In recent days I have had time to reflect. The words and actions by the Cumberland Valley School District school board have caused many of us to do so. I have thought a lot about my privilege.
I have never experienced discrimination or bullying simply based on my ethnicity or who I’m attracted to. That is not to say that I haven’t faced hardships, because I have. But I have never had to think about how I’m perceived based on those two aspects of my being. I try to exist in a way that is empathetic and caring towards others. I try to think about how my words and actions affect others.
This is clearly not the case for the board. Each of these members chose to vote in a way that had no regard for how their actions affect others. This community has a significant population of south Asian families, and to not recognize the impact that having a nationally recognized south Asian author discuss his experience being bullied, something that we know is happening to our own students is astounding.
Additionally, we know that those who identify LGBTQ+ are more likely to experience bullying, harassment and suicidal ideations. So why would we not want to have representation for them? It doesn’t take personal experience to be empathetic to others. Our board took an oath to serve all students and they broke that oath when they decided certain students were less than simply because of their sexuality.
I appreciate that certain board members regret their decision, and I hope that tonight the decision is overturned and Maulik Pancholy will present to Mountain View on May 22nd. However, their initial vote cannot be overlooked.
Had this decision not received the attention that it did, would these board members still express regret? Or is it simply that they recognized their decision was almost universally condemned and they’re now trying to save face? I cannot answer that question, only they can.
But what I can tell you, is that in my opinion if you voted in favor of cancelling this assembly you do not belong on the board. You have shown our community that you do not have the strength of character to do what is best for every child when faced with a difficult choice. You chose to do what was easy and go with the majority, instead of doing what was right.
One of my favorite quotes is “what is right isn’t always popular and what is popular isn’t always right” I try to live my life with that mantra guiding me, but clearly not everyone does.