One of the disadvantages of living in a small town is that once you’ve earned a reputation for yourself, it’s very difficult to change people’s perception.
Meet James. James was party guy in high school. He was an outstanding wrestler and an average student with a knack for bumping into Trouble on occasion. Graduation from high school meant not only enlisting in the Army but also in Fatherhood.
James spent the summer in basic training while his girlfriend spent it caring for a newborn. The town, hungry for the newest scandal, condemned them both with vicious words and dirty looks. So when James entered the high school for the wrestling tournament last night (fresh off the plane, still in his fatigues and smelling like boot polish) the woman sitting next to me whispered “Can you believe he came in his uniform?”. Her tone was unforgiving and venomous. “You mean the clothes that say ‘I’m serving my country and protecting YOUR freedom?’”
My face felt hot with anger while I moved to a different spot on the bleachers and The Star Spangled Banner began over the loudspeaker. The crowd turned their attention to the flag mounted on the gymnasium wall, but I could not take my eyes off the man who snapped to attention and sang with pride to the song that had new meaning for him. His hat was in one hand and his son in the other.
I’m so proud of James and how he has managed to turn his life around, hold his head high despite brutal murmurings and love his child the very best he can. How anyone dares to condemn that is beyond me.
