As eyes turn towards Steubenville and a verdict, I flash back to the months I spent there. None of it matters, but I have family who lives there. I've seen some of Steubenville's ugly up close and personal. I've seen it up close and personal enough to know that the things that happen there can happen anywhere.
Crimes go unreported. Drugs pass hands right in front of law enforcement. Bribes are accepted. Cover-ups happen. It all happens. Everywhere.
The testimony that has been revealed during the case the past few days has left me thinking one thing -- so many parents failed. So many parents did everything they could to raise a kid who would choose to do the right thing, but so many kids failed to do anything positive. Instead, they laughed. And mocked. And played along.
How does a teen see a naked young adult lying passed out on the floor take a photograph and then walk away?
How does a teen sit in a basement and laugh and laugh about how "dead" a young lady is? How does another teen videotape the rant and laugh?
How does a teen read a text describing a situation that is so clearly wrong and reply back with LOL?
There are bigger villains in the case, but ... man. If my kid were to be the person who took that photograph or recorded that video or read that text and my kid did nothing to stop what was happening, I would be crushed.
Maybe that's the take away from this case. There's nothing we can do to change the past, but maybe we can change the future. Maybe it is our responsibility to teach our kids to text us the words, "Help, I don't know what to do?" or teach them to call the police or teach them to just do ... something. Anything. Intervene in some way.
Just ... do something.