that not everyone here is that way.
Roxanne Robinson
PBHS class of 1998
