Former major league pitcher Curt
Schilling has followed up a potential Hall-of-Fame playing career with a
maelstrom of controversial statements, social media activity and political
rhetoric that has endangered his legacy and lost
him a high-profile job with media juggernaut ESPN. One area in which he has
always been strong has been in the advocacy of children and intolerance of
bullying. However, his recent actions are tarnishing that legacy too.
Those seeking the positive in Schilling could always point
to his charitable work. From taking
in displaced Hurricane Katrina victims, to a youth cancer charity, to being a tireless
advocate for the causes of medical issues that have impacted his children,
the right-hander has been a regular champion of good works.
Schilling also famously became the face
of anti-bullying, when he publicly and forcibly came to the defense of his then
teenage daughter who became the victim of vicious online trolls after he
announced online her college choice to play softball. His unrelenting and
fervent response to the tormentors resonated with fathers everywhere. It is
thus a surprise to see his recent activity, which not only has targeted a
teenager, but one who was just recently a witness to a horrible tragedy.
The Stoneman
Douglas High school shooting in Parkland, Florida claimed 17 lives and left
many others victimized by the senseless violence of a lone gunman. Many of the
survivors have rebounded to use their powerful voices to lead the charge on gun
control and gun law reform, which has not sat well with everyone. A baseless
conspiracy theory that 17-year-old David Hogg, who has been one of the more
vocal survivors, is not actually a student, but rather a “crisis actor” planted
to incite sympathy for the side of anti-guns has circulated the interwebs.
Schilling advanced this theory by re-Tweeting
a post suggesting its possibility.
It’s irresponsible for anyone, especially someone with
Schilling’s platform (he now hosts his own radio
program for Breitbart Radio), to perpetuate such a patently false and
misdirecting idea. Yes, he is a right-wing radio host. However, he’s also still
a parent and a one-time advocate against bullying. He may not agree with the
calls for gun reform but there are more appropriate ways to make that known.
Hogg is 17, meaning he is a minor. He is literally a child.
The simple act of passing along the theory that he is a plant for a cause
instead of a readily verifiable high school student is not only irresponsible,
it’s literally sick. Regardless of your stance on guns, one should have the
common sense to know such territory is way out of bounds.
The polarizing Schilling has been a tireless advocate for
children. Although he didn’t provide any context with his Tweet, posting it to
his more than 225,000 served as its endorsement. Social media is a powerful
tool, for better and worse. The inherent lack of responsibility that many have
when using their accounts has created a whole new landscape for us all to
navigate and experience the consequences of.
I may disagree with Schilling on many things, but would at
least respect his right to engage in a civilized dialogue on any topic.
Peddling conspiracy theories that negatively impact a minor is not that. It
would be nice to see the former pitcher put himself in the shoes of David Hogg’s
father and recall back to not that long ago when he was defending his own
daughter against attacks that bear striking similarities to what Hogg is
experiencing now. There is no shame in admitting when you’re wrong but there
certainly is when you can’t see the error of your ways.
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