Parent's action was outrageous

Editor,

I am writing to express my outrage for the assault on the Arlee Boys’ Basketball Coach that occurred in Libby at district tournaments.

I am so upset by the whole thing that I felt I had to say something. I am embarrassed and outraged that anyone would feel it was acceptable to act in that manner.

I ask everyone out there how they would feel if someone came to their job and publicly cursed at them and then hit them while they were on the job. I am quite sure that there is not a single person out there that would be comfortable with that. I wonder why it is that parents feel that this same situation is all right when it involves a coach or an official. Isn’t he/she on the job? Isn’t he/she deserving of the same rights that you are? What makes him/her less of a person than you?

I am asking that everyone take the time to remember that coaches and officials are people. They may not do things the way you believe that they should be done, but do you do everything everyone else thinks you should do?

If you have a problem at work do you run in and hit the person that you are having a problem with? Do you scream at the top of your lungs and make an idiot of yourself or do you take the time to address your problems like an adult? We should not treat coaches or officials any differently than we would treat our co-workers. Remember, they are at work and no one should have to deal with a public assault at work.

I am sending out a public apology to the Arlee Boys’ Basketball Coach. As a former school board member, I am ashamed that this behavior has not been stopped. I know that it has been a problem for coaches and officials in the past and it seems that nothing has really ever been done to stop it. I feel responsible for that. I also feel responsible for not saying anything to the guy next to me at the game that is being totally inappropriate.

It has been said that one of the greatest crimes in the world is doing nothing. I will no longer do that. I want Arlee to become a place that our community members can be proud of. I want Arlee to become a school that people want to coach at and officials don’t hate coming to. That starts with me and with every other individual. We need to work together to bring about some serious changes here in Arlee. It is time we grow up as a community and become adults.

To the Arlee Boys’ Basketball Coach, I am not alone in hoping that you will give us another chance to make things right. You are a great coach and we need you. Thank you so much for all your hard work.

Shawna F. O’Neill

Arlee