With the collective
soul of the world in such dismal condition, I admit
I’ve been looking for that one, bright spot.
I don’t in any way replace the real Savior of this world, but the world
needs living examples of goodness walking among us.
Manti Te’o, defensive linebacker for the
University of Notre Dame, stood out as
a bright spot - a beacon for young men and women to
emulate. His integrity and character outmatch many others - even those three times his
age. That is why the recent story
revealing that his “girlfriend” was merely an online hoax has deeper
consequences than what the intended “catfishers” were hoping to achieve – or
was there a more sinister plot behind this?
There is already talk that this first round NFL draft pick is falling in
the ranks and eliminated from some scouts' lists altogether.
The recent unraveling
of a convoluted story in which Manti Te’o’s online girlfriend - tragically
injured in a car accident and later died of leukemia just six hours after his
maternal grandmother - speaks of a larger issue than whether or not he is
telling the truth or had any involvement as the pundits would suggest.
A couple of
observations: 1. It is totally plausible for people to carry on "relationships"
these days via Internet and think nothing of it. My own children tell me they
talk to people all the time and they really just text. On Facebook – they carry
on conversations with people they don’t know. Heck, I just did that this
morning! 2. With all Manti has and had at stake - including his poor
performance at the BCS Game - don't you think he would have kept the ruse going
until after he was safely selected to an NFL team in the draft? Why would he
have jeopardized all that? Look at the history of other athletes. 3. In the
Mormon religion - dating relationships adhere to strict guidelines and
purity is paramount. With that, and the rigors of being a D-1 athlete in an elite
program, and a long distance relationship, it doesn't seem outlandish that he
would have had a relationship such as this. I hope I'm right!
The sinister world of
the Internet is not unlike any other intrinsic evil in the world. It is always
something good that turns into something bad.
If you are a believer, then the fall of Lucifer is the first trace of
good gone bad. The danger in this
situation is that we never know the enemy. Even the best Intel has difficulty
luring out the evil that lurks behind the stroke of a key or the swipe of a
screen. That simple fact diminishes the
danger for perpetrators and for the victims.
Online sabotage of people’s characters in the form of online bullying
has resulted in young people taking their lives in desperation and pain. The maligning of someone’s character through
the Internet is cowardly, and because it is so difficult to track – the
practice is rampant without consequence. Of course, there is the far reaching
thought that perhaps someone’s conscience would bother him – but since we live
in a world where conscience is dictated by moral relativism – sadly, that
is no longer valid.
As for Manti Te’o, I
hope, for his sake – no- for my sake and perhaps all of our sakes – that he is
just who he says he is – innocent. Not
to be innocent of the involvement – but rather to be innocent and trusting of
humanity. What a concept! When did that become so unacceptable?
