Pep rally offenders should ask forgiveness

Re: "Skit at pep rally sparks controversy between schools," Metro, Oct. 30.

The Rev. John Raphael of St. Augustine School is to be commended for his public handling of what could be a volatile situation. However, the lesson should not be that apology by proxy is the accepted practice for these situations.

The "teachable moment" that the two school officials spoke of began with their example of offenders and victims coming together and offering sincere apology and rendering heartfelt forgiveness. The lesson must be demonstrated by participants among the Brother Martin students and faculty, whether they intended to offend or not, and the victimized St. Augustine student body, by having the participants apologize and ask for forgiveness directly from those they offended and have that forgiveness come from the offended group.

Otherwise, the lesson learned will be what it has been: that white children can offend African-Americans and others and not have to apologize for their offenses, instead allowing the adult authority figure to bail them out; and that African-American children are left without recognition and with just anger because whatever apology that occurred did not come from the actual perpetrator and did not come directly to them.

After all, in these two fine Catholic schools, what greater way of exemplifying the Christian value of repentance than by directly asking forgiveness from those you offend?

Now, that's a "teachable moment."

Harry Russell

New Orleans