Sports Article 10/5/15

Having dignity and self respect for oneself is what I want to address. There are many questions to be asked by many parents, faculty and students about an incident that happened the other night involving 5 Swampscott High School football players and the remaining 25 players on the team. It was said that these 5 freshman took part in a tradition called the "Sophomore 50" where they were to strip down to bare skin and do various different calisthenics. Now, my first thought was how could anyone have such little self respect to partake in this without question? Even if it does make you feel like you accomplished something and that you have the acceptance of others, why do it? I believe that this generation is loosing itself more and more in conformity. Especially due to the fact of that this is just a sports team and the only thing they "might" gain out of this is the respect of some teammates. My question is, "How could the team as a whole watch and let something like this happen?" Are people really too afraid to be a voice of logic and reason? Kids are very scared of being judged now a days. When you speak up for another in a situation like this, you find out who's a true friend and who's truly on your side; you find out real quickly the people who weren't there to back you and won't be there to back you in the future. This really shows a person's character. I honestly disrespect the kids who were willing to throw aside their dignity to give others a cheap laugh and a snapchat story. Those kids are pathetic in my opinion. Sports can teach you a lot about morals and your sense of right and wrong. At the end of the day, I guarantee that those upperclassmen don't even give those younger kids any thought at all. This is where I ask again, "What motivated these younger kids to do this?"