PMHS senior furious at parent concern over golf-course booze party while adults ignore George Floyd memorial, racism
To the editor:
I am a graduating senior at Pelham Memorial High School. Every night for more than two weeks, there has been a peaceful vigil in Pelham to honor and remember George Floyd, a man who was lynched by four police officers, and I have never seen more than 20 adults in attendance. I am absolutely furious, outraged and embarrassed by the lack of response from so many parents in Pelham to the murder of an innocent man, especially when considering the fury that so many parents in Pelham expressed on a Facebook post this morning showing that there were some empty beer cans left on their golf course.
On Wednesday night, there was a party at ‘The Woods’—a local golf course where many students of PMHS frequently go to party—in celebration of the last day of school, and for many of the attendees, their last ever day of classes at the high school. The following morning, a video was posted to the private Facebook group, Parents of Pelham, showing empty beer cans on the golf course, followed by many comments from angry parents about the condition that this golf course was left in.
I am furious, outraged and embarrassed because of the many Pelham parents who seem to have found their voices when there were a few beer bottles left on their golf course but remain silent when it comes to respecting minorities and speaking up for what is right. Members of the Facebook group commented on the video that last night’s acts at The Woods were “horrible,” “disgraceful” and “outrageous.” They further explained how angry they were because this was illegal, foolhardy, irresponsible and selfish. I agree, what happened Wednesday night was wrong, but I can tell you that it was far less horrible, disgraceful, illegal, irresponsible or outrageous than the racial epithets and swastikas that are emblazoned in our public schools every year. People commented that anybody who has children who attended this party should talk to their children about respecting the property of the Pelham Bay Golf Course and should bring them to clean up the mess that they made. Instead, I beg you to speak to your children about the dangers of hate and the history of these words and symbols. As far as I have known, the swastikas were written about in an email with no further information. I was told that the same, in fact even less, was done when a fellow student used the “N” word when speaking to black students and neighbors. This is not only wrong, but how can we expect kids to be “ashamed” of “destroying” a golf course our parents pay for, if they aren’t ashamed of these disgusting and offensive acts?
It is very upsetting to me that so many of these parents are more outraged when they see a video of their littered golf course than when they hear about these intolerable acts of hate that plague our school. It is an outrage that I was called an ethnic slur while a student at Pelham Middle School. It is an outrage that people from Mount Vernon and New Rochelle are scared to drive through Pelham because they know that they may get profiled. Having to pick up a few beer cans that your own children left while you are trying to play nine holes is not an outrage, it is a minor inconvenience.
Justin O’Beirne
10 Westward Lane
Rosie Finizio • Sep 11, 2020 at 10:31 am
It’s commendable that you are bringing light to systemic racism in this country.
Not so commendable? You and your friends’ actions just delayed school for the many children and parents who were so looking forward to returning to some kind of normalcy.
Even in normal times, underage drinking outside, in a group, is a problem.
In a pandemic, it is unconscionable and reckless. You’ve put yourselves at risk, not to mention your families and everyone who you interact with.
If you want to be treated as adults, you need to be able to make adult decisions and to take responsibility for your actions.
From your above letter, I’d say that you’ve got a ways to go on your path to maturity.
Try to do better.
Jes • Jun 21, 2020 at 8:38 pm
That’s private property and you and attended people were trespassing . If u were injured I am sure someone would file suit for negilance on the PMCC. Grow up! Regarding Covid who wants to go anywhere at this time I am sure you all wore mask and
Stayed 6 feet a part as the brew went down.
Ani • Jun 21, 2020 at 6:10 pm
We cannot value things more than people. We need to reconsider why is it that we focus on immaterial objects rather than how we can be of service to other humans.
Julia • Jun 20, 2020 at 10:45 am
This is why racism still exists more tha 400 years after slavery…some white people are more interested in the privileges the have because they’re white than the prejudice that breeds discrimination and racism…they’re tone deaf!
