You may recall that late last summer I blogged about an incident in our town. Our high school had been vandalized in the middle of the night. It was not just any night. It was a particular night when rising seniors at the high school party around the town getting ready to start their last year at the high school. This is not the proudest moment for our town. I would much rather be talking to you about the accomplishments of these seniors as they get within an inch of graduation.

On this night a group of young folks used spray paint to brand the school building with swastikas and other racial epithets. The community was outraged. An investigation began and continued but it was difficult to identify the individuals who had defaced the school with such vile images and words.

Even as of two weeks ago, it did not appear that we would ever know who had perpetrated this crime. But then, last week, it appears there was a break – and five Syosset High School seniors were arrested. Their mug shots were published in the local press. And as of this writing, it appears they were all suspended from school for the rest of their senior year. Yes, most of us know at least some of these kids.

The comments on social media began immediately and they were not all unanimous. Some of the outrage that we heard last summer seemed to have waned once faces were put to the crime. Many have expressed that these kids made a young, stupid mistake and shouldn’t be punished with their futures. Others pointedly expressed the opposite view – without condoning vandalism, there is a difference between spray painting pictures on the side of the school and perpetrating hatred.

As for me, I am just overwhelmingly sad that this incident could even occur. As a country we must stand up against hate. These children – and yes they are children – must understand that there are serious consequences to their actions. My greatest hope is that this is a teachable moment for our entire community, all of the students in the school – including my son, and these children who went so very wrong.