The world will become more nurturing when many many people begin to look at every situation in terms of whether or not it is nurturing.
University of Oregon running back LaGarette Blount punched a Boise State player after the their game on Thursday night after the player apparently taunted Blount about his pre-game statement that Boise State needed an “ass whoopin.” So far no nurturing in this.
But University of Oregon coach Chip Kelly acted in a way that strikes me as a model of nurturing. He suspended Blount for the rest of the season saying that such behavior cannot be tolerated. But in doing so, he said with considerable emotion, “I love LeGarrette Blount. … LeGarrette Blount needs this football program, he needs structure. He understands that he made a mistake, and that he needs to pay for that mistake. But we’re not going to throw LeGarrette Blount out on the street.” Kelly said that Blount would not lose his scholarship, would continue to practice with the team, and would continue to attend classes. Blount indicated that he accepted the consequences of his behavior and apologized for what he did.
This strikes me as an example of what we need to be doing whenever people make mistakes. At the same time that there need to be negative consequences for aggressive behavior, we need to recognize that people will go on living. When we fail to provide for their moving forward successfully in life, we make further trouble likely—for them and for those around them.
I have always admired the way that Oregon’s football and basketball coaches showing caring and respect for their players.
Many people who read this blog may not be interested in sports. Some may feel that football is too violent and not a good model for society. But I think we need to pragmatically look at every facet of society and see how we can move it toward more nurturance.
So I salute Kelly for the course that he chose.
this is a test comment.