Toby Marxuach-Gusciora • Jun 19, 2020 at 9:49 pm
My children are grew and graduated from high school in 2001 and 2003. Those parties have been going on even before my children were in high school. I agree the participants should clean up. However, racial discrimination and profiling in both villages and schools should not be tolerated.
As far as the vigils I have not attended because I do not feel comfortable at the present time in large gatherings because of COVID 19. I have not attended any of the demonstrations in Pelham or New Rochelle. I am an activist but do not feel safe attending at the present time.
Marty • Jun 19, 2020 at 9:17 pm
Bravo for attending peaceful protests and trying to clean up the world.
And how dare you use a racist murder and your minor contribution to the protest to deflect and excuse the actions at the golf course. These are two separate matters, and frankly, discussing them together detracts from the seriousness of the racial issues in our country.
You don’t know what the adults of Pelham did or are doing about murder and racism. You don’t know if they were attending a much larger protest, writing checks to important organizations, or just trying to put food on their tables and protect their families during a global pandemic with 20% unemployment. You don’t know the world people today’s adults were raised in where there was even more racism and much less tolerance for gay, transgender or anyone that was “different” from the majority. It doesn’t sound like you’re a member of POPS, so how do you know the outrage that has gone on for the various incidents that have happened here – and I assure you there’s been plenty.
How are you going to clean up the world when you can’t clean up after yourself? This is about taking responsibility for your actions as well as keeping the planet clean. You want to break the law and party? Fine – as long as you’re not driving, you’re probably not hurting anyone. But you left a mess on someone else’s property and then had the nerve to use a horrible tragedy to deflect. Yes, “Having to pick up a few beer cans that your own children left…” is pretty annoying because I’m sure that after cleaning up after you for 17 years they figured that upon graduating high school you were old enough to clean up after your own self.
So yes, we should all get together and try to change the world and eliminate racism and change police culture and all that. But it starts with taking responsibility for your own actions, so maybe you should skip the self righteousness and treat other people’s property the way you want them to treat yours!
Jordan • Jun 19, 2020 at 4:37 pm
The author brings up some important points, namely that too often anger in this community is directed towards the wrong targets, when far more important problems should be dealt with. But the author fails in recognizing the link between “the woods” and the larger problem of systemic racism/inequalities in our very community: that mostly white and wealthy teenagers are able to trespass, drink illegally, and litter, and the community (parents and administrators) not only knowingly lets it happen but enables it. Meanwhile, black students in our town hardly feel safe walking down the street at night because police follow them home. Our town will not be a model community until inequities like these are addressed.
Rachel • Jun 19, 2020 at 2:49 pm
is there a way we could get a big trash bin and a couple big recycling bins at the end of the street that leads to the woods?
obviously, kids go there and drink and they do not want to bring empty evidence home to their parents houses. But we also don’t want to have litter all over the place. Perhaps adding some trash cans over there would be helpful.
Kim Espinosa • Jun 19, 2020 at 1:26 pm
Thank you for speaking up. I am astounded again and again by the prioritization of passion and outrage by many people in this town (and adults across the country), but these past few weeks have given me hope that your generation will do better and be agents of positive change. Just know that there are many parents that are protesting, petitioning, calling representatives, donating, reading, speaking out and educating themselves and their children on the systemic racism that this country was built on and continues to foster in abhorrent ways and doing everything we can to be allies to the black community. Thank you again for speaking up and giving me hope. Can’t wait to see what your generation does!
Juliet Gunther • Jun 19, 2020 at 12:16 pm
You’re awesome, Justin! Thanks for speaking up for the important things and having these difficult conversation. It is so necessary right now. I can’t wait to see what you do in college next year! Go blue!
Shaun Breidbart • Jun 19, 2020 at 12:00 pm
I am sorry there has been low attendance at the vigil. I will try to make it.
There is no equivalence between not attending a vigil and being upset about a party. I am of course outraged by murder, by bigotry and also by people not acting properly when it comes to covid-19 prevention.
My interpretation of the complaints about the party have less to do with littering or underage drinking and more to do with the lack of social distancing and lack of mask-wearing by teenagers who were told by their parents not to gather in large groups.